The "tissue" coming from your belly button piercing is likely granulation tissue, a normal part of healing, but it could also be a hypertrophic scar, a keloid, or even pus from an infection, so you need to check for other signs like redness, warmth, pain, or smelly discharge to tell the difference. Granulation tissue is reddish, while hypertrophic scars are firm, raised bumps; a keloid is a larger, rubbery overgrowth, and pus indicates infection.
Allergic Reactions to Jewelry
This reaction can cause redness, itching, and inflammation around the piercing site, which disrupts healing and increases the risk of abnormal scar development. When the immune system reacts strongly, the skin may overcompensate by forming excess tissue, contributing to keloid growth.
A keloid is an overgrowth of scar tissue that occurs during the wound healing process (Jansen, 2021). Keloids can develop at surgical scars and piercings (which are also wounds). They typically have a shiny appearance and grow well outside of the confines of the wound.
The new skin produces oils and other secretions, which build up over time. It is most likely that this is the ``smelly white stuff that comes out of the holes or where my piercings once used to be'' and in fact your piercings are very much still there - so you are squeezing the stuff out of an extant piercing!
Apply an over-the-counter antibacterial cream.
Placing a warm compress on the infected area may help settle down any swelling, too. Don't remove the jewelry if you suspect an infection, either — except on medical advice. “You want to leave it in place to keep the hole open if possible,” directs Dr. Hodes.
A piercing is rejecting when your body pushes the jewelry out, signaled by signs like the jewelry moving from its original spot, the tissue thinning and becoming see-through, the hole getting bigger, prolonged redness/irritation, or the jewelry hanging differently. Key indicators are the skin between the entrance and exit holes shrinking, the jewelry becoming more visible under the skin, and the skin looking shiny, dry, or flaky, meaning your body perceives the jewelry as a foreign object.
Here are some signs your navel piercing is infected:
Symptoms of an infected piercing
For the first few weeks a new piercing might: be tender, itchy, and the surrounding area may look slightly red on white skin, or a little darker than usual on dark skin. produce a pale fluid that forms a crust.
rejection usually is way redder around the entry & exit holes and you'll often also see red going down between the holes aswell as your body pushes the bar out and the skin become thinner.
Clean 2-3 times daily. Continue the above care regimen for 6-8 weeks. Avoid sexual contact until piercing is fully healed, from 6-10 weeks. To clean use warm water with a cleansing agent of antibacterial soap.
The basic principle is that for every two piercings you have, there should be three units of space between them. Typically, this means that you have two piercings on one section of the ear (such as the lobe) and three piercings on the upper cartilage area of the ear.
The piercing fistula is essentially sophisticated scar tissue that forms in a tube around the jewelry. Healing a piercing is tricking the body to regenerate tissue around a foreign object.
The most common symptom of a belly button yeast infection is a bright red rash in the skin folds of your navel. The rash is typically extremely itchy. It may burn. You may also see scaling, swelling or a white discharge.
In general, fresh, unscarred areas will heal better and are less likely to stretch or pull through the ear. If scar tissue from the original piercing interferes, the nurse will place the new piercing as close as possible to the previous location, without piercing through scar tissue,” says Dr.
Signs and symptoms might include: Thick, irregular scarring, typically on the earlobes, shoulders, cheeks or middle chest. Shiny, hairless, lumpy, raised skin. Varied size, depending on the size of the original injury and when the keloid stops growing.
Recognizing Belly Button Piercing Infection Symptoms Early
Piercing Keloid:
Keloids are scars that come from the overgrowth of scar tissue. They are firm, fibrous lumps that vary in colour, and tend to be larger than the original wound itself. They may take weeks or months to develop fully.
No redness or discharge. No pain around the piercing site. At least 12-20 weeks (3-6 months) have passed.
Minor pierced ear infections can be treated at home. With proper care, most will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.
Signs Your Piercing May be Fully Healed:
There is no more discharge or redness. The piercing is not tender to touch. The jewellery is loose and moves somewhat freely.
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of the following signs and symptoms of an infection:
Ear piercing infections may be red, swollen, sore, warm, itchy or tender. Sometimes, piercings ooze blood or white, yellow or green pus. A new piercing is an open wound that can take several weeks to fully heal. During that time, any bacteria that enter the wound can lead to infection.
“If your belly button looks redder than usual, a bit swollen and there is purulent discharge (or pus) coming from the belly button that has a foul smell, you could have an infection,” Kadri said. Other signs to watch out for include: Pain and tenderness.
NOTE: Do not change a new or severely infected piercing without the assistance of your professional body piercer as this may cause your infection/reaction to get worse, you may lose your piercing, and removal could also trap bacteria within the piercing.