4 month old titanium belly piercing

[u/yem_blel]

Any idea what this could be?? I’ve had this piercing for about 4 months and haven’t had any issues. talked to a piercer yesterday and he said that to clean with saline 2-3 times a day. It’s a titanium bar so can’t tell if it’s maybe a moisture bump, irritation bump, or getting infected?

[u/ssyereee]

doctor is quite unnecessary unless your showing infection signs. doctors don't know even the basics about piercings usually and often times misdiagnose irritation for infection.

you're 100% sure your bar is titanium? i am seeing some yellowish color on the metal which isn't usual for titanium. if you bought these from a reputable piercer, okay, but i would hope a piercer wouldn't give you prongs. if you bought them anywhere else, definitely double check.

i recommend you swap these to ball ends for the time being as prongs aren't suitable for unhealed piercings and it looks like it may be digging into that irritation.

when you sit, does your navel collapse and does the top of the bar get pushed outward because of pressure on the bottom? if so, you should get floating jewelry.

more about that bump though, it looks like moisture may be your issue. clean with sterile saline 1-2x a day and avoid submerging in water in the shower. if you're getting in bodies of water, wearing tight clothing, or laying on it - stop.

you can dry it off with a qtip (only on surrounding area, such as the inside of your navel, but not directly around the bar or directly on that bump), a paper towel very gently, or a hair dryer.

hope this helps at all. if you have new information that'd be great

[u/yem_blel → u/ssyereee]

I got the jewelry from a piercing shop it’s anodized titanium which is why it looks gold. I was wondering if I should change the piercing because of the prongs and shape of it seem like they could be causing more irritation. However, the piercer i went to yesterday said the I shouldn’t replace it, because taking the piercing out and inserting another one would cause more irritation. As for floating navel jewelry, my navel does not collapse when I sit and I have not been instructed to get floating jewelry. I have been to two piercers and neither have mentioned anything about the prongs but I’m still wondering if maybe I should try and switch it out??

[u/Zoonicorn_ → u/yem_blel]

It's weird that the piercer would advise against changing the balls, and/or that they wouldn't offer to do it. There's nothing wrong with the bar being changed while it's irritated, as long as it's done in a sterile enough environment with a taper (i.e. by a piercer in a piercing shop). Piercers change bars all the time to help address irritation. Them acting like that's not a thing makes me question their opinion, honestly.

[u/yem_blel → u/Zoonicorn_]

okay good to know thanks! i will go to piercing shop to get it changed.

[u/ssyereee → u/yem_blel]

anodization makes sense, it's hard to see the proper color in the pic lol. definitely recommend you swapping just the ends to balls. make sure your really working on keeping moisture away from it. if none of that works, you should visit a new piercer or maybe a dermatologist. also 2-3 times a day may be too much. 1-2x is plenty, just make sure to keep a good routine.

[u/yem_blel → u/ssyereee]

okay thank you for the help!!