You took the plunge, bit your lip, and braced your self for the pain. Moments later you had a shiny new piece of jewelry making sparkling from your navel. You've pierced your belly button and now you're ready to get on with your life and show it off at the club or pool side. Unfortunately there is one one problem. It's red, it hurts, and it's kind of swollen. It's not quite ready for it's debut but don't worry, it's only a few days old. In order to make the most of your new piercing, it's important to take care of it. Just follow these simple steps and you'll look sexy in no time showing off your new belly bling.

New Navel Piercing Care:

• Keep it clean:

It's important to keep any piercings clean and there no exception when it comes to belly buttons. Your belly button, though often covered by clothing, can still collect bacteria. Clean your belly button piercing twice daily to keep it bacteria free. Be sure to use an antibacterial soap to rid the area of any harmful germs that can cause infection.

While cleaning twice daily is a good rule of thumb, you may find that your life style requires a little more cleaning. If you take part in any of the following activities or activities similar to, be sure to clean your piercing when you are finished:

• Spending time in a hot tub or pool

• Working Out

• Participating in sexual activities

• Participating in labor intensive activities. Handsome

• Working in a Kitchen

• Use a Sea Salt Soak:

The healing process for a belly button ring can be extremely long (6 to 12 months), but you can help speed up the healing process by soaking the area in a mixture of sea salts and distilled water. You can buy the pre-made soaks that are offered at many piercing shops or you can make your own in a pinch using sea salt and distilled water. Use this soak 3 to 4 times daily for about 5 to 10 minutes. Keep this up until the piercing is healed.

(Note: Professional piercers suggest using a mixture of sea salt and water that is close to that of your body's. Get a gallon jug of water and add sea salt until you are able to taste it. Add little by little until the taste of salt is apparent. Remember to keep track of how much salt you are adding so you can prepare the mix again if needed.)

• Try Not to Touch:

It's new and exciting and there is something inside you that draws you to touch your new navel piercing. Unfortunately, this is one urge that should go unsatisfied. The more you touch your piercing the more you will irritate it and the more likely you are to transfer harmful bacteria from your hands to your sensitive navel. If you do have to touch it, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap.

• Ask an Expert:

A little pain, discomfort, blood, and discharge is common with new piercings; however, if you're experiencing any or all of those things in excess don't hesitate to call or visit your piercer immediately. If you feel that something is not right it's better to be safe than sorry.

4 Things to Avoid

• Never Use Rubbing Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide: When you look down and see a red or irritated piercing you may be tempted to run to the medicine cabinet for a solution. While rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide may work in other situations, when used on new piercing they can actually cause more harm than good. Both substances are harsh and can severely dry out your skin, prolong the healing time, or increase your risk of scaring.

• Never Use Medicinal Ointments to Speed Healing: A ointment like Neosporin is terrific for a cut or scrape, but when it comes to piercings it can be counterproductive. Your piercing needs oxygen to heal and these ointments create a protective barrier between your skin and the air. Without oxygen your healing will be slowed. Additionally, overtime, the petroleum based gel can prevent the sea salt soak from reaching your skin.

• Avoid Tight Clothing Around New Piercing: A new piercing is sensitive and a new belly button piercing is in a happens to be in a very bad spot when it comes to healing. Even though you love your tight fitting jeans and skirts, try to give your belly button room to breath. Clothes that are tight will cause friction. To much friction can cause a world of problems the least being increased healing time and the worst being infection and/or rejection of the piercing.

• Never Ignore a Problem: If you think there is a problem, address it immediately. Waiting will only have negative consequences including, full blown infection, scarring, and rejection or removal of the piercing.