it's been 6months and STILL PAIN

[rose23986]

It's been 6 months since I got my belly button pierced and it started to itch a lot. A friend of mine said that if I changed the ring it would not itch anymore. So I did. First I got a ring that hung from the top, but it started to hurt so I got one that hung from the bottom and that hurt too. So much that I couldn't move and had to take it out. Both were steel so I decided that maybe I needed gold since my skin is sensitive. So I got a gold one. This morning it still hurts (although I can move). It's really red (it never stopped being red) and I don't know what to do. I've been putting neosporin on it to help with the redness and scarring (a friend told me that would help). I don't want to take it out because I really like it and (as stupid as this sounds) I invested a lot of money in this already. But the pain is getting ridiculous. I'm starting to feel like this was the stupidest thing I ever did. I need help. What should I do for the pain. I can't even call the Dr. until tomorrow. The thing is, I don't know if it's infected because when the ring was out it felt fine and there wasn't any puss. What should I do? Pleeeeeease help.

[kimbo]

if you have sensitive skin gold may make things worse. gold unless its very expensive has impurities and will make irritation worse same as silver but titanium is used in reconstructive surgery cause it is least likely metal to cause irritation. talk to a piercing specialist not a jeweller they have more range and can make sure you get the right metal. also if the bar is the wrong size (too big) for your belly it will get irritated all the time.

[Sal*]

surgical steel is the best while it's healing. And you need to have a ring, not a bar, in place so you can turn it when you clean it. When you see your doc ask for some antibacterial cream. That's what I got when my button got infected and it cleared up in no time. Also go back to your piercer and see what they suggest.

If all of this fails you may just have to take it out. 6 months and still having pain doesn't sound good at all. You just may not be cut out to have a button ring.