After getting a belly button piercing, there are many things you should do to avoid infection and irritation. Treat a belly ring as you would any fresh injury or wound. It is considered a wound because someone recently shoved a needle through your skin and in any other circumstance, that would be cause for injury.

After you’ve waited the recommended 6 to 12 months for your new piercing to heal, you’re probably ready to shop for some new belly button rings. They are available online, in piercing and tattoo salons, and at mall kiosks. Sometimes belly button rings are available at department store jewelry counters or even discount stores like Wal-Mart and Target. It doesn’t matter where they came from, follow the same rules and precautions for sterilizing and switching belly button rings.

Before you even purchase the rings, check that they are made from a reliable material that won’t irritate your skin. Just because the piercing site appears healed and healthy, doesn’t mean you are immune to germs and infection. The best materials for belly button rings are 316L surgical steel (a form of stainless steel), titanium, Bioplast or Bioflex, 24K plated gold and 14K real gold. Jewelry made from these products are strong and sturdy and won’t break.

The first thing you shall do is completely clean each of the belly button rings you purchase.  Warm water and antibacterial soap is recommended. You may also autoclave your belly button rings, which is a sterilization process that uses extreme heat to rid things of any germs that can cause pain and infection. Typically this process can only be accomplished by going to a piercing salon or piercing and tattoo parlor.

When changing a belly button ring, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you begin. If you have medical gloves available, you could wear those for added protection. Be sure to set your new belly button ring close to where you are working so you can spend as little time as possible without anything in the piercing.

Unscrew the top ball from the new belly button ring that you want to insert and set it aside. On some belly button rings, only the top ball is removable, on some only the bottom ball is removable and on some both balls are removable. To make the process as smooth and easy as possible, unscrew the top ball only.

Hold the bottom ball of the belly button ring you are wearing between two fingers. Gently twist the top ball of the navel ring you are wearing to remove it from the barbell. Very gently pull the barbell through the navel by pulling down on the bottom ball.

Immediate grab the replacement belly ring and position the ball-less part of the barbell near the inside of your belly button (where the piercing hole is). Slowly and gently apply pressure and continue until the barbell pokes through the top hole of your piercing. If you have never switched rings before, have patience and keep in mind that it could easily take a few tries.

Grab the top ball of your new ring and gently screw it on while holding the barbell still with your thumb and forefinger. After that is complete, immediately wash your hands, as well as the old belly button ring.

If you follow these steps carefully, you’ll be able to change belly button rings frequently and easily.

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