General Medical Question - Non Urgent - Quick question about a possible infection.

[Kestrel]

i was just wondering if anyone could tell me if my naval peircing is infected or not...

i got it done about a year ago, and it bleeds quite a lot when i change it. Ive had a lump next to it for a while, and not long ago i wsa punched in the stomach and all this... goo.. came out.. and the lump was gone. Also, around where the bar enters my body, its like the skin is peeling off, and its a bruised-purple colour and has been for a while. It was much worse not so long ago but i changed the bar and it has not been as bad since. However, the lunp is coming back and the skin is starting to peel again. Its not painful at all... im just curious as to what it could be.

If anyone has got any ideas... well, you know the driill. =] thank you =]

[blondiebear]

It does not sound healthy. It may be infected. You also may be allergic to the metal in the bar. It is not uncommon to be allergic to nickel which is often in stainless steel jewlery.

[Animad]

It could be a few things. However, firstly, it's obviously not fully healed yet if it bleeds when you change it so you have to be really careful that anything you put in it is sterile. The bruised purple colour may just be bruising if it is still bleeding when you change it though it could be something similar. It could be an allergy to the bar or signs of an infection. The lump could be one of four things that come to mind;
Excess Scar Tissue- I wouldn't expect this to have discharge coming from it though so I think it is more likely to be either,
An abscess- a 'pocket' of infection
A Cyst- Where one of your pores/hair follicles have become blocked.
It could also be a reactive inflamed lump too but these tend to be quite solid. This is a possibility as it got better after changing the bar which is suggestive of an allergy.

What was the 'goo' like that came out of it; thick/watery? colouered? smelly?
Is the area hot to touch?

Make sure that as the bleeding suggests its not still fully healed that you keep both the holes (entry/exit ones for the piercing) clean following your piercers advice and see if that helps.

[Kestrel]

thanks...

errm.. the stuff that came out just sorta like horrid gungey greeny/yellowy stuff.... like... custard... sorry for putting everyone off their food.

[Animad]

Sounds like pus. So yeah, it's probably an abscess. It's better to get this checked by a doctor if it's come back as they can lance it and give you an appropriate course of anti-biotics to help stop it building back up again.

[Kestrel]

OK shall do then.. thank ye very much...

and lots of Love <3 =D