Belly Button Ring Risks

• Belly button rings are the rage among high school girls - but they are not without risks. pierced belly ring. image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com

  The current fashion of tight abs, exposed midriffs and hipsters makes belly button piercing and fancy jewelry accessories the rage among high school girls, young women and even some men. The glam and glitter of body ornaments are hard to resist. Belly button rings are commonly available in a range of designs and styles and accessorize a variety of get-ups. They are, however, associated with some risks, which you should carefully consider before deciding on one.

Infections

• A belly button ring might look good, but it can turn into an unpleasant sight if it gets infected. Signs of a belly button infection include poor healing, redness, drainage, swelling, chills and fever. According to Kate Kelly in the book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Parenting a Teenager," belly button piercing commonly takes up to 12 months to heal and should be carefully considered before attempting.

Ring Migration

• Belly button rings tend to migrate in pregnant and overweight people, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Ring migration is the process in which a belly button ring moves from its original, intended location. The effects of ring migration vary, with some rings migrating downwards, towards the pelvis, and others migrating upward. Causes of ring migration include improperly performed piercing, heavy metallic jewelry and infections in the navel area. Ring migration can also be caused if the body rejects the ring material, especially if it causes irritation to the surrounding area. Piercing migration can be painful and may require medical intervention. Migrated belly button rings typically result in aesthetically displeasing scars, which become permanent fixtures of the navel area.

Proximity to the Fallopian Tubes

• Belly button rings present a unique risk to young girls. According to Kelly, the belly button lies mere inches from the fallopian tubes. Untrained hands, unhygienic equipment and botched belly button ring procedures can cause permanent damage.

Breakage and Allergies

• Fine silver and thin gold belly button rings can break and irritate the navel. Tainted rings can increase the risk of blood poisoning and abdominal infections.

  Belly button rings can cause allergies. Metallic rings that are susceptible to corrosion, tarnish or rust may come in close contact with body fluids, increasing the risk of allergies. Materials that present corrosion and allergy problems include sterling silver, nickel, silver electroplating and gold, and are best avoided. Titanium and stainless steel are safer choices.