Ok, so a little over a month ago I did my navel. 14g banna bar (whatever you want to call it). I'm active and after I had the balls changed (I didn't want to take out the bar itself) lymph came out (first time it happend and I thought it was infected-- until I read around and realized that's what the piercer was talking about.)

Here's the question: why does it feel so dry????

I swim, only a couple times last week and this week, and I wonder if the chlorine is doing it. I do sea salt soaks once a day and clean it twice- sometimes more than once-- after I swim. And I work out daily...

Im concerned about the soreness-- feels like bruising. Am I doing ok? I can send pics in too...

Hi. I'm not one to really give advice, I'm always the one asking for help... but I got mine done last June and my piercer told me not to go swimming for the rest of the summer because the bacteria in the pool water wasn't good for a new piercing.

I would think that the chlorine is making it dry but you might want to wait and see what everyone else says!

you should not go swimming until your navel is FULLY healed which takes at least 6 months to over a year. by going swimming you risk an infection, its an open wound you have on your belly! stop swimming and do sea salt soaks, and yes it probably is the chlorine thats making it dry.

I agree with skydust. If you really can't stay out of the water (which would be optimal) cover it with a Tegaderm patch to seal it out. Chlorine is very drying to skin, plus you're doing the salt soak, PLUS the soap cleaning...its too much. The skin is going to tighten around the barbell as it heals so thats the soreness. And you've got a long time to go to be totally healed so be patient and you should be fine = )

Edited to add: link to Tegaderm
http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/nexcare/tegaderm.jhtml

It sounds like you know the answer to this question.

Cut out the swimming.

oooookay... well. I guess I'll use those bandages.