How do you get rid of a smelly belly button?

Dip your finger or a soft washcloth in a solution of saltwater (about a teaspoon of table salt in a cup of warm water) and gently massage the inside of your navel. This should loosen stubborn germs that can cause odor. Then rinse with plain water and pat it dry.

What does it mean when your belly button stinks?

When your belly button smells, it is usually because of a hygiene need or infection. The belly button contains several tiny skin folds that can trap sweat, dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Possible infections include candidiasis, bacterial infections, or an infected urachal cyst.

Can a smelly belly button be serious?

Rest assured, a smelly belly button doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. Just like any other parts of your skin, dead skin cells in and around your belly button slough off and flake off the surface, says Shuai Xu, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine.

Why does my belly button stink even though I wash it?

This is because, much like our armpits, our belly button doesn't get a lot of airflow—and for those of us with an innie, this forgettable cavity can become an itty bitty storage unit for dead skin cells, sweat, lint, and over 60 kinds of bacteria.

Will a belly button infection go away on its own?

Belly button yeast infections often get better on their own when you keep your navel area clean and dry. Healthy people can usually treat belly button yeast infections with an antifungal medication.

Why Does My Belly Button Smell? How To Clean Navel? Clean Umbilicus-Dr. Rasya Dixit| Doctors' Circle

How do you clean the inside of your belly button?

Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and gently rub the surfaces inside your bellybutton. If the swab gets dirty, throw it away and start a new one. Once the cotton swab comes out clean, use a fresh one dipped in water to rinse the alcohol out of your bellybutton so it doesn't dry your skin.

Should you deep clean your belly button?

You should regularly be giving your belly button a little extra TLC to make sure it stays clean and infection free. “I recommend patients clean their navel daily in the shower with gentle soap and water,” says Dr. Bard.

Can you clean your belly button with your hands?

Experts generally agree that all you need to do is soap up a washcloth and gently scrub your navel. Soap and a washcloth can work for innies, too, but you may need slightly more specialized tools—namely, as Healthline explains, a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol.

Can you deep clean belly button?

Deep-clean an innie with a washcloth or cotton swab.

Swab out the inside of your belly button gently with soap and water, and make sure to rinse it well afterward. Don't scrub hard—you could irritate the delicate skin in and around your belly button.

What is inside belly button?

What's a Belly Button? Your belly button marks the spot where your umbilical (say: um-BIL-ih-kul) cord was once attached. This cord is a soft, bendable tube that carried nutrients — vitamins and minerals — from your mother to you, back when you were in her belly (womb). A belly button is also called a navel.

Should you clean your belly button with Vaseline?

Basic Care for a Clean Belly Button

 If your belly button is dry, use Neosporin or Vaseline. Place it into your belly button and gently work your way around the navel.

What happens if you put your finger in your belly button?

"At the navel, you have the ability to stimulate not only the skin overlying the navel, but also the fibres of the inner lining of your abdomen," he said. "As you stick your finger into your belly button, it sends a signal from the deeper fibres that line your inner abdominal cavity to your spinal cord."

What is the best home remedy for belly button infection?

How can I treat an infected belly button at home?

Other bacterial infections are often treatable by rinsing the area with warm saline water. Make sure you dry the area thoroughly after rinsing it. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotic creams that you apply directly to the infected area. They may prescribes oral antibiotics if your infection is severe.

Is an infected belly button serious?

If you think you have an infection in your belly button, you should call your doctor so that you can have the area cleaned carefully. You may also need prescription antibiotics to kill the bacteria before it spread to other parts of your body.

Will a belly button infection go away on its own?

Belly button yeast infections often get better on their own when you keep your navel area clean and dry. Healthy people can usually treat belly button yeast infections with an antifungal medication.

How do you know if your belly button is infected?

What home remedy can I use to clean my belly button?

Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and gently rub the surfaces inside your bellybutton. If the swab gets dirty, throw it away and start a new one. Once the cotton swab comes out clean, use a fresh one dipped in water to rinse the alcohol out of your bellybutton so it doesn't dry your skin.

Is belly button infection serious?

If you think you have an infection in your belly button, you should call your doctor so that you can have the area cleaned carefully. You may also need prescription antibiotics to kill the bacteria before it spread to other parts of your body.

Can belly button bacteria Make You Sick?

We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. Read more about our vetting process. The belly button is a place where germs can become trapped and multiply. Too many germs in the belly button can cause an infection, which may lead to discharge through the skin.

How do you deep clean your belly button?

Dip your finger or a soft washcloth in a solution of saltwater (about a teaspoon of table salt in a cup of warm water) and gently massage the inside of your navel. This should loosen stubborn germs that can cause odor. Then rinse with plain water and pat it dry.

Why do I get so many belly button infections?

Like other areas of your body, your navel naturally contains bacteria and fungi. If you don't clean your belly button regularly and the circumstances are just right, microorganisms can proliferate and cause an infection, Edidiong Kaminska, M.D., a dermatologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, tells SELF.

When should I be worried about my belly button infection?

If your belly button is “leaking” clear or colored discharge or blood, you may have a bacterial, fungal, or yeast infection. Crusty skin, strong odor, itching, and redness are also signs of infection. If discharge and crust stick around after you wash your belly button, you should see your doctor.

How long does an infected navel take to heal?

Symptoms can include pain, redness, and swelling, and improving hygiene can help. Complete healing can take 9–12 months.

What cream is good for a belly button infection?

Treatment: Use an antifungal cream such as miconazole nitrate (Micatin, Monistat-Derm) or clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex), and keep your navel clean and dry.