What bacteria makes belly buttons smell?

It's usually a staph infection if it's bacterial, or a fungal one caused by Candida. “This type of yeast loves warm, moist environments, and the belly button is a great place for Candida to grow,” explains Dr.

What does a foul smelling belly button mean?

If you have a combination of foul smell and discharge, it could be a sign of: A fungal infection or yeast infection of the belly button. A bacterial infection of the belly button. A wound or bruise around or within the belly button.

Why is my belly button wet and smelly?

Dirt, bacteria, fungus, and germs can get trapped inside your belly button and start to multiply, which can cause an infection. If you develop a belly button infection, you might notice white, yellow, brown, or bloody discharge seeping out of it. That discharge might also have an unpleasant smell.

What bacteria causes belly button infection?

A yeast called Candida causes belly button yeast infections, or candidiasis. Candida yeast grow and thrive in warm, damp environments. Conditions that allow Candida to grow and thrive include: Wearing tight clothing.

Can belly button bacteria Make You Sick?

Bacterial Infection

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.

What's Inside Your Belly Button?

What antibiotics treat belly button infection?

Bacterial infection

Sometimes an infection in your belly button can result in a brownish or yellowish discharge. Treatment: Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics such as penicillin or cephalosporin (Keflex).

Can a smelly belly button be serious?

Sometimes a stinky belly button can be a symptom of a condition that needs medical attention, such as an infection or cyst. Look for other symptoms that come along with these conditions, including: white, yellow, or green discharge. swelling and redness or discoloration.

How do you stop your belly button from smelling?

How do you get rid of belly button odor?

“You should gently clean your belly button regularly with soap and water,” says Dr. Sperling. For innies and skin folds, you can use a cotton swab to clean in and around any tricky spots.

Are belly button infections common?

Infection of the belly button (omphalitis) most commonly occurs in newborn babies. Adults can get an infection of the navel (umbilicus) but it's uncommon. There are many reasons your belly button may become red, swollen or have discharge, and it may not be a skin issue.

Why do I keep getting infections in my belly button?

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.

Can you put Neosporin in belly button?

If the cord smells bad or seems infected, you can smear a little antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin®) around and on the base of the cord. You can clean the cord as often as needed, perhaps 3 or 4 times a day.

How do you heal a belly button infection fast?

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.

What does a belly button infection look like?

What Does A Navel Fungal Infection Look Like? Navel fungal infections cause a rash like symptom that's red, itchy and may resemble eczema. The navel may also become red in general and feel quite sore. Skin fungal infections are also like dandruff and skin psoriasis diseases as scaly skin flakes may accompany them.

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 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 your belly button full of bacteria?

If you're an innie and not an outie, your belly button is home to at least 60 to 100 or more species of bacteria, fungi and yeasts, according to new research. If you're an innie and not an outie, your belly button is home to at least 60 to 100 or more species of bacteria, fungi and yeasts, according to new research.

Can I get a staph infection in my belly button?

It's possible to get a bacterial infection like staph in your belly button because that's just what your body decides to do that day, but getting a navel piercing is a big risk factor, Dr. Lipoff says. “[It's] the most common reason I've seen an infection in a belly button,” he says.

What are the symptoms of staphylococcus in a woman?

You might think you have some kind of bite or ingrown hair. Signs and symptoms of staph infection on your skin include: Abscesses and boils: These painful sores form under your skin, causing redness and pain. Cellulitis: This type of infection causes swollen, red, painful skin and tissue just under your skin.

What is belly button cheese?

As skin grows, dead skin cells can't be shed like it can elsewhere on the body. It can leak a cheese-like substance and have a foul-smelling odor, but it is typically not dangerous and does not require treatment.

Are belly button bugs real?

Belly button bugs

A person's belly button contains hundreds of bacterial species. The belly button is rarely well-washed and is a cosy place for these bacteria to settle.

How do you get rid of a belly button gunk?

To do that, you can apply antibacterial soap to a washcloth or your finger and gently clean your belly button when you take a shower or bath. It's important to be gentle, as vigorous scrubbing can irritate the skin, which may increase your risk of infection.

How do you get rid of a bacterial infection in your belly button?

Treating infections

Share on Pinterest Antibiotic and antifungal ointments or creams may be used to treat belly button discharge. Bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotic ointments or creams. Fungal or yeast infections are also typically treated with antifungal powders or creams.

What happens if you don't clean your belly button?

Without getting in there and cleaning your belly button on the regular, the lingering gunk — e.g. dirt, sweat, dead skin cells, clothing fabric, and bacteria — can collect and "cause odor or even an infection," says Dr. Goldberg.

What is the belly button connected to internally?

Internally the veins and arteries in the cord close up and form ligaments, which are tough connective tissues. These ligaments divide up the liver into sections and remain attached to the inside of the belly button.