Why does my belly button get infected so often?

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.

Why do I keep getting recurring belly button infections?

Belly button yeast infections frequently return, especially if your navel area isn't kept healthy and dry. Yeast infections are more likely to return in people with weakened immune systems. A belly button yeast infection can be itchy and unpleasant. But it's easily treatable.

How do you prevent a belly button infection?

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.

Is an infected belly button serious?

If you develop redness, swelling, pain, or discharge, your belly button could be infected. This is especially likely if you have a navel piercing. In this case, you may require antibiotics or other treatment and should visit UPMC Urgent Care right away.

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 do you treat an infected belly button?

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.

How do you know if you have a yeast infection in your belly button?

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 your belly button get infected if you clean it?

Read more about our vetting process. The belly button is home to many bacteria but can be overlooked when a person washes. Mostly, the bacteria are harmless, but they can multiply and cause an infection. We find out what might cause a belly button to smell, and how to keep it clean and healthy.

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.

What does it mean if your belly button is wet and smells?

Summary. 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.

Is belly button discharge serious?

If you notice belly button discharge, chances are you have an infection. But other things, such as cysts and poor hygiene, can also cause your belly button to leak fluid.

What ointment 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.

How often should you clean your belly button?

Most bellybuttons have crevices that can collect dirt and breed bacteria. Aim to clean yours about once a week.

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 your belly button say about your health?

Belly buttons are essentially an anatomical wildcard. They're a scarred area in the abdominal wall where your umbilical cord once was. Having an innie or outie doesn't mean anything for your health.

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.

Can you clean your belly button with peroxide?

Cleaning your belly button

Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, you can use water, a saltwater solution, or hydrogen peroxide to clean your belly button. Dip one side of a cotton swab into a cleansing agent and gently wipe your belly button.

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

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.

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.

Can I clean my belly button with aq tip?

How to Clean Your Innie Belly Button. Innie belly buttons need the extra help of a Q-tip to get into all the nook and crannies of the skin. Before going in, swab the Q-tip with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Gently swab the inside of your belly button.

What is the belly button rule?

Wherever you talk, you point your belly bottom. So if I talk to you over here, I point my belly button. If I move over here, I point my belly button. That's the belly button rule.

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.

How do you get a yeast infection in your 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.

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.

What color should belly button discharge be?

Usually, the belly button discharge will be a pale white, off-yellow, or light green color, and will kind of look like snot does when you have a cold. It may also give off an unpleasant, sour smell, which is another sign of infection.