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

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.

How do you cure a smelly belly button?

Soak a cotton ball in a mixture of antimicrobial soap and warm water, and gently wash your belly button with it. Try to keep the area clean and dry at all times. Avoid wearing tight clothing because it can irritate the affected area.

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 is my belly button wet and smelly and how do you fix it?

The most common cause for a belly button smell is poor hygiene. All areas of the body need to be washed regularly to stay clean and healthy. Skin is home to trillions of bacteria, which develop naturally and are usually harmless. The belly button has folds of skin that provide a place for bacteria to grow.

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

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.

Is a 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 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.

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.

Can you get a yeast infection in your belly button?

A yeast infection

If you happen to get this in your belly button, you'll usually notice a red rash, scaly skin, a clear discharge, itching, and burning, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. If you're pretty sure you have a yeast infection in your belly button, see a doctor like your primary care physician.

Why is my belly button leaking clear fluid?

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 know if your belly button is infected?

Are you supposed to clean the inside of your belly button?

Your belly button should be cleaned just like all the other parts of the body; otherwise, the area can develop gnarly smells and infections, often paired with red, itchy, and scabby skin—especially if you have a navel piercing.

Should you deep clean your belly button?

"Your belly button should be cleaned just like the rest of the skin." Whether you're the owner of an outie or innie, your belly button is home to "tiny creases, where dead skin, dirt, and bacteria can accumulate," explains Dr. Rodney.

Can diabetes cause belly button discharge?

Diabetes. Conditions such as diabetes may put a person at risk of having a discharge from their belly button at certain times. According to research in the Journal of Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, there appears to be a link between high blood sugar and candida yeast infections.

How do you treat a yeast infection in your belly button?

Yeast infection

Along with a white discharge, candidiasis can cover your navel with an itchy, red rash. Treatment: Use an antifungal cream such as miconazole nitrate (Micatin, Monistat-Derm) or clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex), and keep your navel clean and dry.

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 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.

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.

Can you get a staph infection in your 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.

How long does it take for belly button infection to heal?

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

What is the best antibiotic ointment for belly button infection?

If any pus is present, use an antibiotic ointment such as Polysporin. No prescription is needed. Put a tiny amount on the navel. Do this 2 times per day after the area has been cleaned with warm water.

Why do I keep getting a yeast infection in my belly button?

The Navel Is A Bacterial Haven for Fungal Infections

The body is filled with bacteria. Some live in dry areas, some in greasy areas, and some thrive in damp environments. The skin folds of the belly button and navel form a moist environment; the perfect conditions for the fungi to live in.

What is a diabetes belly?

Diabetes Belly Fat is a sign that the body is failing. Stomach fat is linked to Heart failure in the diabetic. Lack of good insulin causes the body to store fat at the waist.