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 get rid of an infection in your belly button?

To treat an infection

Keep the skin of your belly button clean and dry. Use an antifungal powder or cream to clear up a yeast infection. For a bacterial infection, your doctor might recommend using an antibiotic ointment. Some infections may require oral antibiotic treatment, incision and drainage of the cyst, or both.

Should I be worried about a belly button 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 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.

How do I know if I have a belly button infection?

Tenderness, yellow, green or bloody foul-smelling discharge, swelling, pain, and a scab or ulcer can develop in the belly button. If deep skin infection occurs, it can lead to cellulitis – a spreading bacterial infection usually caused by staph or strep bacteria.

How to Treat a Yeast Infection in Your Belly Button?

How long does infected bellybutton last?

How long does a belly button yeast infection last? Your belly button yeast infection should start to clear up within two weeks of starting an antifungal treatment.

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 did my belly button get infected?

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.

What color should belly button pus 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.

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.

Can belly button bacteria Make You Sick?

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.

When should I go to the doctor for an infected belly button?

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.

What is the best home remedy for belly button infection?

Why is my belly button red and oozing?

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.

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.

Does infected belly button hurt?

Infections can cause bellybutton pain and pain throughout the abdomen. Doctors can treat bacterial stomach infections with antibiotics. Once antibiotics start working, bellybutton pain, abdominal pain, and other symptoms will typically resolve.

Can you put peroxide in your belly button?

Cleaning your belly button

If you're noticing an odor from your belly button, you may need to clean the area more thoroughly. Here are the steps: Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, you can use water, a saltwater solution, or hydrogen peroxide to clean your belly button.

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.

Should you clean your belly button with aq tip?

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.

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

But just like the rest of your body, they need to be cleaned. In fact, a 2012 study found that 67 different types of bacteria are in the average bellybutton. Most bellybuttons have crevices that can collect dirt and breed bacteria. Aim to clean yours about once a week.

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.

Should I be worried if my belly button smells?

The bottom line: A smelly belly button is not something you need to worry about unless you spot other concerning symptoms like redness, flakiness, or discharge. The best way to get rid of and prevent odor is to clean the area regularly with a gentle soap and water.

Why does my belly button smell like infection?

Even if you don't develop a yeast infection, the accumulation of sweat, dirt, dead skin cells, and lint can cause your bellybutton to smell. Omphaloliths. As dead skin cells and sebum — the oil secreted by your skin — accumulate in your bellybutton, they can form an omphalolith over time.

Should I go to the doctor for a belly button piercing infection?

When to see your doctor for an infected belly button piercing. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any significant signs of infection, especially a fever or nausea. Even minor infections can get worse without treatment. Your doctor may need to prescribe an antibiotic cream like mupirocin (Bactroban).

Can belly button piercing infection be serious?

An infected piercing can be serious if it's not treated quickly. Get immediate medical help if you think your piercing is infected.