Introduction
Most navels are sunken, so they act as a trap for sweat, dead skin, and dirt. Few people wash their belly button with soap so that germs can grow. The most common cause of belly button odor is poor hygiene. All areas of the body should be washed regularly to stay clean and healthy.
Is belly button discharge 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 need antibiotics or other treatment and you should seek emergency care at UPMC immediately.
Will a navel infection go away on its own?
Belly button yeast infections often get better on their own when you keep the belly button area clean and dry. Healthy people can usually treat belly button yeast infections with antifungal medication.
How is belly button discharge treated?
Call your doctor if you think you have a yeast infection in your belly button. They suggest treating you with an over-the-counter antifungal cream. They also recommend that you keep the area clean and dry. If that doesn’t work, they prescribe a stronger antifungal treatment.
What’s that hard, yellow thing in my navel?
stone in the navel is sometimes called an omphalolith or ombolith. It is a condition in which substances such as sebum or oil from the skin, hair, dead skin cells, and dirt can build up and form a hard lump.
Can diabetes cause belly button discharge?
If there is an unpleasant odor and pus-like substance coming from your navel, you have a bacterial infection. Diabetes and high blood sugar can also directly affect the condition of the navel. Diabetic patients are prone to infections, and the disease can also prevent rapid recovery from infections.
What causes pus in the navel?
cyst in or near the navel leak pus or blood if it becomes infected. Urachal cysts, which are less common, can also cause bloody discharge from the navel. The urachus is a tube-like structure that connects the umbilical cord to the bladder.
What antibiotics treat navel infections?
Bacterial infection
Sometimes a navel infection can cause a brownish or yellowish discharge. Treatment: Your doctor prescribe antibiotics such as penicillin or cephalosporin (Keflex). Keep your navel clean and dry.
How is the navel infected?
Just like other parts of your body, your belly button naturally contains bacteria and fungi. If you don’t clean your navel regularly and the circumstances are right, microorganisms can grow and cause infection, says Edidiong Kaminska, MD, a dermatologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Conclusion
Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and gently rub the surfaces inside your belly button. If the swab is 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 from your navel so it doesn’t dry out your skin.
