Smelly Belly Button

Last reviewed by Dr.Mary on August 7th, 2018.

Men in India have an obsession with a woman’s navel and many women like to show off their navels, especially those that have great figures. But a problem can develop when the belly button or navel starts emitting an odor that is offensive. It could develop because this area is not cleaned often. Or, the problem could even be more serious as there are infections – bacterial as well as fungal – that may create a foul smell.


Smelly Belly Button Causes

Belly buttons that smell may develop because of infections that are either bacteria or fungal in nature. The navel area is a moist, dark, warm area that offers a perfect breeding area for bacteria or fungus. One type infection is caused by the fungus candida that in some cases can create a very foul smelling discharge from the belly button. If the tissue around the navel becomes inflamed it can be due to a bacterial infection and can even lead to the buildup of pus in the belly button that oozes out and can give off a foul odor.

Additional causes of belly buttons that are smelly is caused by urachal cysts which often begin in the cracks among the umbilicus and the bladder. These are kinds of cysts that grow in an area of the urachus and can be accompanied by pain in the abdomen as well as fever. When these cysts rupture, they will drain a fluid that is foul smelling. Another cause also connected to urachus is a surgery that is done to manage the urachus tube that often after birth will fail to close. If this surgery does not heal correctly, there may be a yellowish mucus discharge coming from the navel that is very smelly.

Often after sweating or bathing, debris and fluids gets trapped in the belly button. When not cleaned out or remains wet, it can cause this area to smell terribly. Also, piercing of the belly button is the current trendy thing to do but if inappropriate methods are used for the piercing or good hygiene is not kept prior to and following piercing, infections can be the result. These infections can cause greenish yellow fluid discharge as well as inflammation around the belly button that is medically referred to as “sepsis-septicemia”.

Smelly Belly Button Treatment

When a smelly belly button is caused by fungal or bacterial infection, it can be managed by using one of the many over the counter bacterial or anti-fungal creams that are topical. The area that is infected needs to be cleaned with a good anti-bacterial soap at least once each day or by applying hydrogen peroxide numerous times each day. This can also help in curing any infection. Another method is to put 1 or 2 drops of nystatin liquid – an anti-fungal drug – two to three times each day.

Cleaning the belly button with saline solution which is actually only salt water and allowing the salt to harden in the belly button is another method of managing a smelly belly button. The salt solution absorbs all of the moisture that might be trapped in the belly button and this can manage any further infection as well as coating the area to reduce foul smell. After the salt hardens, just brush it off.

In the cases caused by urachal cyst, one needs to clean the area with anti-bacterial soap at least once a day. Again this is a situation where hydrogen peroxide on the cyst can be used 4 or 5 times a day.

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