Why does the inside of my belly button smell?

Discharge and smells can be a result of several different factors, though slight navel odors are typically normal. 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.

Can a smelly belly button be serious?

It's usually harmless, but under the right conditions—say, the warm and moist habitat a belly button provides—it can grow into a full-blown yeast infection, says Dr. Minars. This is why proper and consistent cleaning of the area is so important, especially within folds of skin.

Why is the inside of 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 causes a stinky belly button?

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.

Why does the inside of my belly button smell like cheese?

Most innies are full of dozens of kinds of bacteria, fungi, and lint — especially if they're on a hairy belly. If a navel gets infected, it might also have a foul-smelling, cheese-like liquid inside. Speaking of cheese, a biologist teamed up with an artist in 2013 to create cheese using belly button bacteria.

What's Inside Your Belly Button?

How can I fix my smelly 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.

How do I stop my belly button from smelling?

Make sure that your belly button is completely dry after to prevent a yeast infection. Washing with benzoyl peroxide is another great way to kill any odor-causing bacteria. “For yeast infections, use an over-the-counter anti-fungal powder to treat and prevent infection as well as keep the area dry,” says Dr. Zubritsky.

Should you clean out 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.

Why does my belly button smell like poop?

When people complain of bellybutton smells, they use all kinds of adjectives to describe them: Cheesy, sour or even "like poop." Here's what may be happening: Overgrowth of yeast on the skin can lead to a condition called intertrigo, Dr. Zeichner says.

How do I keep my belly button clean?

To prevent sweat, dead skin cells, oils and other kinds of gunk building up inside your belly button, it's important to keep the area clean using warm water and mild soap. Use a damp cloth to gently clean in and around the belly button, then rinse with clean water and dry off with a towel.

Is belly button infection serious?

If the belly button becomes infected, a person should see a doctor for advice and prescribe medication if needed. The symptoms of an infection are redness, itching, and swelling. Sometimes, there may be fluid or pus, which can harden to form a crust around the area.

Can you poop out of your mouth?

It's possible to poop out of your mouth

When people have a blockage in their small or large intestine, known as an intestinal obstruction, waste can't travel to the rectum. "If you have an obstruction generally in the lower small intestine or within the colon, you can eat food but it has nowhere to go," says Dr.

Can you poop out your belly button?

Yes, you read that right. It is possible for feces or menstrual blood to come out of a belly button. An umbilical fistula, an abnormally developed passageway between the intestines and the umbilicus, can cause fecal matter to leak from the navel.

Why shouldn't you play with your navel?

There are many risks associated with playing with your navel, but one of the most important is that you can push on your bellybutton and cause an infection. What is this? This happens when you introduce bacteria into your body through a wound in the area.

What is inside belly button?

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.

What is the belly button connected to?

The belly button is where the umbilical cord attaches to the fetus, connecting the developing baby to the placenta. Within the cord, there are blood vessels (the arteries) that carry waste away from the baby and another vessel that supplies the baby with oxygen and other nutrients.

Why does my belly button leak 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.

Why does my belly button smell after I shower?

“Because the belly button is an area with a lot of creasing and folds, bacteria can get trapped or grow due to moisture, such as water or sweat. Bacteria break down sweat and create waste with a strong odor,” Dr.

How do you know if your belly button is infected?

The most common symptom of a belly button yeast infection is a bright red rash in the skin folds of your navel. The rash is typically extremely itchy. It may burn. You may also see scaling, swelling or a white discharge.

What organ is behind the belly button?

Periumbilical pain is a type of abdominal pain that is localized in the region around or behind your belly button. This part of your abdomen is referred to as the umbilical region. It contains parts of your stomach, small and large intestine, and your pancreas.

What does poop taste like?

Human faeces taste bitter because of bile, which is secreted by the liver and stored in the gall bladder. The food crumbs left inside faeces are tasteless. We assume that the taste of faces is relatively caused by the scent.

Why do we pee when we poop?

So why do we often urinate when we defecate, but not vice versa? The main reason is that the muscles of the pelvic floor play a role in defecation and urination. The pelvic floor muscles relax when we defecate. However, they will not necessarily have to fully relax when we urinate.

Why is my poop black?

Most cases of black stools are from eating black foods or iron supplements. Stool that is black due to blood indicates a problem in the upper GI tract. Blood in the stool can be detected through a stool test. See your healthcare provider right away if you have black stool along with pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Can I put peroxide in my 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.

How often should you clean your belly button?

Method 1 of 2: Creating a Regular Cleansing Routine. Wash your belly button whenever you shower. The best time to clean your belly button is during a regular bath or shower.