The navel is a part of the body that is often forgotten, but still needs to be cleaned like any other part of the body. Luckily, you only need to use a little soap and water! If your belly button has a bad smell that doesn't go away even after cleaning, try checking for an infection. With proper care, you can get rid of the source of the odor and return your belly button smelling clean and fresh.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Creating a Regular Cleaning Routine
Step 1. Wash your belly button every time you shower
The best time to clean your belly button is when you take a shower. Try to help clean your belly button while bathing every day.
Your belly button may need more frequent cleaning if you sweat a lot. (eg after exercise or hot weather)
Step 2. Use plain soap and water to clean the belly button
Usually, you don't need a special soap to clean your belly button. Warm water and mild soap are more than enough. Pour soap and water onto your hands or a washcloth, then rub gently on your belly button to remove dirt and lint. After that, rinse gently until there is no foam left.
- In general, soaps or cleansers that are used on the body can also be used for the belly button. Use mild, unscented soaps if scented soaps make your skin dry or irritated.
- You can also use salt water to gently clean the belly button. Mix 1 teaspoon (about 6 grams) of table salt with 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water and dip a washcloth in the solution. Gently massage the salt water on the navel, then rinse with clean water.
- Salt water kills germs and removes dirt, and is less dry and irritating than soap.
Tip:
If your belly button is pierced, you will need a special way to keep it clean. Use a warm salt water solution to clean the area around your belly button 2-3 times a day, or as often as your piercer or doctor recommends. Navel piercings take a long time to heal so it's a good idea to do this routine for a few months or years.
Step 3. Perform a deep cleaning with a rag or cotton swab
Dirt and lint easily settle in your center, and are sometimes difficult to remove! If your belly button is sunken in, it's best to use a washcloth or cotton swab to clean it thoroughly. Gently wipe the inside of the navel with soap and water, then make sure you rinse thoroughly.
Do not rub too hard so as not to irritate the sensitive skin in and around the belly button
Step 4. Pat your belly button dry when you're done
You should keep your belly button dry to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. When you're done washing, use a clean, dry towel to pat the area in and around the belly button. If you have time, blow out your belly button for a few minutes before putting on your clothes.
You can prevent moisture from settling in your belly button by wearing cool, loose-fitting clothing when the weather is warm and whenever you sweat
Step 5. Try not to put oil, cream, or lotion on your belly button
Do not rub creams or lotions on your belly button unless advised by your doctor. These products can hold moisture in the belly button making it ideal for the growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
You can safely moisten your belly button with baby oil or a humidifier if you have a "convex" belly button instead of sunken in. Don't use a moisturizer if your belly button has an unpleasant odor, itchiness and irritation, and other signs of infection
Method 2 of 2: Dealing with Navel Odor that Won't Go away
Step 1. Look for signs of infection if the smell doesn't go away after washing
Bad smell in the belly button is most commonly caused by dirt and sweat. In most cases, washing with a little soap and water will get rid of the bad odor. If the smell persists, there may be an infection. Look for the following symptoms:
- Red scaly skin
- Sensitivity to pain or swelling around the belly button
- Itchy feeling
- Yellow or green discharge or pus from the belly button.
- Fever or general lethargy or fatigue
Warning:
Infections are easier to appear in the pierced belly button. If your belly button is pierced, look for signs of infection such as increased pain or sensitivity to pain, swelling, redness, warmth around the piercing, or pus.
Step 2. See a doctor for a diagnosis if you have symptoms of infection
If you have an infection, make an appointment with your doctor right away. He can determine the type of infection you have and tell you how to treat it.
- The exact treatment will be different for each person, depending on whether the infection is caused by bacteria, fungi, or yeast. Do not guess at the cause of your infection because the wrong treatment will only make the condition worse.
- The doctor can wipe the belly button with a cotton swab to take a sample, which will help determine the cause of the infection.
Step 3. Use a topical medication to treat bacteria, fungi, or yeast
If it is true that your belly button has an infection, you will need an antibiotic or antifungal ointment or powder to cure it. Your doctor will prescribe this medication or ask you to buy it at a pharmacy. Once the infection is gone, the smell or fluid in the navel should go away too! Follow all other guidelines the doctor gives, for example:
- Resist the urge to scratch or pry the infected belly button.
- Change and wash your sheets and clothes regularly to prevent infection.
- Avoid sharing towels with other people.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing to keep the belly button cool and dry.
- Clean the navel daily with a saline solution.
Step 4. Ask the doctor to drain the umbilical cyst, if any
Sometimes, a cyst may form in the belly button, which will cause swelling, pain, and a foul-smelling discharge. If your belly button has an infected cyst, the doctor will drain it at the clinic. He will also prescribe oral or topical antibiotics to help treat the cyst properly. Follow the doctor's instructions so that the cyst heals completely.
- Ask your doctor for detailed instructions on how to clean a cyst at home. He may suggest applying a dry, warm compress to the area 3-4 times a day. If your cyst is bandaged, change it at least once a day until your doctor tells you to stop.
- If the doctor covers the cyst with gauze, you will need to come back to have it removed after 2 days. Wash the wound with warm water once a day until it heals (usually within 5 days).
- If the cyst recurs, you may need surgery to completely remove it. For deep cysts, such as urachal cysts, the surgeon may make a small incision and remove the cyst using sensitive instruments and a camera.
- You will need to be hospitalized for 2-3 days after surgery, and be able to return to normal activities after 2 weeks.
Step 5. Visit a doctor to completely remove the navel stone, if necessary
If you have a deep belly button that is rarely cleaned, dirt, lint, and oil can build up in it. Eventually, this material can harden and agglomerate to form what is called an omphalith or navel stone. If this happens to you, make an appointment with your doctor. He will use forceps to gently pull the umbilical stone.
- In most cases, umbilical stones cause no symptoms. However, sometimes these stones can cause pain and infection.
- You can prevent the formation of navel stones by cleaning your belly button regularly with soap and water.
Tips
- Newborns need special care for their navel, especially after the umbilical cord breaks. If you have a baby, talk to your doctor about the best way to clean and care for your baby's belly button.
- If dirt tends to settle in your belly button easily, minimize it by wearing new clothes and shaving hair that grows near the belly button.
Warning
- If you think your belly button piercing is infected, see a doctor for immediate treatment.
- Never try to remove the lint from the belly button with a sharp object, such as tongs or metal manicure tools, as this could injure yourself. Always use your fingers or a clean cloth or cotton swab.
