Wellness
Sniff, sniff.
These smells can execute the gamut from faint and slightly stinky to downright horrific, depending on the cause.
This is especially true since belly buttons are practically set up to stink.
Once that cocktail mixes together in the moist environment,bacteria start to grow.
And just like that, you might start to catch an unpleasant whiff or two.
To prevent belly button odor in the first place, it helps toclean the area regularly, Maclellan says.
For the most part, belly button odor isnt a cause for concern.
Here, dermatologists share the most common causes of belly button odor and what to do about it.
Causes Of Belly Button Odor & What To Do About It
1.
You Have An Innie
If you have an innie belly button versus an outtie, take note.
Thomas Griffin, M.D.,a board-certified dermatologist.
Innie belly buttons might be more prone to B.O.
in the winter when you have heavier or fuzzier clothes on.
2. you oughta Clean It
One of the most common causes of odor is improper hygiene.
He recommends regularly cleaning inside your belly button with a gentlebody washorfacial cleanser.
Once youre done, ensure your belly button is fully dry.
Maclellan suggests gently sticking a cotton swab in there to get out any extra water or moisture.
Bacterial and fungal infections can certainly cause odor, Griffin says.
Candida is a common skin fungusthat likes wet, moist environments.
You might even notice littlewhiteheadsinside.
A physician would need to prescribe anti-fungal or antibiotic creams to treat the issue, he adds.
Once the infection resolves the smell will improve.
As opposed to an antibiotic or anti-fungal, psoriasis requires a steroid medication to improve, Griffin says.
Theres A Cyst
That odor could also bestemming from a cyst.
Asebaceous cystcan sometimes form in the area,Dr.
Audrey Kunin, M.D.,a board-certified dermatologist and founder ofDERMAdoctor, tells Bustle.
The drainage [or pus] appears like thin cottage cheese and has a nasty odor.
However tempting it may be, dont venture to pop it.
These need to be surgically excised to improve, Griffin says.
You Have An Umbilical Stone
Lets say its been ages since you cleaned your belly button.
Or maybe youdoclean it, but your belly button happens to be really deep.
Also called anaval stone, it happens when all that dirt and oil hardens up.
Studies referenced:
Grice, E.A.
Nat Rev Microbiol.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535073/
Hulcr, J.
A Jungle in There: Bacteria in Belly Buttons are Highly Diverse, but Predictable.
PLoS One.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047712
InformedHealth.org [Internet].
Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-.
2013 Jul 31 [Updated 2017 May 18].
Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279447/.
Dr. Thomas Griffin, M.D.,board-certified dermatologist
This article was originally published onJuly 13, 2022
