When two folds of skin are in close contact with each other and there is no movement, the moisture and oil naturally excreted by the skin will become stale and infected with bacteria and will begin to smell. This phenomenon is not confined to the belly button. Anyone who has had a broken shoulder and had their arm in a bent position on a sling will soon discover that the skin on the inside of the elbow will smell unless attended to. Unfortunately, the skin in the belly button just remains there in close contact and with no movement or airing so bacteria have a field day and a horrible smell develops. Preventing this means making sure the skin is well ventilated and kept dry. Some people have a deeper button which makes it more difficult to keep it dry. Some people perspire more than others so it's easy to see how the problem affects some people and not others. Some years ago, when I never bothered about my button, I noticed it was very sore when drying after a bath. It was also very smelly and red. All I did from then on was make sure I washed it properly and then dried it thoroughly afterwards. I then "checked" it regularly and the smell and soreness disappeared and has never returned.
So... For all you sufferers, if you prevent the skin folds from clamming together and you ensure it is well dried after bathing, there is every chance the problem will be cured. Dry it gently by dabbing it with a soft tissue because the slightest roughness will make it sore and the skin will then weep moisture and start to smell. I suggest you do not apply any vaseline type cream as this may trap the moisture and cause added soreness. Talcum powder will help to dry it but beware of the powder becoming moist and crusty. Hopefully, once any soreness has gone the button will stop weeping. Prevention in future means trying to keep it well aired and dry even if this means dabbing it with a tissue once or twice during the day.
The medical profession these days tend to look for a quick fix, as indeed we all do, but simply applying antibiotic creams on a regular basis will only lead to a recurrence after the temporary "cure." I hope these few comments will be helpful and remember that once the problem is sorted, it is much easier to keep it that way than to let it return and start all over again.
Stinky belly button is from Candida yeast invading the navel tract. Squeeze out the goo, then keep the area dry with alcohol and plenty of fresh air. Apply a topical antifungal cream/oil daily. In the meanwhile, cut back on sugar, coffee, ibuprofen, antibiotics, and stress, all of which make the Candida problem worse. Also, chew your meals slowly and get more omega 3's in your diet. It may sound unrelated but trust me it helps. Keep up your hydration and fiber. Find a list of alkalizing foods online and indulge in them. All this helped my bf; his stinky belly button has never come back.
I thought it was normal to have a stinky one a few days a week. I don't mean daily and I don't mean one that is draining. I was thinking if it is draining, that was suspect of bacteria, not fungus or virus. But the Candida yeast does make perfect sense since that does grow in the stomach and I think intestines.
I had surgery 5 weeks ago on my belly (laparoscopic) and my belly button started to weep yellow orange blood stuff from my belly button in week 1. By week 4 it stopped. But again, I had a scope shoved in my belly button and I had an infection - that is why it was weeping. I just kept it taped up with surgical gauze given to me. I didn't want that stuff to get on my clothes. I also kept it taped up with the gauze at night since it wept at night too. I kept it clean with mild soap like dial. I didn't use alcohol or peroxide since I was told from my obgyn surgeon that would be too much and too strong. I also didn't put ANY of that darn anti biotic gel on it. Neosporin. That made it WORSE.
I suspect that a good diet with low sugar and low fat would help in all cases of health, not just for a healthy non stinky belly button. But I believe I have read if a yeast infection is present, then limit sugar. I think sugar feeds the virus/fungus.
This phenomenon is not confined to the belly button. Anyone who has had a broken shoulder and had their arm in a bent position on a sling will soon discover that the skin on the inside of the elbow will smell unless attended to.
Unfortunately, the skin in the belly button just remains there in close contact and with no movement or airing so bacteria have a field day and a horrible smell develops.
Preventing this means making sure the skin is well ventilated and kept dry.
Some people have a deeper button which makes it more difficult to keep it dry. Some people perspire more than others so it's easy to see how the problem affects some people and not others.
Some years ago, when I never bothered about my button, I noticed it was very sore when drying after a bath. It was also very smelly and red.
All I did from then on was make sure I washed it properly and then dried it thoroughly afterwards. I then "checked" it regularly and the smell and soreness disappeared and has never returned.
So... For all you sufferers, if you prevent the skin folds from clamming together and you ensure it is well dried after bathing, there is every chance the problem will be cured. Dry it gently by dabbing it with a soft tissue because the slightest roughness will make it sore and the skin will then weep moisture and start to smell. I suggest you do not apply any vaseline type cream as this may trap the moisture and cause added soreness. Talcum powder will help to dry it but beware of the powder becoming moist and crusty. Hopefully, once any soreness has gone the button will stop weeping.
Prevention in future means trying to keep it well aired and dry even if this means dabbing it with a tissue once or twice during the day.
The medical profession these days tend to look for a quick fix, as indeed we all do, but simply applying antibiotic creams on a regular basis will only lead to a recurrence after the temporary "cure."
I hope these few comments will be helpful and remember that once the problem is sorted, it is much easier to keep it that way than to let it return and start all over again.
I had surgery 5 weeks ago on my belly (laparoscopic) and my belly button started to weep yellow orange blood stuff from my belly button in week 1. By week 4 it stopped. But again, I had a scope shoved in my belly button and I had an infection - that is why it was weeping. I just kept it taped up with surgical gauze given to me. I didn't want that stuff to get on my clothes. I also kept it taped up with the gauze at night since it wept at night too. I kept it clean with mild soap like dial. I didn't use alcohol or peroxide since I was told from my obgyn surgeon that would be too much and too strong. I also didn't put ANY of that darn anti biotic gel on it. Neosporin. That made it WORSE.
I suspect that a good diet with low sugar and low fat would help in all cases of health, not just for a healthy non stinky belly button. But I believe I have read if a yeast infection is present, then limit sugar. I think sugar feeds the virus/fungus.