Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesType of OdorWhen to See a ProviderTreatmentCleaning
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Type of Odor
When to See a Provider
Treatment
Cleaning
If you have noticed a smell coming from your belly button, you likely want to treat it as soon as possible.
Your belly button is the mark on your body where your umbilical cord was attached before you were born. Because of its shape and tiny skin folds, belly buttons can collect dirt, sweat, fungi, and bacteria. In fact, a small study of belly buttons in 22 people found 302 different bacteria.This buildup can lead to a smell and even infection.
The belly button is also a commonly forgotten body part when it comes to washing. Cleaning the belly button may help to get rid of any smells. However, if the smell persists, or you have other symptoms like a rash, pain, or discharge, check with your healthcare provider.
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When your belly button smells, it’s important to treat the cause as soon as possible. The cause may be simple, like a lack of hygiene, or more complicated such as a skin infection.
Hygiene
When sweat, dirt, and dead skin cells collect in the belly button, they need to be removed withregular washing. It’s recommended that both teens and adults shower daily to remove the buildup of dirt and sweat.
Cysts
It is possible to develop acystbehind your belly button. If this cyst becomes infected, it can lead topain, discharge, and a foul smell.
Many of us would never know that we still have a urachus unless it becomes infected. In addition to a smell, common symptoms include:
Because a urachal cyst carries a small risk of cancer, your healthcare provider may recommend surgically removing it once the infection has been treated.
Candida
Candidais a type of yeast (or fungus) that can cause a fungal infection known ascandidiasis.Candidanormally lives on the skin without an issue. It can also be found inside the body in the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina.
WhenCandidastarts to grow at an out-of-control rate, an infection can occur and lead to a smell.Individuals withdiabeteshave an increased risk of developing candidiasis.
Symptomsmay include:
Piercing
Any time there is a break or tear in your skin, there is a risk ofinfection. It is estimated that 10% to 30% of piercings become infected. Belly button piercings can become infected with different types of bacteria likeStaphylococcusaureus(staph),Streptococcus pyogenes, orPseudomonas aeruginosa.
One study found staph andCorynebacteriumwere the most common bacteria living in the navel.In addition to a smell, symptoms of an infected belly button piercing include:
If you are considering a belly button piercing, go to a store or facility where the piercers always wash their hands with a germicidal soap, wear surgical gloves, and use sterilized instruments.
There are different types of body odors that could affect your belly button. If your belly button smells due to hygiene issues, the smell may be similar to thebody odorthat you would experience after sweating or not showering for a few days.
Different types of yeast and bacteria can cause specific smells on the skin. Bacterial infection smells could be characterized as sulfur-like, sour, or cheesy.If you notice a distinct smell coming from your belly button, do your best to describe it to your healthcare provider. This will help with getting the right diagnosis and treatment.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
This is especially important if you experience other symptoms with the belly button smell, such as signs of infection. These may include:
Keep in mind that with a belly button piercing, an allergic reaction also is possible.
Treatment of your belly button will depend on the cause of the smell. A hygiene issue can be addressed with regular washing. Other possible treatments include the following:
Of all the body parts that can be pierced, the navel is most likely to become infected because of its shape. Keep in mind that a navel piercing can take up to a year to heal completely.
How to Clean the Belly Button
Clean your belly button each day while in the shower:
Summary
When your belly button smells, it is usually because of a hygiene issue or infection. The belly button contains several tiny skin folds that can trap sweat, dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shah S, Donze-Reiner T, Shah V.Diversity of navel microbiome in young adults.J Med Microbiol.2020 May;69(5):721-727. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.001192.American Diabetes Association.Skin complications.Hamada K, Haruyama S, Yamaguchi T, et al.What determines human body odour?Exp Dermatol.2014;23(5):316-317. doi:10.1111/exd.12380American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bathing: how often do children need to take a bath?UCSF Department of Urology.Urachal abnormalities.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Rodrigues CF, Rodrigues ME, Henriques M.Candida sp. infections in patients with diabetes mellitus.J Clin Med. 2019;8(1):76. doi:10.3390/jcm8010076MedlinePlus.Candida infection of the skin.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Emerging infectious diseases.Patel M, Cobbs CG.Infections from body piercing and tattoos. Schlossberg D, ed. Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(6):3.6.03. doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.iol5-0016-2015Akhmetova A, Saliev T, Allan IU, Illsley MJ, Nurgozhin T, Mikhalovsky S.A comprehensive review of topical odor-controlling treatment options for chronic wounds.J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016;43(6):598-609. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000273Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Surgical wound infection - treatment.Markel K, Silverberg N, Pelletier JL, Watsky KL, Jacob SE.Art of prevention: A piercing article about nickel.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019 Mar 16;6(3):203-205. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.03.001American Academy of Pediatrics.Body piercings, teens & potential health risks.UC Berkeley Health Services.Body piercings: cleaning and healing.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Shah S, Donze-Reiner T, Shah V.Diversity of navel microbiome in young adults.J Med Microbiol.2020 May;69(5):721-727. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.001192.American Diabetes Association.Skin complications.Hamada K, Haruyama S, Yamaguchi T, et al.What determines human body odour?Exp Dermatol.2014;23(5):316-317. doi:10.1111/exd.12380American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bathing: how often do children need to take a bath?UCSF Department of Urology.Urachal abnormalities.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Rodrigues CF, Rodrigues ME, Henriques M.Candida sp. infections in patients with diabetes mellitus.J Clin Med. 2019;8(1):76. doi:10.3390/jcm8010076MedlinePlus.Candida infection of the skin.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Emerging infectious diseases.Patel M, Cobbs CG.Infections from body piercing and tattoos. Schlossberg D, ed. Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(6):3.6.03. doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.iol5-0016-2015Akhmetova A, Saliev T, Allan IU, Illsley MJ, Nurgozhin T, Mikhalovsky S.A comprehensive review of topical odor-controlling treatment options for chronic wounds.J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016;43(6):598-609. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000273Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Surgical wound infection - treatment.Markel K, Silverberg N, Pelletier JL, Watsky KL, Jacob SE.Art of prevention: A piercing article about nickel.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019 Mar 16;6(3):203-205. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.03.001American Academy of Pediatrics.Body piercings, teens & potential health risks.UC Berkeley Health Services.Body piercings: cleaning and healing.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Shah S, Donze-Reiner T, Shah V.Diversity of navel microbiome in young adults.J Med Microbiol.2020 May;69(5):721-727. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.001192.American Diabetes Association.Skin complications.Hamada K, Haruyama S, Yamaguchi T, et al.What determines human body odour?Exp Dermatol.2014;23(5):316-317. doi:10.1111/exd.12380American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bathing: how often do children need to take a bath?UCSF Department of Urology.Urachal abnormalities.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.Rodrigues CF, Rodrigues ME, Henriques M.Candida sp. infections in patients with diabetes mellitus.J Clin Med. 2019;8(1):76. doi:10.3390/jcm8010076MedlinePlus.Candida infection of the skin.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Emerging infectious diseases.Patel M, Cobbs CG.Infections from body piercing and tattoos. Schlossberg D, ed. Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(6):3.6.03. doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.iol5-0016-2015Akhmetova A, Saliev T, Allan IU, Illsley MJ, Nurgozhin T, Mikhalovsky S.A comprehensive review of topical odor-controlling treatment options for chronic wounds.J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016;43(6):598-609. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000273Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Surgical wound infection - treatment.Markel K, Silverberg N, Pelletier JL, Watsky KL, Jacob SE.Art of prevention: A piercing article about nickel.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019 Mar 16;6(3):203-205. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.03.001American Academy of Pediatrics.Body piercings, teens & potential health risks.UC Berkeley Health Services.Body piercings: cleaning and healing.
Shah S, Donze-Reiner T, Shah V.Diversity of navel microbiome in young adults.J Med Microbiol.2020 May;69(5):721-727. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.001192.
American Diabetes Association.Skin complications.
Hamada K, Haruyama S, Yamaguchi T, et al.What determines human body odour?Exp Dermatol.2014;23(5):316-317. doi:10.1111/exd.12380
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Bathing: how often do children need to take a bath?
UCSF Department of Urology.Urachal abnormalities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candidiasis basics.
Rodrigues CF, Rodrigues ME, Henriques M.Candida sp. infections in patients with diabetes mellitus.J Clin Med. 2019;8(1):76. doi:10.3390/jcm8010076
MedlinePlus.Candida infection of the skin.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Emerging infectious diseases.
Patel M, Cobbs CG.Infections from body piercing and tattoos. Schlossberg D, ed. Microbiol Spectr. 2015;3(6):3.6.03. doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.iol5-0016-2015
Akhmetova A, Saliev T, Allan IU, Illsley MJ, Nurgozhin T, Mikhalovsky S.A comprehensive review of topical odor-controlling treatment options for chronic wounds.J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2016;43(6):598-609. doi:10.1097/WON.0000000000000273
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Surgical wound infection - treatment.
Markel K, Silverberg N, Pelletier JL, Watsky KL, Jacob SE.Art of prevention: A piercing article about nickel.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2019 Mar 16;6(3):203-205. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2019.03.001
American Academy of Pediatrics.Body piercings, teens & potential health risks.
UC Berkeley Health Services.Body piercings: cleaning and healing.
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