To get rid of the black stuff in your belly button, gently clean it with a mild soap, warm water, and a washcloth or cotton swab, focusing on the folds, then rinse thoroughly and pat completely dry to remove lint, dead skin, and bacteria; if it's stubborn or smelly, a saltwater or rubbing alcohol solution can help, but see a doctor if it's painful, smelly, or has colored discharge, as it might be an infection or navel stone.
Navel stones are usually dark brown or black. They are also dry and hard to the touch. When doctors examine them under the microscope, they can whether the stone is made up of dead skin, hair, sebum, or other debris that has built up in the navel.
- Use warm water and mild, fragrance-free soap, or saline (0.9% sodium chloride) if skin is sensitive. Soften the debris: - Apply a warm compress for 5--10 minutes to soften and loosen buildup. - Alternatively, soak the area in a shallow bowl of warm soapy water or take a warm shower and let water run into the navel.
To minimize bacteria and extract anything else that may become trapped in there, experts recommend a weekly hygiene routine. Simply dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol or plain soap and water and gently clean the area once a week, and dry pat as you normally would after a shower.
Your belly button may also contain dirt, sebum (oil), and dead skin cells. All together, this can cause comedones, which are like blackheads, to develop in your belly button; this buildup can potentially lead to a naval stone, a brownish-black bump.
Without getting in there and cleaning your belly button on the regular, the lingering gunk — e.g. dirt, sweat, dead skin cells, clothing fabric, and bacteria — can collect and "cause odor or even an infection," says Dr. Goldberg.
How To Prevent Navel Stones
DIY Belly Button Cleaning: Step-by-Step Guide
Accumulation of Dirt and Debris
Your belly button is home to many types of bacteria, fungi, and other germs. Combine that with dead skin cells and the natural oils from your skin, and you've got the recipe for an unpleasant odor.
The navel looks like an indention — a pushed-in area — with a surrounding circular rim. But the exact appearance of your navel can vary greatly. Informally, the basic types are the “innie” or “outie.” Those names describe the way the skin inside your navel folds and how it appears from the outside.
Create a solution of warm water and gentle soap and apply it to the skin around your belly button and just inside. We recommend using the CeraVe Hydrating Body Wash, a non-irritating formula that's rich in ceramides. Rinse with warm water and dry the area thoroughly with a soft towel.
Overview of Belly Button Problems
If you've noticed discharge, a strong smell, pain, or another change in your belly button, you may need to see a doctor. If your belly button leaks discharge or blood, you may have a bacterial, fungal, or yeast infection.
The belly button can easily become infected by Candida, or other fungi – it is just the sort of warm, moist crevice that fungi like. If you have a fungal infection the belly button will look red, and the redness may extend to the surrounding skin for a few millimetres. It may be itchy.
Symptoms of a Belly Button Infection
Big navel stone could mimic urachal sinus. Navel lint usually does no harm, but its removal may be advised since it could sometimes cause omphalitis or even sepsis. A navel stone can be removed easily by soaking it in sterilised olive oil.
What causes a belly button to smell? Most belly buttons are indented and act as a trap for sweat, dead skin, and dirt. Few people wash their belly button with soap, so germs can develop. The presence of dirt and bacteria in the belly button is the most common cause of a belly button smell.
Your belly button doesn't get much attention once it heals after birth. But like any part of your skin or body, it can get infected. Usually, belly button infections aren't too serious, but your health care provider should look at them.
It's important to clean out your belly button at least once a week.
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Like other body parts, the belly button requires regular and proper cleaning to stay healthy and odor-free. Most belly buttons are recessed, resembling a pocket that collects dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells. The deeper the navel, the greater the risk of accumulating bacteria and debris.
The claim that putting essential oils in your belly button can yield health benefits is PARTLY FALSE, based on our research. It is true that applying essential oils to your skin can promote well-being, often when used in conjunction with a medical regime.
Lather soapy water on a cotton swab or the corner of a washcloth. Gently use the cotton swab or washcloth to remove dirt and debris from your belly button until smooth. When you're done, use a clean cotton swab or the corner of a dry towel to dry the inside of your belly button.
Anyone experiencing belly button or “periumbilical” pain should talk with a doctor to determine the cause. Many minor conditions can cause pain in the navel area, which may even radiate to other areas, including the pelvis, legs, and chest. Common causes include indigestion, constipation, and umbilical hernias.
Your belly button, also called the navel or umbilicus, has no function after birth and is simply a scar or remnant of the umbilical cord that connects you to your mother when you are in the uterus.