The Ins and Outs of Cleaning Your Dirty Belly Button

Most of us probably don’t pay much attention to our belly buttons beyond acknowledging their pre-birth function as the connector for our umbilical cord.

But your belly button contains bacteria just like every other part of your body, and that means it needs cleaning every now and then. Neglecting to clean your belly button can lead to unpleasant odors, irritation and infection.

To avoid these things from happening, internal medicine physician Manjaree Daw, MD, explains how you should clean your belly button at least once a week (if not more).

Steps for cleaning your belly button

Belly buttons, regardless of their shape or size, are hot pockets for dirt, bacteria and other germs. When cleaning them, it’s important to be gentle, so as not to cause irritation to sensitive skin. It’s also important to use soap products that are fragrance-free and mild. That means staying away from scented body lotions.

“I wouldn’t use anything else but soap and water,” advises Dr. Daw. “Soapy water works every time.”

If you have an innie belly button

If you have an innie belly button (or concave navel), you know they’re dark, moist environments that can be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

“Since that area inside your belly button isn’t getting much air, bacteria tend to accumulate and proliferate inside the tiny folds of your skin,” explains Dr. Daw. “If dirt or dead skin cells sit in there and lose moisture, it can become a big, hard ball of debris, and it might feel rough when removing it.”

Avoid rigorously scrubbing the inside of your belly button. If you cause small tears in that sensitive skin, the bacteria can easily get inside and cause an infection. Instead, you should:

1. Lather soapy water on a cotton swab or the corner of a washcloth.
2. Gently use the cotton swab or washcloth to remove dirt and debris from your belly button until smooth.
3. When you’re done, use a clean cotton swab or the corner of a dry towel to dry the inside of your belly button.
4. Avoid putting any body lotion inside your belly button because your belly button is a naturally moist environment and this can cause an increase in bacteria.

If you have an outie belly button

Outie belly buttons (or convex navels) look like little knots. As they’re easily accessible and are naturally exposed to open air, they’re easier to clean:

1. Using mild soap and your hands or a washcloth, gently lather your belly button with soapy water.
2. Rinse off the soap and dry your belly button when done.

When you have a belly button piercing

Fresh belly button piercings run the risk of infection because they cause a small opening in your skin where bacteria can get in. If your piercing is new, follow the cleaning instructions given to you and make sure you keep the area cleaned. Once your belly button piercing is fully healed, you can clean the area as you would without a piercing, with mild soap and a gentle touch.

Consequences of dirty belly buttons

If your belly button goes unclean for too long, you could run into these common issues:

• Foul odor. Sweat, dirt, dead skin cells and other things can get trapped inside your belly button, causing it to smell funky over time.
• Yeast infections. Candida is a fungus that grows naturally on your skin. But when it comes into contact with a moist, unclean environment like your belly button, it can overgrow. This can result in a yeast infection characterized by a red, itchy rash that may burn, swell or cause discharge.

“There’s no harm in cleaning your belly button daily, as long as you’re not traumatizing the area by scrubbing too hard or using harsh products that irritate your skin,” notes Dr. Daw.

“If your belly button is painful or you have discharge and you don’t know what’s going on down there, I would make an appointment to see your primary care provider.”