Belly Button Hygiene: How to clean the belly button? Top 10 tips

Belly Button Hygiene

The Belly Button is the most ignored area of the body when it comes to hygiene most of the focus is on dental hygiene, clean armpits, body odor, and intimate hygiene. Talking of Bellybutton it’s not just there to collect lints. It is the center of our body and almost all nerve endings meet. Though some define it as a birth scar with a scientific name Umbilicus.

The function of the belly button

Most of us have read or heard that it provides blood and oxygen to the fetus but ignore its importance in life after birth. We only notice it later if we have some infection or bad smell or fluids. So it important to focus on belly button hygiene to keep some of these problems at bay. 

Belly Button

Belly button infection

It happens because of germs settling down in your belly button because your not cleaning it properly or not cleaning at all, as a result, bacterial infection occurs which is most common compare to yeast infection. This infection will lead to belly button discharge or smelly belly buttons. The discharge can vary in color yellow or green and some more depending on the type of infection. Candida infection is also a common yeast infection with white discharge and itchy patch around the navel.

Belly Button odor

The smelly belly button or belly button odor is the result of poor personal hygiene. The depression which is formed after the umbilical cord is detached from the mother is called the belly button. The characteristic design of the belly button is a bond to catch and collect germs, dirt, dust, and lint. Proper hygiene must be followed otherwise the bacteria, yeast, or other fungal spores will grow and multiply giving out belly button odor. The stinky belly button problem can be solved if follow proper hygiene. In some cases, if the infection is severe and accompanied by other symptoms like bleeding, discharge, swelling, pain, redness, and fever then you must consult a doctor for medical help. These tips will not help to treat medical conditions. But if you follow these tips on belly button hygiene regularly medical conditions due to hygiene issues will not arise. 

What is belly button discharge?

If you see any pus, watery substance, or blood oozing out from your navel area is nothing else but belly button discharge. The color of the pus or watery substance can range from white to yellow to brown. The reasons can be many for discharge.

3 causes of belly button discharge

1. Bacterial infection: If you notice yellow/green color discharge with pain and swelling around the navel and discharge is stinky its a bacterial infection.
2. yeast infection: If you notice a white discharge with rashes and redness around your navel it's most likely due to candida infection. 
3. A recent surgery: If you have undergone abdominal surgery in the recent past and you notice a discharge after that in that case you should consult your doctor because its a sign of infection.

In any of the above scenarios, you must consult a doctor to identify the problem and treat it accordingly.

Belly button piercing

This is the most common cause of belly button infection if proper aftercare is not taken the opening on the surface allows the bacteria to penetrate inside and cause problems like infection. Take good care and follow proper hygiene before and after piercing.

Belly button Hygiene: Do’s and Don’t’s with tips

      1.    Focus on Bellybutton Hygiene clean it twice a week.

2.    The cleaning process must be simple and easy to follow. It shouldn’t go down to 10     steps to your belly button cleaning routine.

3.    You don’t need to invest in any special cleansers. Simple soap and water solution would do the job.

4.    Don’t keep touching or poking often.

5.    Eat right to avoid smelly buttons.

6.    After cleaning with soap solution, let it dry don’t poke and dry and apply some medicinal oil, or herbal oil to keep it moisturized. This will keep germs at bay as well as it will give some additional health bonus points depending on the oil used.

7.    Avoid getting piercing as piercing increasing the chance of infection.

8.    Avoid cleaning with rubbing alcohol as regular use will damage the skin around. Alcohol rubs can only be applied if the doctor suggests you in case of infection.

9.    Mustard oil, when applied to the belly button, can solve your chapped lips problem.

10. Neem oil keeps your skin free of pimples when you apply on a regular basis.