Home
Articles
Q&A

What Causes a Smelly Odor and Discharge from the Belly Button?

Mar 22, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
The navel is prone to indentation, making it susceptible to accumulating dirt and debris. Prolonged lack of cleaning allows dirt to mix with skin secretions, promoting bacterial growth and resulting in odor and discharge. It is recommended to gently wipe the navel regularly with a cotton swab moistened with warm water. Handle gently to avoid skin damage and keep the navel clean and dry. Wearing tight-fitting or coarse-textured clothing can cause repeated friction on the navel, leading to local skin damage and increased secretions.

　　A foul odor and discharge from the navel may be caused by improper cleaning, clothing friction, excessive sweating, omphalitis, or a patent urachus. Appropriate management can be selected based on specific circumstances. If discomfort occurs, prompt medical attention is recommended.

　　1. Improper cleaning: The navel is concave and prone to accumulating dirt. Prolonged lack of cleaning allows dirt to mix with skin secretions, promoting bacterial growth, which can lead to odor and discharge. It is recommended to regularly and gently wipe the navel with a cotton swab moistened with warm water. Handle gently to avoid skin damage and keep the navel clean and dry.

　　2. Clothing friction: Wearing tight or coarse-textured clothing can repeatedly rub against the navel, damaging the skin and increasing secretions, which encourages bacterial growth and produces an odor. It is advisable to choose loose, soft, breathable cotton clothing to reduce irritation and friction to the navel and lower the risk of infection.

　　3. Excessive sweating: During summer or after exercise, increased perspiration may accumulate in the navel area where sweat does not easily evaporate, creating conditions favorable for bacterial proliferation, resulting in odor and discharge. It is important to clean the body promptly, especially after sweating. Talcum powder may be used appropriately to keep the navel area dry, but care should be taken to prevent powder from entering deeper into the navel.

　　4. Omphalitis: Often caused by bacterial infection of the navel, leading to inflammation characterized by redness, swelling, pain, foul-smelling discharge, and in severe cases, purulent discharge. Patients may use antiseptics such as povidone-iodine solution, topical antibiotics like mupirocin ointment, or oral antibiotics such as cefixime capsules under a doctor's guidance to alleviate symptoms.

　　5. Patent urachus: The urachus fails to close completely, allowing urine to leak from the navel, causing foul-smelling discharge, often accompanied by dampness and recurrent infections. Patients may follow medical advice to use medications such as amoxicillin capsules, nitrofurantoin enteric-coated tablets, or Sanjin tablets to relieve discomfort.

　　It is recommended to maintain personal hygiene, gently drying the navel with a clean towel after washing, avoiding excessive force or using irritating products.

Related Articles

View All
Why is there a particularly foul odor inside the belly button?
Under normal circumstances, the belly button refers to the umbilicus. A particularly foul smell emanating from the umbilicus may be caused by accumulation of dirt, improper cleaning, umbilical eczema, omphalitis, or umbilicocutaneous fistula. If discomfort occurs, prompt medical attention is recommended. In daily life, one should avoid injuring the umbilicus, wear loose and comfortable clothing to reduce friction, and尽量 avoid contact with irritating substances.
avatar
Dr. Wang Lei
View Full Answer
What does it mean if I feel a horizontal, elongated lump above my belly button, and what should I do about it?
Under normal circumstances, a horizontal strip felt above the navel may be caused by abdominal muscles, fecal masses in the intestine, abdominal wall varicose veins, pancreatic pseudocysts, rectus sheath hematoma, or similar conditions. Treatment methods such as conservative management, medication, or surgical intervention can be selected based on the specific situation. In daily life, one should maintain regular eating habits and prevent constipation; avoid abdominal trauma and excessive straining.
avatar
Dr. Li Feng
View Full Answer
How to Determine the Cause of a Protruding Baby's Belly Button
To determine the cause of a baby's protruding navel, observe the appearance and size of the bulge, consider the infant's age, check the response to gentle pressure, note any triggering movements, and evaluate for accompanying symptoms. After comprehensively analyzing the underlying cause, appropriate management can be applied. If the bulging area becomes red, swollen, painful, if the baby cries persistently, or if the protrusion continues to enlarge, prompt medical attention is recommended. Examine the shape and size of the bulge.
avatar
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
View Full Answer
Do infants need to use belly button patches when taking a bath?
In general, whether to use a belly button patch when bathing an infant should be determined based on the healing status of the umbilical area. It is recommended to use a belly button patch if the infant's umbilicus has not fully healed. However, if the umbilicus has completely healed without signs of redness, swelling, or discharge, a belly button patch is not necessary. To properly care for an infant's umbilicus, it is important to keep the umbilical area and surrounding skin clean and dry in daily routines.
avatar
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
View Full Answer
Why does the belly button smell?
The navel is concave and prone to accumulating dirt. If not cleaned regularly, debris can mix with skin secretions, promoting bacterial growth and causing odor. It is recommended to clean the navel periodically. Dip a cotton swab in warm water and gently wipe the navel to remove dirt, but avoid applying excessive pressure to prevent skin damage. Tight clothing restricts breathability, creating a warm, humid environment around the navel area that encourages bacterial proliferation and leads to unpleasant smells.
avatar
Dr. Liu Wenmin
View Full Answer
What Causes a Baby's Belly Button to Protrude?
Obese infants tend to accumulate more fat in the body, which increases pressure on the abdominal wall, causing the navel area to protrude outward. This may be accompanied by symptoms such as excess weight and fat accumulation. Weight reduction through dietary control and appropriate physical activity can help improve the condition. For example, infants can consume low-calorie foods and engage in suitable exercises such as infant gymnastics.
avatar
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
View Full Answer
How long does it take for a newborn's belly button to return to normal?
Under normal circumstances, a newborn's umbilical cord stump will gradually heal within 1 to 2 weeks after birth. During this process, the skin around the navel will gradually dry out, form a scab, and eventually fall off, resulting in a normal navel. This is a normal stage of physiological development in newborns. Parents only need to keep the area around the navel clean and dry, avoiding excessive friction and irritation.
avatar
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
View Full Answer
Can dietary adjustments during pregnancy alleviate belly button pain?
In general, whether dietary adjustments during pregnancy can alleviate belly button pain depends on the cause of the pain. If the belly button pain is caused by improper diet, dietary adjustments usually can help relieve it. However, if the pain is due to non-dietary factors, dietary changes will not effectively alleviate the belly button pain. If discomfort persists, it is recommended to seek medical treatment at a hospital promptly.
avatar
Dr. Zhang Lu
View Full Answer
彩牛养生

Your trusted source for health information and wellness guidance.

Quick Links

Resources

Connect

© 2024 HealthPortal. All rights reserved.