Yeast and bacteria occur naturally in certain areas of your body (particularly damp, warm dark areas where these organisms thrive), so if you don't clean your belly button regularly, microorganisms can grow rapidly and cause an infection.
Candida can multiply if there is excess moisture, poor hygiene, or if the immune system is weakened. Other factors that can contribute to a belly button yeast infection include obesity, diabetes, and taking antibiotics.
If you think you have an infection in your belly button, you should call your doctor so that you can have the area cleaned carefully. You may also need prescription antibiotics to kill the bacteria before it spread to other parts of your body.
Infection of the belly button (omphalitis) most commonly occurs in newborn babies. Adults can get an infection of the navel (umbilicus) but it's uncommon. There are many reasons your belly button may become red, swollen or have discharge, and it may not be a skin issue.
Lipoff says, the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is often behind belly button infections because it tends to cause many skin infections in general. A staph infection can manifest in a number of ways, including as a highly contagious condition called impetigo, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A belly button yeast infection can be itchy and unpleasant. But it's easily treatable. You can prevent belly button yeast infections by keeping your navel area clean and dry. If you have symptoms of a belly button yeast infection, call your healthcare provider.
If you develop redness, swelling, pain, or discharge, your belly button could be infected. This is especially likely if you have a navel piercing. In this case, you may require antibiotics or other treatment and should visit UPMC Urgent Care right away.
The doctor may prescribe topical antifungal creams, ointments, or powders to treat the fungal infection of the belly button. It includes Clotrimazole, Ketoconazole, and Ciclopirox. Oral antifungal medications include Fluconazole and Metronidazole.
If you notice belly button discharge, chances are you have an infection. But other things, such as cysts and poor hygiene, can also cause your belly button to leak fluid. This article explains the symptoms, causes, and treatment for belly button discharge.
Accumulation of dirt and debris.
Your belly button is home to many types of bacteria. You may also have fungi (like the yeast called Candida) and other germs in there. Combine that with dead skin cells and the natural oils from your skin and you've got the recipe for an unpleasant odor.
Diabetic patients are prone to infections, and the disease may also prevent rapid healing of infections. Diabetics with belly button infections may suffer from an unpleasant smell emanating from the belly button, as well as oozing of cheese-like fluids.
The most common cause for a belly button smell is poor hygiene. All areas of the body need to be washed regularly to stay clean and healthy. Skin is home to trillions of bacteria, which develop naturally and are usually harmless. The belly button has folds of skin that provide a place for bacteria to grow.
If your belly button is “leaking” clear or colored discharge or blood, you may have a bacterial, fungal, or yeast infection. Crusty skin, strong odor, itching, and redness are also signs of infection. If discharge and crust stick around after you wash your belly button, you should see your doctor.
A yeast infection can happen if your skin gets damaged. Yeast can also “overgrow” in warm or humid conditions. An infection can also happen if you have a weak immune system. Taking antibiotics can also cause an overgrowth of yeast.
The sebaceous glands release oil in the skin. If one of these glands in or near the belly button gets backed up or clogged with dirt and oil, a cyst may form under the skin. If the cyst is infected and leaking, a thick off-white to yellow discharge will often come from it.
Omphalitis is an infection of the umbilicus and/or surrounding tissues, occurring primarily in the neonatal period. It is a true medical emergency that can rapidly progress to systemic infection and death, with an estimated mortality rate between 7 and 15 percent.
Internally the veins and arteries in the cord close up and form ligaments, which are tough connective tissues. These ligaments divide up the liver into sections and remain attached to the inside of the belly button.
Redness and swelling of the vulva. Vaginal pain and soreness. Vaginal rash. Thick, white, odor-free vaginal discharge with a cottage cheese appearance.
You might have a yeast infection.
It's usually harmless, but under the right conditions—say, the warm and moist habitat a belly button provides—it can grow into a full-blown yeast infection, says Dr. Minars. This is why proper and consistent cleaning of the area is so important, especially within folds of skin.
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. Navel stones aren't usually painful.
If left untreated, some belly button infections can become serious. As mentioned above, some infections are caused by bacteria that can spread to other parts of your body (including organs and blood), causing sepsis and other deadly conditions.
"All flesh holes can build up with sweat, dead skin cells, oils, clothing fabric, bacteria and forbidden cheese," he says in the clip, which has since been viewed over 400k times. "If not washed out on a regular basis, this material can accumulate and harden into an omphalolith – a belly button stone," he adds.