Have you ever noticed an unpleasant smell coming from your belly button? Belly button odor is more common than you might think. Because your belly button is far from your nose, you might not notice that your belly button smells until the odor becomes stronger.

Your belly button might smell even when you’ve just showered or if you always keep up with your hygiene. Belly button odor has more to do with what happens inside your navel. Because belly buttons can be dark and damp, they can be a trap for sweat and debris.

How Does Belly Button Odor Develop?

Like other skin folds and creases, your belly button can develop an odor when a combination of substances and debris gets trapped inside it. Your belly button can collect things like:

• Lint — It’s common to find a ball of lint, made up of loose clothing fibers, inside your belly button.
• Sweat — If you don’t clean your belly button regularly, sweat can easily build up.
• Dead skin cells — Your skin is constantly shedding old cells to make way for new ones. Some of these dead skin cells can get trapped inside your belly button.
• Bacteria — Like the rest of your skin, the inside of your belly button naturally contains bacteria. However, because belly buttons are often dark, deep, and moist, they can harbor more bacteria than other areas, which can sometimes lead to skin infections, such as cellulitis.

In rare cases, omphaloliths (navel stones) can develop inside the belly button. These stones are made up of dried, built-up sebum (skin oil) and keratin (a protein in skin and hair cells). They’re most common in elderly people with deep and narrow belly buttons. Obesity is also a risk factor for omphaloliths.

Everyday Odor vs. Signs of Infection

Anyone can experience everyday belly button odor caused by a combination of the factors listed above. Occasionally, however, people can develop infections inside the belly button due to bacteria, fungi, or other germs. Some infections contribute to belly button odor.

One common type of infection that can affect the belly button is a yeast infection. Yeast infections are caused by a type of fungus called Candida. These fungal infections, called candidiasis, can develop anywhere on your skin but are especially common in dark, moist crevices like your belly button.

People living with obesity may have a higher risk of developing belly button yeast infections.

Signs of a Belly Button Infection

Most belly button yeast infections don’t cause belly button odor, but a specific belly button yeast infection called intertrigo can cause a musty smell. Candidal intertrigo, or intertrigo caused by Candida, usually develops because of heat, sweat, and the friction of your skin rubbing together.

Yeast infections in the belly button can also cause a rash that burns or itches. It can be red or purplish depending on your skin tone. The skin in and around your belly button may also become scaly and flaky. Some people might notice a white discharge coming from the area, which can be a sign of irritation or infection.

Who Gets Belly Button Odor?

Anyone can develop belly button odor, but it’s more common in people with larger bodies and those who have deep, “innie” belly buttons. The size of your body and the depth of your belly button can affect how much airflow the area gets and how easy it is to keep clean.

While belly button smell isn’t necessarily a sign of poor hygiene, not cleaning the area regularly can contribute to a strange or strong belly button odor.

Risk Factors for Infections

Keeping your belly button clean helps prevent bacteria and yeast from building up, which helps prevent infections. Other factors that can increase your risk of candidal intertrigo — which can cause belly button odor — include:

• Excessive sweating — Sweating heavily, especially in hot or humid weather, adds moisture to your belly button that can lead to skin irritation or infections.
• Dirty clothes — Wearing the same clothes for too long without washing them can make it easier for germs to grow inside your navel.
• Tight clothes — Clothes that fit too snugly can trap moisture and limit airflow, creating the perfect environment for bacteria and fungi to thrive.
• Belly button piercings — Navel piercings are prone to bacterial infections because they take a long time to heal and are located in an area that tends to attract bacteria and other germs. Practicing good hygiene and following proper piercing aftercare can help prevent infections from belly button piercings.

Diabetes, a common obesity comorbidity, increases your risk for skin infections like candidal intertrigo. You may also be more likely to experience recurring belly button infections if you have a weakened immune system due to an immune condition or medications such as antibiotics or chemotherapy. If you have a condition that increases your risk for belly button infections, talk to your doctor.

How Do I Stop My Belly Button From Smelling?

Although an unpleasant belly button odor doesn’t always mean you have poor hygiene, keeping your belly button clean and dry is key to preventing or managing a foul smell from your belly button.

Tips for Cleaning Your Belly Button

People living with obesity may need to take extra care to keep their belly buttons clean, dry, and infection-free. For example, if it’s hard to see your belly button while cleaning it, use a handheld mirror to help you get a better view. If you can’t quite reach your belly button, ask for help, or use an assistive tool (like a long-handled sponge or cloth) to clean it with mild soap and warm water.

Here are some other tips for regular cleaning that can help minimize belly button odor:

• Use mild, pH-balanced soaps and warm water.
• Scrub gently to avoid irritation.
• Use a cotton swab or the corner of a washcloth to clean deeper areas, then pat dry with a clean cloth or swab.
• Use a hair dryer on its cool setting to make sure the area is completely dry.
• Avoid lotions or creams inside your belly button to minimize moisture.
• Wear breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics to reduce sweating and odor.
• If you have a piercing, follow all aftercare instructions carefully and continue to gently clean your belly button piercing after it heals.

Health Management and Belly Button Odor

If you frequently get yeast infections in your belly button because of diabetes, keeping your blood sugar under control with proper diabetes treatment can help prevent them. Managing your weight can also help reduce yeast overgrowth and make it easier to clean and care for your belly button.

When To See a Doctor

In many cases, you can manage belly button odor at home by taking extra care to keep the area clean and dry. However, you should contact your healthcare provider if your belly button odor comes with signs of an infection, such as a change in color, crusting, or pustules (small bumps filled with pus), or if it begins to itch.

In rare cases, an untreated belly button infection can spread and cause a serious infection called sepsis, which affects the entire body. It’s important to treat infections as soon as they happen to prevent complications.

Treating Belly Button Infections

If you develop an infection, your doctor can prescribe treatment to reduce odor and discomfort. Antifungal medications are the most common treatments for candidal intertrigo and other fungal infections in the belly button. They come in different forms, including topical creams and powders you apply directly to the skin.

You’ll also need to keep your belly button clean, dry, and exposed to air to prevent the infection from coming back.

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