6 of the Most Common Belly Button Infections—and What to Do About Them

Shameika Rhymes
·6 min read

Ah, the belly button: It's cute to get pierced (and cute in general!) but you may want to be aware that the area is also a breeding ground for bacteria and can lead to belly button infections.

“Belly buttons are basically some very convoluted and deep skin folds. They can certainly carry staph and strep and in the right setting these can become infections,” explains Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Amy Kassouf, MD. 

Just like other areas on your body, your belly button naturally contains bacteria and fungi, and if you don’t clean it regularly or even dry it properly, you could get an infection.

Here are six infections you can get in your belly button and how to treat them.

6 Belly Button Infections to Know About

1. Yeast Infection

The vagina isn’t the only place you can get a yeast infection. Your body is susceptible to getting one anywhere, including your mouth, esophagus, under the breasts, throat and even your belly button. The medical term for this fungal infection is candidiasis, and it happens when Candida (yeast) that normally lives on your skin grows out of control.

“A yeast infection can occur after an antibiotic just like other yeast infections or if the area remains warm and damp such as in the middle of summer when it is hot or in the winter when we are all bundled up and the air cannot circulate," explains Dr. Kassouf. "Yeast infections often look white and macerated with some redness at the edges.”

You’ll also experience some itching and redness. “Yeast infections tend to be less dangerous than bacterial infections, but they can also be more annoying to treat. Generally, we start with antifungal creams, and if that doesn’t work we escalate to oral antifungal medications. This process can be as long as weeks,” says internal medicine physician, Dr. Eva Shelton, MD of Harvard Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Related: Wondering Why Your Belly Button Smells? 6 Possible Reasons

2. Staph Infection

A staph infection can appear in several ways including as a highly contagious condition called impetigo, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

“Staph infections tend to be red and have blister or bullous appearances and are more likely to have abscesses. Therefore, you might see a pocket of pus,” says Dr. Shelton. 

Non-bullous impetigo can cause symptoms like itchy sores that burst and leave behind red skin along with a yellow crust. Bullous impetigo can cause fluid-filled blisters that crack open and leave crusty sores.

“There are two broad types of staph infections, methicillin sensitive (MSSA) and resistant staph aureus infections (MRSA), and they have different treatments. While MSSA is covered by many medications, MRSA has limited selection of antibiotics and can therefore be harder to treat, especially the more resistant bacteria,” Dr. Shelton adds. She says the duration of recovery depends on the severity of the infection, but most mild infections take less than one to two weeks to treat.

3. Strep Infection

Streptococcus (strep) bacteria can also live in your belly button just like it does in your throat when you have strep throat. It is another cause of skin infections and belly button infections. “Strep infections are the most common skin infections. Generally, the skin tends to be red and painful and the redness may spread quickly,” explains Dr. Shelton.

Streptococcus can also cause impetigo and cellulitis. Cellulitis is a painful, red, tender, swollen rash that can blister and scab over. Impetigo and cellulitis usually happen when the group A type of streptococcal bacteria gets into your body through an opening in your skin like a cut, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Dr. Shelton says a strep infection is easy to treat with an antibiotic like Keflex for a week.

Related: 20 Doctor-Approved Foods That Fight Infection

4. Infected Epidermoid Cyst

Epidermoid cysts are cysts with collections of dead skin cells. The cysts are noncancerous, small bumps underneath the skin. They are slow-growing and often painless, unless they get infected. 

“Occasionally, these cysts can rupture or get infected and swell and get painful. When this happens, they may need to be drained or injected with cortisone and/or antibiotics. If this happens repeatedly then they may need to be surgically removed,” says Dr. Kassouf. You can try putting a warm compress over the cyst to help with any pain.

5. Infected Sebaceous Cyst

Sebaceous cysts are collections of sebum from clogged pores according to Dr. Shelton. “Generally epidermoid and sebaceous cysts are infected with staph or strep. The cysts need to be lanced and drained, then the patient needs to start a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics covering staph and strep while we send and wait for the results of the fluid culture from the infected cyst,” she explains. 

A warm compress can also help if you are feeling some pain.

Related: What is an Ingrown Hair Cyst?

6. Pseudomonas Infection

Dr. Shelton says infections in the belly button usually mean there are multiple types of bacteria involved. “One bacteria that has a limited selection of antibiotics and can also be deadly if untreated is pseudomonas. Generally, this type of infection shows up as a blue or green-colored, purulent skin site that has a fruity odor. Most patients who become infected with pseudomonas are very ill or immunocompromised and may need a prolonged course of treatment.” 

You can get pseudomonas in many different ways. It can grow on fruits and vegetables, and can be found in moist areas like pools, hot tubs, bathrooms and kitchens.

How to Avoid Belly Button Infections

Keeping your belly button clean is the most effective way to steer clear of infections. “The belly button can also accumulate lint and lotions and other products which may need to be gently removed,” says Dr. Kassouf. 

She suggests using a mild foaming cleanser and a soft cloth to dry with afterward. She adds that piercings are the most common cause of belly button infections and can be hard to clear due to the jewelry still having some of the infection on it. So, it’s best to remove the piercing until it’s treated and cleared up. If you aren’t sure if you have a belly button infection, it’s best to talk to your doctor about any symptoms you are having.

Next up: Read How Vitamin E Can Benefit Your Skin.

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