Buzz
Our bodies demand constant attention. As we age, the list of tasks required to maintain good health and hygiene gets longer, especially when it comes to personal care. You might think you’re doing a decent job of cleaning all the areas of your body, but many people overlook one crucial spot: their belly button.
How to Clean Your Belly Button Effectively
Let’s be clear: Your belly button must be cleaned. If you neglect it, you’ll quickly be reminded by unpleasant odors and potential infections, and you might find yourself excluded from the most glamorous parties.
Whether your belly button is an innie or an outie, soap and water are essential for proper navel care. During your shower, gently cleanse your belly button with mild soap and warm water.
For those with an 'outie,' simply ensuring you've washed away any dirt or debris from the protruding navel during your shower is typically sufficient. However, if you have an 'innie,' just showering won't do the trick.
While a bit of incidental soap and water contact is helpful, it’s important to occasionally go deeper to ensure your belly button is truly clean. This is where cotton swabs come in—use one with rubbing alcohol and gently swirl it inside. If it’s still dirty, discard it and use a fresh one until the swab comes out clean.
A final word of advice: If you use lotions or other skin creams, avoid getting any inside your belly button. It’s already a moist and damp area, and adding more moisture could cause problems.
Why it’s important to clean your belly button
To put it bluntly, your belly button is a breeding ground for nastiness. The level of grossness depends on whether you have an 'innie' or an 'outie.' Outies are easier to clean and less likely to cause issues, though they still require regular attention. Innies, on the other hand, need more care since they’re actual indentations in your body, and they can trap all kinds of unpleasant stuff. A study discovered more than 60 different types of bacteria living in the average belly button, along with dirt, hair, dead skin cells, and fibers from your clothes, all contributing to potential problems.
What kinds of problems? Infections, for one. The dirt and moisture in your belly button can lead to irritation caused by bacteria, yeast, or fungus. An infected belly button may become red, swollen, itchy, painful, and discharge a mixture of blood and pus. The infection can also become severe, especially if it spreads.
You might also encounter omphaloliths, or belly button stones—essentially giant blackheads made from dead skin, oils, hair, and other debris. These can grow surprisingly large, and getting rid of them might require a professional’s expertise (and a strong stomach).
