From smells to stones and itches – what your belly button says about your health and when you should see a doctor

YOUR belly button, whether it’s an ‘innie’ or an ‘outie’, is a remnant of how you were once connected to your mother in the womb.

The medical term for belly button is navel, and it is where the umbilical cord was attached to you.

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The umbilical cord is the connection between the blood circulation of the developing fetus and the placenta.

The two circulations do not mix, but oxygen, glucose and other substances can travel from mother to baby, and waste products such as carbon dioxide can be removed.

After giving birth, you begin to breathe on your own and the umbilical cord and placenta are no longer needed.

The cord is cut, leaving a small umbilical stump that falls over the next a few days or weeks.

This leaves behind the belly button, which is essentially like a scar.

While the belly button may not be a body part you think about often, it can give you clues about your overall health.

From how it changes throughout life to lumps, smells, scabs and itches – here’s what your belly button can tell you.

Does the shape of your belly button mean anything?

Each person’s belly button is slightly different, although there are several categories, such as ‘outie’ – which occurs in around one in 10 people – and various types of ‘innie’, such as vertical, round or horizontal.

The shape of the belly button itself doesn’t mean anything in particular about your health, unless there is a mass or lump (see below).

Its shape has nothing to do with how the umbilical cord was clamped or cut, or even with the care of the cord in the first days and weeks after birth.

Does this change?

Your belly button can change throughout your life, especially during pregnancy.

This shows that the developing fetus is increasing in size, but don’t worry if your belly button doesn’t change!

It is a weak area of ​​the abdomen as the pressure of the developing pregnancy and the size of the uterus increases.

If you have an ‘innie’ belly button, it can pop out and become an ‘outie’.

This change is usually not permanent, as the pressure and size of the abdomen decrease after birth.

However, some women report that their belly button does not return to its pre-pregnancy size and shape.

Why does it smell?

The belly button is essentially a cavity or fold of skin, so it’s easy for dirt and bacteria to accumulate inside it.

If you have an ‘innie’, chances are you have encountered some lint at some point, as the belly button can accumulate lint and other debris, which can be cleaned off during washing.

The most common reason for having a smelly belly button is poor hygiene, but some people have particularly deep belly buttons that can be more difficult to clean.

If you have obesity or a disability, it may also be more difficult to clean your belly button.

Even if you can and do practice good hygiene, if your belly button is still smelly or you have other symptoms, you may have an infection.

These other symptoms may include redness or swelling around the belly button and discharge that may be green or yellow, as well as pain and discomfort, or even fever.

Bacteria and fungi can thrive in the warm and often slightly moist environment of the belly button, and you may need medical treatment, such as antibiotic or antifungal creams or ointments.

Is there a lump?

There are several types of hernias that can present as a lump in or around the belly button.

Your muscles are usually strong and tight enough to hold your organs and intestines in place, but a hernia can develop if there are weak spots, causing your internal organs to bulge through the muscular wall of your abdomen.

An umbilical hernia is a weakness in the belly button, allowing a bulge of intestine and/or fat and tissue to protrude as a mass, while a paraumbilical hernia is a weakness around the belly button.

Umbilical hernias are quite common in babies, especially premature ones, and can cause a painless lump.

You may notice that the lump appears to enlarge when your baby is crying or straining – for example, pushing to have a bowel movement.

When they stop crying and relax, or when they lie down, the mass decreases in size.

In babies, this usually goes away around age four or five as the muscles get stronger.

Umbilical hernias can occur at any age, and if they do not disappear by the age of four or five, or occur later, an operation is usually recommended.

Surgery is also performed for paraumbilical hernias.

This is because there is a risk of complications such as strangulation, where part of the intestine becomes trapped and cuts off its own blood supply.

This can cause severe pain or obstruction, where part of the intestine becomes blocked.

If you notice any lumps or masses in your abdomen, whether around your belly button or not, see your doctor.

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What does making stones mean?

The medical term for a belly button or navel stone is omphalolith.

This means there is a buildup of dead skin, sebum, or even hair or dirt, which combine to form a stone.

They can vary in size, from small to large, and may be deep or bulging, or look like a blackhead in the belly button.

Belly button stones are not usually painful, but they can irritate the skin and cause infection.

They should be removed. Depending on the size and location, this may be possible using forceps, which look like tweezers but sometimes a small incision is required.

Why is my belly button itchy?

Your belly button is covered by skin and therefore can be affected by various skin diseases, just like any other area of ​​the body.

These include eczema and psoriasis, which can be itchy.

Fungal or bacterial infections can also cause itching.

You may have a wart around your belly button, and if it changes or itches, see your doctor.

Can you get cancer in your belly button?

It’s rare to get belly button cancer, but it is possible.

It’s also possible for abdominal or pelvic cancer to spread to the belly button – although this is also uncommon.

If you have any changes or concerns about your belly button, consult your doctor.