Itchy Belly Button

Why is my belly button itchy?

The area around the umbilicus might itch because of yeast disease, contact dermatitis (cleansers, creams or piercings), dermatitis, hives, and stretch skin during pregnancy. Bacterial infection is another conceivable reason.^(4,12)

Itchy Belly Button

Risk factors

• Poor skin hygiene
• Skin disorders
• Infections

Causes of Itchy belly button

• Irritation of the umbilicus (belly button) can come from rashes of the skin around it, or from a contamination within it. A wide range of rashes can develop near the umbilicus.⁽¹⁰⁾
• If there should be an occurrence of bacterial disease, the belly button and the surrounding zones might develop a red rash and itching. The condition might be accompanied with a foul scent and discharge.⁽⁹⁾
• It can also be caused by a bad response to an external substance on the skin such as cream or clothing cleansers.
• In any case, many other skin rashes can affect this region, and if you have seen any skin changes (redness, flakiness, swelling), you should make an arrangement to see a doctor.
• Another probability is contamination of the belly button tract. Sometimes foreign bodies build-up from clothes or body hair can enter the belly button channel and cause an incendiary response.⁽⁵⁾
• Skin conditions like dermatitis and psoriasis might bring about a red rash and tingling.
• Contact dermatitis is another condition that might influence the stomach catch locale, and cause side effects like rash and tingling. This is for the most part created by cleansers, creams, penetrating, and so forth. A few individuals might build up this condition because of contact with the belt clasp or the metal snaps of pants.^(3,6)
• Pregnancy is another condition that might bring about an itchy belly button. Typically, such tingling is because of the stretching skin.

Conditions associated with itchy belly button

• A skin rash near the umbilicus or a disease within the belly button might bring about irritation. Rashes around tummy might arise because of numerous things, especially contact dermatitis. This is a sort of hypersensitivity response to substances detected to be foreign by the body, for example, cream, garments, clothing cleansers, and detergents.⁽⁸⁾
• The navel tract can have an infection. Foreign substances, for example, build up that confined from garments and body hair could enter the umbilicus along these lines bringing about irritation or swelling. A disease might therefore occur, chiefly accompanied by a foul smell, tingling, and discharge from the umbilicus.⁽⁷⁾

Symptoms of Itchy belly button

• Redness
• Soreness
• Tingling
• Pain.
• Once in a while draining might occur or some release of a whitish watery substance from the navel.
• The zone around the belly button might experience burning, inflammation, and moistness because of contamination.
• Itchy navel might also bring about fever, which is a non-particular side effect.^(3,5,6,8)

Redness of the area around the belly button

Itchy belly button during Pregnancy

At the point when skin stretches it turns out to be having less moisture and dry skin tends to feel bothersome and uncomfortable. The navel might also have a similar experience if it is extending close to the midsection. The navel may then develop itchiness.^{(1, 7, 11)}

Prevention of itchy belly button

• Diseases in umbilicus can be averted by ensuring that the region around is kept clean. It ought to be washed properly and completely.
• The body hair around navel should be trimmed to create an environment that is less susceptible to growth of organisms. Trimming the hair around also guarantees that it doesn’t tumble off and enter the umbilicus trench.⁽²⁾
• Itching of belly button can be avoided by strengthening the body’s immune system and living a generally healthy lifestyle.⁽⁶⁾

What to do when you have itchy belly button

• Try not to scratch – Enticing as it might be, scratching ceaselessly at your skin worsens the condition.
• Moisturize – A light, delicate, scent free cream can help control the itching. Apply it frequently and generously.⁽²⁾
• Apply pink calamine lotion – This works well especially, in extreme cases.
• Apply Vitamin E oil –  This is extremely recuperating. It is great for sensitive areolas after pregnancy, as well.
• Douse it up – A delicate cereal shower with warm water can work better for dry skin — just ensure the water’s not very hot (it can dry out your skin considerably more).
• Utilize a humidifier in your room – It might keep your skin from drying out. However, proceed with caution, as it can also spread germs and trigger hypersensitivities if utilized indiscriminately. ⁽¹⁾

Treatment

Sometimes, home remedies are sufficient to cure itchy belly button. If the condition persists or increases in severity, you should consider more therapeutic methods or consult a doctor. This is very important because severe itching can be a sign of another hidden condition. Along these lines, the condition must be diagnosed and treated properly.⁽²⁾

• Use of warm salty water – Infections on the belly button can be treated with warm salty water. The warmth of the warm water will increase blood flow to the affected site while the salt will absorb the dampness within the belly button to help to recuperate. Additionally, it will work as a disinfectant.⁽⁶⁾
• Keep the affected area clean – To advance healing and avoid further development of microbes in the area affected, it is essential to keep the affected zone spotless and dry.⁽⁹⁾
• Antibacterial cleansers – To clean the belly, you can utilize an antibacterial cleanser while washing up. After your shower, dry the affected area thoroughly and apply some water-based antibacterial cream or moisturizer twice or thrice daily until the contamination clears up.⁽⁹⁾
• Use of antibiotic agents and antifungal medication – Antibiotic agents and antifungal medications might be utilized to treat microbes, contagious and yeast diseases. Daily washing will keep the area clean and free from germs.
• Seek medical advice – Talk to a doctor if you notice that that the irritation does not resolve and is bringing on different side effects like pain or indications of an infection such as swelling.
• Belly button infections might be treated through the utilization of hydrogen peroxide to maintain body hygiene.⁽⁸⁾

References

1. Daya T, McKaigney C. A “ticklish” belly button…. CJEM. 2015;:1-3.
2. Red itchy belly button during pregnancy [Internet]. 2014 [cited 14 January 2016]. Available from: http://www.top10homeremedies.com/how-to/treat-belly-button-infection.html
3. Kumari K. Itchy Belly Button [Internet]. Buzzle. 2016 [cited 14 January 2016]. Available from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/itchy-belly-button.html
4. Itchy rash because of belly button piercing [cited 14 January 2016]. Available from: https://www.healthtap.com/user_questions/972083
5. Myhealthyfeeling.com. Itchy Smelly belly button ring [Internet]. 2016 [cited 14 January 2016]. Available from: http://www.myhealthyfeeling.com/itchy-belly-button-and-causes/
6. Is Itchy belly button a sign of pregnancy? | ZocDoc Answers [Internet]. 2016 [cited 14 January 2016]. Available from: https://www.zocdoc.com/answers/2760/what-causes-belly-buttons-to-itch
7. Will I. Skin changes during pregnancy.
8. The Doctors. Yeast infection and belly button [Internet]. 2016 [cited 14 January 2016]. Available from: http://www.thedoctorstv.com/videos/causes-of-belly-button-itching
9. http://symptomstreatment.org/itchy-belly-button/
10. Rusher K, Sanchez S. Navel Piercing Pain – http://www.beautyclue.com/navel-piercing/navel-piercing-pain-healing-itchy-and-navel-piercing-keloid/
11. http://www.womentribe.com/hair-beauty/belly-button-infections.html
12. http://seeyadoctor.com/itchy-belly-button/