Did you know that your belly button or navel is actually your very first scar? It is a scar on your abdomen part that was formed after your umbilical cord was detached from your mother’s placenta when you were born.

A belly button naturally is a great place for germs and bacteria to breed. It is cavity, dark and deep and sometime people miss to clean it when they are showering. Hence, there is always a possibility that your belly button is being infected, especially if you just had a surgery or a piercing on your belly button.

In this article, we will discuss several conditions that can infect your belly button which in most cases is shown by pus that is coming out of it. In addition to that, we will also tell you what to do if you find your belly button is discharging.

Causes of belly button infection or discharging pus

It is not rare that people are having belly button discharge. In addition to the above reason such as the nature of belly button itself, which are dark, warm, and cavity, belly button most of time can also be the place where soap residue stays as well as sweat and other bacterial substances. This can also cause infection.

If your belly button starts to produce smell that is not normal or more or less like yeast smell, you might want to check if your belly button is having an infection. Below we have listed some points that will show you what can cause infection on your belly button or even discharging pus:

1. Fungus

The most common reason that your belly button producing pus from it is a type of fungus called Candida. This type of fungus loves the nature of the belly button that is damp, dark, and cavity.

If this type of fungus infected your belly button you will notice symptoms like redness around your belly button, discolored or itchy.

2. Bacteria

When there is fungus around, bacteria most probably will be found following it. However, they are not a team. Bacteria can cause another type of infection in your belly button.

The symptoms that you will find if your belly button is infected by bacteria such as scab around or in your belly button and it might discharge yellow-ish smelly pus. Poor hygiene habit is one of the reasons why your belly button is infected by bacteria.

3. Urachal Cyst

This is not the type of belly button infection that happens every day. Because for most people the small duct that connect you when you were a fetus to the umbilical cord usually closes right after you were born. But in very rare cases, the duct just does not close and cyst might grow.

Furthermore, this cyst might be infected and the infection can lift up to the belly button. Mucus and urine can leak from this space and this is one of the reason if your belly button is discharging you have to see your doctor immediately. Since this one is a dangerous as the infection can also goes further to your organs.  

4. Sebaceous Cyst

This is the type of benign cyst that can happen under the skin in your belly button. This particular cyst might cause discharge from your belly button area.

The discharge that this cyst might cause is a very odorous when infected. However, if it is not infected, this cyst will not be an issue as it is also a common cyst happen to people. Infection might occur if you scratch it or it was rubbed by abrasive object.

5. Post-Surgery

People who were just finished their abdominal surgery is common to suffer from discharging belly button. This is considerably normal, however, it is always best to see your medical team if you are experiencing this after you had your surgery because pus coming out from your belly button is a symptom of infection that can lead to further problem if not handled properly.

What to do if your belly button is discharging?

There are several things that you can do if your belly button is discharging pus so it does not get worse:

• Prevent yourself from scratching and picking it, even though your belly button is itchy.
• Never try to turn your bellybutton inside out in order to clean it well. Rinsing it with water solution or just water when you shower is enough.
• Dry it well after you are thoroughly washing it.
• Never put any cream, this will only make your belly button more moist and damp.
• If it is not getting better in few days or the pus discharging from your belly button gets worse, see your doctor as it is might be a sign of severe infection inside.