Is it normal for a belly button to smell?

A mild belly button odor can occur when sweat, dead skin cells, and oil accumulate inside the navel, especially in people with deep belly buttons. However, a strong or persistent smell, particularly when accompanied by redness, pain, or discharge, may indicate an infection or another condition that requires medical evaluation.

Why does my belly button smell like cheese?

A cheese-like smell may result from a buildup of sweat, oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria inside the belly button. It may also occur when an epidermoid cyst releases thick, whitish material. If the smell persists after cleaning or is accompanied by discharge or pain, see a doctor.

Is it normal for the belly button to leak fluid after laparoscopy?

A small amount of clear or slightly pink fluid may occur during the first few days after laparoscopy, depending on the procedure and wound care instructions. However, yellow or cloudy discharge, a bad smell, increasing redness, pain, or fever may indicate an infection. Contact your surgeon promptly if these symptoms occur.

Can a smelly belly button be serious?

Yes. Although most cases are caused by poor hygiene or moisture buildup, a smelly belly button can sometimes indicate a bacterial infection, an infected cyst, or another medical condition. Fever, spreading redness, severe pain, or foul-smelling discharge are warning signs that require medical evaluation. In newborns, a suspected umbilical infection requires emergency treatment.

Why Does My Belly Button Smell? (8 Causes & What to do)

See a doctor if a smelly belly button is accompanied by fever, redness, swelling, pain, or discharge, as these may be signs of infection.
Seek medical evaluation for pus, blood, severe pain, or feeling unwell after a belly button piercing, especially if symptoms are getting worse.
Newborns with redness, swelling, tenderness, or foul-smelling belly button discharge should be evaluated promptly, as omphalitis can lead to serious complications.

A smelly belly button is usually caused by a buildup of sweat, dead skin cells, and oil inside the navel, especially in people with a deep belly button. However, an unpleasant smell can also be a sign of a bacterial or yeast infection, an infected piercing, or a cyst.

Other symptoms may include discharge, redness, swelling, itching, pain, or fever, depending on the cause. These symptoms can help determine whether the problem can be managed with proper hygiene or requires medical treatment.

If the smell persists after cleaning or is accompanied by discharge, pain, or redness, it is important to see a primary care provider or dermatologist. In newborns, redness around the umbilical cord stump or foul-smelling discharge requires immediate medical evaluation, as it may indicate a serious infection.

Causes of a smelly belly button

The main causes of a smelly belly button include:

1. Poor hygiene

Poor hygiene is a common cause of a smelly belly button, as sweat, dead skin cells, oil, lint, and soap residue can accumulate inside the navel.

This buildup, combined with moisture, can promote the growth of bacteria and yeast, causing an unpleasant smell. It is more common in people with deep belly buttons, those who sweat excessively, and people with obesity.

What to do: Wash the belly button daily with water and mild soap, and dry it thoroughly afterward.

2. Bacterial infection

A bacterial infection can develop when moisture and friction irritate the skin inside the belly button, allowing bacteria to multiply.

This may cause redness, swelling, tenderness, warmth, and foul-smelling discharge. In more severe cases, fever may also occur.

What to do: See a doctor for an evaluation. Treatment may involve topical or oral antibiotics, depending on the severity of the infection. Keeping the area clean and dry can also help with recovery.

3. Yeast infection

A yeast infection in the belly button is often caused by Candida, a fungus that grows in warm, moist areas of the skin.

It may cause redness, itching, irritation, and sometimes whitish discharge or an unpleasant smell.

Yeast infections are more common in people with diabetes or obesity and those exposed to hot, humid conditions. Learn more about cutaneous candidiasis and its symptoms.

What to do: A doctor may recommend an antifungal cream, such as clotrimazole or ketoconazole. Keeping the belly button clean and dry is also important to prevent the infection from returning.

4. Infected piercing

A belly button piercing can become infected, especially during the healing process. Common symptoms include redness, swelling, pain, warmth, pus, and an unpleasant smell. Fever may occur if the infection becomes more severe. Learn more about infected piercings and how to identify them.

What to do: See a doctor if you notice signs of infection. Treatment may include antibiotics or drainage if an abscess develops.

Avoid removing the jewelry without medical advice, as this may interfere with drainage or healing.

5. Cyst

An epidermoid cyst, sometimes called a sebaceous cyst, is a usually harmless lump beneath the skin that contains keratin, a protein naturally found in the skin.

When the cyst becomes inflamed or infected, it may cause redness, swelling, pain, and a thick, whitish discharge with a strong, unpleasant smell.

What to do: Small cysts that do not cause symptoms may not require treatment. Avoid squeezing or puncturing the cyst, as this can worsen inflammation or cause an infection.

If the cyst becomes painful, infected, or bothersome, a doctor may recommend drainage or surgical removal.

6. Belly button stone

A belly button stone, also called an omphalolith, is a hardened buildup of oil and dead skin cells inside the navel. It is usually dark brown or black and may resemble a mole.

This condition is more common in people with deep belly buttons, obesity, or difficulty cleaning the area thoroughly.

Although it often causes no symptoms, a belly button stone may lead to an unpleasant smell, discharge, irritation, or infection.

What to do: See a doctor to have the stone safely removed. Avoid trying to dig it out with sharp objects, as this can damage the skin and increase the risk of infection.

7. Infection after abdominal surgery

An infection may develop in the belly button after abdominal procedures, such as laparoscopy or umbilical hernia repair.

Symptoms may include redness, swelling, increasing pain, foul-smelling discharge, and fever. Learn more about umbilical hernias and when surgery may be necessary.

What to do: Contact your surgeon or doctor as soon as possible if you notice signs of infection. Treatment may include antibiotics and, in some cases, drainage of the infected area.

8. Urachal cyst or sinus

The urachus is a small channel that connects the bladder to the belly button during fetal development. It normally closes before birth, but sometimes part of it remains, forming a cyst or sinus.

If this tissue becomes infected, it may cause foul-smelling discharge from the belly button, pain in the lower abdomen, a lump, or fever. Some people may also experience urinary tract infections.

What to do: See a doctor for an evaluation. Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or CT scan, may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment may include antibiotics, drainage of the infection, and, in some cases, surgery to remove the remaining urachal tissue and prevent recurrence.

Smelly belly button in babies

A foul-smelling belly button in newborns may be a sign of omphalitis, a serious bacterial infection affecting the umbilical cord stump and surrounding skin.

Symptoms may include redness, swelling, tenderness, pus, or foul-smelling discharge. Fever, poor feeding, irritability, or unusual sleepiness may indicate that the infection is spreading.

What to do: Omphalitis is a medical emergency. Take the baby to the emergency room immediately if these symptoms occur.

Treatment usually involves hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics, as the infection can spread rapidly.

To help prevent infection, keep the umbilical cord stump clean and dry until it falls off, usually within 1 to 3 weeks after birth.

How to clean your belly button

Cleaning the belly button regularly can help prevent unpleasant odors caused by sweat, oil, and dead skin buildup.

To clean your belly button properly:

Wash gently: Use warm water and mild soap to clean the belly button during your shower.
Clean inside the navel: If necessary, gently wipe the folds with a soft washcloth or a damp cotton swab, without inserting it deeply.
Rinse thoroughly: Remove any soap residue to prevent skin irritation.
Dry completely: Pat the area dry with a clean towel or cotton swab to prevent moisture buildup.
Avoid excess moisture: Do not apply thick creams or lotions inside the belly button unless recommended by a healthcare professional.

If you have a belly button piercing, follow the recommended aftercare instructions, which may include cleaning with sterile saline solution.

When to see a doctor

It is important to see a primary care provider or dermatologist if a smelly belly button is accompanied by:

Yellow, green, bloody, or foul-smelling discharge;
Redness, swelling, or warmth around the belly button;
Pain, tenderness, or a lump inside the navel;
Fever or chills;
An unpleasant smell that persists despite regular cleaning;
Signs of infection after surgery or a belly button piercing.

People with diabetes or a weakened immune system should seek medical care promptly if an infection is suspected.

Seek urgent medical attention if you develop fever with spreading redness, severe pain, or rapidly worsening symptoms. Newborns with redness around the umbilical cord stump or foul-smelling discharge should be evaluated immediately.

Frequently asked questions

A mild belly button odor can occur when sweat, dead skin cells, and oil accumulate inside the navel, especially in people with deep belly buttons.

However, a strong or persistent smell, particularly when accompanied by redness, pain, or discharge, may indicate an infection or another condition that requires medical evaluation.
A cheese-like smell may result from a buildup of sweat, oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria inside the belly button.

It may also occur when an epidermoid cyst releases thick, whitish material. If the smell persists after cleaning or is accompanied by discharge or pain, see a doctor.
A small amount of clear or slightly pink fluid may occur during the first few days after laparoscopy, depending on the procedure and wound care instructions.

However, yellow or cloudy discharge, a bad smell, increasing redness, pain, or fever may indicate an infection. Contact your surgeon promptly if these symptoms occur.
Yes. Although most cases are caused by poor hygiene or moisture buildup, a smelly belly button can sometimes indicate a bacterial infection, an infected cyst, or another medical condition.

Fever, spreading redness, severe pain, or foul-smelling discharge are warning signs that require medical evaluation. In newborns, a suspected umbilical infection requires emergency treatment.