Red spots around the navel

Definition

Red patches on the skin, also known as rashes or eczema, are generally symptoms of a particular underlying disease and can have various causes. If the red spots are all around the navel, it is usually an internal disease or reaction of the body. One-sided red spots – for example, only above or below the navel – usually indicate an allergic reaction. Around, above or below the navel, these can be accompanied by itching, swelling, pain, dry skin, blisters and pustules. If they occur for a long time or recur repeatedly, a doctor should be consulted.

Causes

Another cause of the rash around the navel is the so-called childhood diseases such as chickenpox, rubella, rubella ringworm, measles or scarlet fever. Despite their name, these diseases can of course also occur in adulthood. Shingles (herpes zoster), which is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, usually occurs in the region of the rib cage, but in some cases it can also appear on the abdomen around the navel, causing red, usually very painful spots on the navel. In addition, infectious diseases such as typhoid, hepatitis or syphilis can also be accompanied by red spots on the navel.

Other symptoms

Infectious diseases caused by viruses or bacteria are usually accompanied by general symptoms such as headaches, aching limbs, chills, fever and fatigue. Furthermore, sore throat with difficulty swallowing or breathing difficulties and coughing can occur. The red spots that appear in infectious diseases such as measles, rubella or chickenpox often appear all over the body and not just around the navel.

These are usually accompanied by severe itching. If the cause of the red spots is shingles (rather one-sided at the navel), tiredness, fever and fatigue can occur days before the rash appears. In addition, in some cases there may already be sensations of discomfort in the affected area of skin above, below or next to the navel before the red spots appear.

In shingles, the red spots are raised and covered with papules that cause severe pain. While mosquito bites also leave raised, itchy red spots, the tick bite is usually not noticeable by itching or pain. If the tick bite starts to itch, a doctor should be consulted, as it can be an infection that can lead to Lyme disease.

Circular red spots, which usually appear only in certain places or occasionally around the navel and are accompanied by itching, can be caused by mosquito bites. Also a tick bite usually has a circular shape. Especially typical for a tick bite is that after a few days a red ring spreads around the red spot (erythema migrans).

The red spot caused by a tick bite is usually painless. However, the entire area is usually overheated. As already mentioned, a doctor should be consulted in the case of these symptoms so that late effects can be counteracted.

Red spots around, below or above the navel are usually accompanied by itching despite various triggers. This usually occurs with infectious diseases such as measles, rubella or chickenpox. Neurodermatitis and mosquito bites can also be accompanied by severe itching. This can be so severe that the skin is scratched with blood. Allergic reactions – such as the reaction to a new detergent – usually trigger itching as well as a skin rash.