The treatment of a smelly navel
If the stinking belly button is only due to a lack of hygiene, the bad smell can be easily combated by taking special care of the belly button. It is important that the belly button is specifically cleaned when showering. After the shower the navel should be completely dried.
If the angling of the navel makes it difficult, a hairdryer can also be used to help. Afterwards you can apply a little body lotion or Bepanthen® to the navel to avoid dry skin. Alternatively, the belly button can be cleaned with a wet cotton swab.
With this method, too, it is important to make sure that the navel is completely dry afterwards. A dry cotton swab can also be used for this. If navel stones have already formed, they can be removed with tweezers.
If the navel is inflamed, the therapy depends strongly on the strength of the inflammation. It is therefore advisable to consult a doctor, as the inflammation can spread further in the body. In simple cases, an attempt can be made to alleviate the symptoms by applying Bepanthen cream.
A disinfectant cream is Betaisodona which contains iodine. This can be used to relieve inflammation. In cases of more severe bacterial inflammation, antibiotic therapy in the form of creams or tablets may be necessary.
In any case a navel piercing should not be worn during an inflammation. It is also a good idea to often wear the belly button freely to promote dehydration through the air. If a purulent cavity has already formed, surgical removal of the pus may also be necessary. In case of a fungal infection of the navel, so-called antimycotics, which specifically combat the fungus, can be used in the form of creams.
How is the diagnosis of a smelly navel made?
If the unpleasant odour is not accompanied by additional symptoms, such as discharge or pain, it is usually due to a lack of hygiene. Whether this diagnosis is correct can easily be tried out, since performing the recommended navel hygiene should lead to an improvement after only a few days. If there are other symptoms, a doctor should be consulted. This doctor can decide whether it is an inflammation or a polyp infection on the basis of the appearance of the discharge or the coating and also take a smear to determine the exact pathogen. A blood analysis can show whether the inflammation affects the whole body.
Duration of a stinking navel
The duration of the treatment depends entirely on the cause or severity of the inflammation. While regular cleaning and drying of the navel with simple germ colonization already leads to quick success, longer treatment is required in the case of an inflammation or fungal infestation. In the case of fungal or antibiotic treatment, it is important that the therapy is carried out consistently for two to three weeks, as this is the only way to guarantee that all pathogens have been combated. This must also be adhered to if the symptoms have disappeared after only a few days.
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