If you recently got a piercing and think you may have an infection (or if you think you have a belly button infection, period), you should see your dermatologist or go to an urgent care center depending on the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor can try to determine what kind of bacteria is causing the issue, then offer treatment such as antibiotics to help.
2. A strep infection
Streptococcus bacteria is another common cause of skin infections overall and belly button infections in particular, Dr. Lipoff says.
Like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus can cause impetigo. It can also cause cellulitis, which usually happens when Group A streptococcal bacteria worms its way into your body through an opening in your skin such as a cut.
Cellulitis can cause a painful, red, tender, swollen rash that may blister and scab over. It can also spread past your skin and affect your underlying tissues, so you may experience a fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes. If you notice these kinds of symptoms, see a doctor ASAP.
3. A yeast infection
Your vagina doesn’t have a monopoly on yeast infections. This kind of overgrowth can also impact your mouth, throat, esophagus, and, as it happens, your belly button.
The medical term for this fungal infection is candidiasis, and it happens when Candida (yeast) that normally lives on your skin grows out of control. If you happen to get this in your belly button, you’ll usually notice a red rash, scaly skin, a clear discharge, itching, and burning.
If you think you might have a yeast infection in your belly button, see a doctor like your primary care physician. They can recommend anti-fungal treatments to help clear things up, Cynthia Bailey, MD, a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and founder of Dr. Bailey Skin Care, tells SELF.
4. An infected epidermoid cyst
An epidermoid cyst is a non-cancerous bump that can show up pretty much anywhere on your skin, including inside your belly button. It’s basically an equal opportunity offender. Epidermoid cysts usually form when skin cells you should shed become stage five clingers, burrowing into your skin and growing instead. This can happen when your skin is super irritated or injured in some way.
You can have an epidermoid cyst on your body with zero issues for years, Gary Goldenberg, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, tells SELF. But sometimes these cysts can rupture and become infected. If you have an infected epidermoid cyst lurking in your belly button, it will probably look red, feel painful, and may have a smelly yellow or green discharge, Dr. Kaminska says.
Four words for you: Don’t. Squeeze. The. Cyst. Messing with a cyst on your own can cause scarring and further infection. Instead, see your dermatologist. They may want to drain or remove the cyst and can prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection if necessary. In the meantime, you can try putting a warm compress over the cyst to help with discomfort.
5. An infected sebaceous cyst
Sebaceous cysts are a lot like epidermoid cysts, except that they happen because of blocked oil glands or hair follicles.
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