Gross - I think my bellybutton is infected.

[TitsalinaBumSquash]

I woke up yesterday and my bellybutton felt very wet, on inspection it's turned bright angry red/pink on the inside and seems to be a bit crusty and oozy and sore to the touch, it's quite deep as far as belly buttons do but I shower everyday and am clean so I'm a bit miffed because this seems like something someone who is a bit sweaty and unwashed would get. Can I sort it at home or get something OTC or will it go away?

It is a potential site for thrush, so you could try some over the counter canesten cream. If that doesn’t clear it up you need to see your GP. Also, are you significantly obese? Because if so, you should get a blood glucose check, as thrush infections can be a sign of type two diabetes.

I get this occasionally. Clean out in the shower and then I put sudocrem in with a cotton wool bud. Takes about a week to right itself. I am fat though so probably made worse by this.

I would immediately suspect thrush. Anyone can get it, no big deal, just get clotrimazole cream OTC (canesten or generic) and try to get the 2% rather than the 1%. It works really fast. I've had same problem under bra strap during prolonged hot weather.

In future you maybe need to focus on drying your belly button better if it's deep. I don't know but would a cotton bud work?

Pre-kids I sometimes had a similar problem. I would clean out with a cotton bud dipped in diluted TCP.

I stick sudocrem in mine when it goes red and smelly. I have an innie too

No I'm not obese, I also don't eat sugar or carbs so I don't have diabetes. I shall get some canesten and see how I get on. Thanks.

It's a fairly common problem. Keep it clean (which you probably do already), dry gently and apply a little surgical spirit on a cotton swab. Do this every day and it will soon be better.

I’ve had this before, I just made sure I kept it clean then left it alone and it cleared up within a few days.

Warm salt water sorted it for me in the past, it happens to lots of people regardless of cleanliness.