Belly button infection? - with pic, bit grim!

[febbabies2023]

Does this look infected or something similar?

Called docs but they won't arrange for an appointment today as it's too late

Doesn't hurt or feel particularly itchy but looking at the pic there looks to be some discharge?

God this is gross I'm so sorry! Never heard of a belly button being infected before so just looking for anything similar I guess before I do manage to get an app

Even more gross - does it smell?

May be a fungal infection with all the hot, sweaty weather we've been having?

@Seeline yeah a little!

God I can't even believe I posted this but yanno, desperate times!

I'd make sure that you wash and dry it really well (using hibiscrub or similar), and either use something like cuticura medicated talc or canesten cream. It's just got sweaty, that's all.

I get this in hot weather sometimes. Sudocrem clears it up fine. Let it air when you're at home and make sure you dry it properly after your shower/bath.

Wash it and stick some canesten cream on it for a few days.

Thanks all

Anything I should look out for in case it doesn't clear up / gets worse?

I used to get this a lot. I have no idea why it stopped actually as it was an issue for years!

I used to make sure I rinsed it with cold water at the end of my shower so that it wasn't too warm and fuggy. Then spray with Savlon spray.

Things I would look out for are if it becomes very painful, if the skin looks as though it's going black, if it becomes and open wound, if you get a high temperature. Any of those and I'd be off to the GP immediately.

I've just Googled and can see the Savlon spray I used has been discontinued (I wouldn't use the Savlon 'plaster' spray as you want it to breathe). Basically you want a spray antiseptic as you can get than in there without having to shove a finger/cotton bud in with cream on it.

Home Bargains has some anti fungal for powder that I use every so often... can you buy some of that and put it in?

Wash and dry, sudocrem and if that doesn't work then Canesten.

Belly buttons are warm and wet. You have probably had a low-grade fungal infection that has eroded the skin is now becoming bacterial. Go to the chemist and see if there is an antiseptic/anti fungal cream you could gently apply with a q-tip. I would rinse it very well a couple of times a day with some saline, too. (DIY salty water is perfectly fine) and gently pat it dry with some cotton wool.

I stick sudocrem in mine periodically as it can get a bit red sometimes

I've got sudocreme by the bucketload (thank you two kids) so I'll try that first

Thanks all

I get this sometimes. Give it a good clean out, I used cotton wool buds to clean out gunk and fluff. Them made sure it stayed super clean for a few days. It's always cleared up by itself for me without creams etc.

I’ve had this for a year. Been to GP 3 times she says oh there’s nothing you can do about it and waves me off. It really smells as well 🤢 sometimes Canestan calms it down but really I want a long term solution!

tea Tree oil

It's a condition called intertrigo - a combination of fungal infection plus inflammation. Very common under the boobs.

Given the conditions - hot, sweaty folds of skin, if you have had it once you are likely to have it again. Keeping the area clean and dry is your best bet but difficult to do for a belly button! Airing it in the evenings is about it.

If Canesten is not working then Canesten Hydrocortisone - a combination of canesten and hydrocortisone may work better and is available over the counter.

Just use a bit of soap on a cotton bud, a bit of sudocreme if that alone doesn't shift it!

Thank you @AnnaMagnani - I thought canestan was a steroid? Anyway, good tip!

Get this all the time, and under boobs sometimes. Wash, dry very well and make sure to use some medicated talc to help clear it up. Should go within 2/3 days I used cuticura mildly medicated talc

Wash well with tepid salt solution. Dry it with your hair dryer.
Try an anti fungal as PPs have suggested above or
TCP on a cotton bud.

Wash with boiled, cooled , salty water. Pat d..ry with a lint-free dressing. Repeat 2-3 times a day until its better or you get an appointment