7 Reasons Your Bellybutton Is So Itchy

  references
  
      Mayo Clinic: "Contact Dermatitis"
    
      American Academy of Family Physicians: "Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis"
    
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Mosquito Bite Symptoms and Treatment"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Belly Button Yeast Infection"
    
      National Library of Medicine: "Intertrigo"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Epidermoid Cysts"
    
      CDC: Candidiasis
    
      Mayo Clinic: Piercings
    
      The Journal of Pediatrics: "Eczema in early life: Genetics, the skin barrier, and lessons learned from birth cohort studies"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Intertrigo"
    
      National Eczema Association: "Baby eczema"

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

Itchy bellybuttons can be caused by yeast, dermatitis, bug bites and more.

Image Credit: Kittisak Jirasittichai / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages

Contact Dermatitis
Eczema
Bug Bite
Yeast Infection
Intertrigo
Infected Piercing
Cyst
When to See a Doctor

If you have eczema, avoid triggers that cause your skin to flare up (like heat, sweat or personal care products with added fragrance). Keep skin hydrated with a thick ointment, per the American Academy of Family Physicians. Your dermatologist can also help suggest natural remedies for eczema or medication to ease your symptoms.

Keep skin hydrated with a thick ointment, per the American Academy of Family Physicians. Your dermatologist can also help suggest natural remedies for eczema or medication to ease your symptoms.

While mosquito bites typically fade on their own within a couple of days, there are strategies you can try to ease the itchiness and pain. Wash the area with soap and water to reduce the risk of infection. Then, apply an ice pack for 10 minutes to reduce itching and swelling, according to the CDC. You can also try an anti-itch cream like calamine lotion.

If you live in a climate where mosquitoes thrive, try applying insect repellant at night to avoid pesky bites. (Here are tips on how to safely wear an insect spray.)

If you think you have a yeast infection in your bellybutton, visit a dermatologist to see what you’re truly dealing with, Dr. Garshick says. If yeast is the culprit, you’ll need a prescription topical antifungal such as nystatin, miconazole, clotrimazole or ketoconazole cream.

If you notice a new bump in or near your bellybutton, visit your dermatologist. Though cysts are not typically problematic, “you should always have them looked at since, given the location, they could be associated with an umbilical hernia or granuloma [area of inflammation],” Dr. Garshick says. If the cyst feels irritated or infected, you may also need to have it drained, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If the cyst feels irritated or infected, you may also need to have it drained, according to the Mayo Clinic.

      Mayo Clinic: "Contact Dermatitis"
    
      American Academy of Family Physicians: "Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis"
    
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Mosquito Bite Symptoms and Treatment"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Belly Button Yeast Infection"
    
      National Library of Medicine: "Intertrigo"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Epidermoid Cysts"
    
      CDC: Candidiasis
    
      Mayo Clinic: Piercings
    
      The Journal of Pediatrics: "Eczema in early life: Genetics, the skin barrier, and lessons learned from birth cohort studies"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Intertrigo"
    
      National Eczema Association: "Baby eczema"