The most likely cause of a yeast infection in the umbilicus or belly button depends n the age of the person. Most cases in newborns occur because the baby has picked up a candida infection by exposure to his mother's vaginal yeast infection during birth. The spread of thrush or athletes foot to the umbilicus is seen in children and in obese adults either diabetes or an overlying abdomen will normally be the cause.
Itching
A yeast infection of the umbilicus will itch, as the candida or yeast erodes the healthy skin surface causing an increase in blood flow to the area. This itch may appear suddenly and intensely, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, and can be relieved by cleaning the umbilicus with soap and water and then applying an itch blocking ointment to the site. Anti-itch creme or ointment will not cure the yeast infection but it will remove the itch. Scratching the site will allow the candida to enter into the skin, making the infection much more difficult to treat.
Redness
Redness, known medically as erythema, occurs anytime the top skin layer is damaged. Once the yeast infection is resolved this will fade away, serving as a good indicator that treatment has been effective. A yeast infection of the umbilicus is a form of Candidal intertrigo, or a yeast infection of skin folds. This requires topical treatment which starts with gentle cleaning of the site with a mild soap and water. Then the umbilicus should be dried and covered with one of the medication sold over the counter as a treatment for either vaginal yeast infections or athlete's foot. This process should be repeated as often as recommended on the label of the medication, but at least twice a day for six to eight weeks.
Odor
The odor from an infection of the umbilicus may occur when a secondary bacterial infection occurs or when the skin breaks down from the invasion of the yeast infection and emits fluid. If the site has been treated with an over the counter antifungal creme for a few days and the odor persists a culture should be taken at the doctor's office to determine if a bacteria is present.
Another cause of odor from the umbilicus, seen commonly in children, is a foreign object such as a pea, a jelly bean or a sesame seed that has been placed there. Sometimes the yeast infection that is growing began with such an object and simply cleaning the deep crevices of the umbilicus with a moistened cotton swab can reveal the true cause.
Danger Signs and Recurrence
Pain, fever, nausea and vomiting or red streaks that start at the umbilicus and move outward are all signs of a secondary bacterial infection. These require immediate medical attention.
A rare finding called the Sister Mary Joesph's sign, a tumor of the umbilicus, is a rare sign of cancer in the gastrointestinal tract or ovary. Because the tumor is red and the skin is fragile it could be mistaken for a swollen site of infection. This makes it even more important for people with umbilical irritation to see a physician promptly if simple treatment fails to resolve the issue completely.
Diabetes and human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, are both associated with an increased risk of yeast infections of the skin. Patients with a recurrent case of umbilical candidiasis or one that does not respond to over the counter treatment should request the blood tests needed to rule out these conditions.
References
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Candidiasis
- Cleveland Clinic, Continuing Education: Common Skin Infections:Divya Singh-Behl, M.D. and Kenneth J. Tomecki, M.D.
- "New England Journal of Medicine"; Images in Clinical Medicine, Sister Mary Joseph's Nodule; Drs. Edythe A. Albano and Julie Kanter; May 5, 2005
