My bellybutton (inny) has periodically cracked open and bled to the point where it has soaked through my clothes. The tissue in and around becomes red, inflamed and burns. I have been post-op for over a year and this began about 5 months ago. I did not have any incisions in my bellybutton so I don't think it is related to the surgery but I can't imagine what causes this. I have mentioned it to the doctor but of course it is never acting up when I am in the office and does not seem significant enough to make a special trip for.

It is becoming more of an annoyance than anything really but I am concerned about getting an infection since it is not the easiest place on your body to treat.

Anyone else have this problem?

It maybe yeast. Befor eI lost the weight I would yeast under my belly. I found a cream made by Burt's Bees (Burt's Bees Baby Bees Skin Cream - it's kinda hard to find) that would soothe it & get rid of it. if you use it every day it will keep it from coming back. It may not be yeast, but that's kinda what it sounds like. hope it gets better.

My cousin had that before and it turned out she had a blood infection. Better check again with Doc. She had RNY surgery 3yrs ago.

I started looking up information for you and I found the following :

<TABLE width="99%"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD vAlign=top background=images/bgline.gif height=35>Ask the Expert: General Health

</TD><TD width=5 rowSpan=2> </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD>I have had bleeding from my belly button on and off over the past few years. It's never alot and it happens once a blus moon. But I'm concerned because I have never heard of this. This morning I went to the bathroom and fond blood on my underwear where the bewlly button hits and when i looked my beely button was crusted with dry blood and I twisted some toilet paper to clean it and there was fresh blood on the toilet paper? Can you help me with any information or ideas or advice?

Thank you for writing. The belly button can easily become infected by candida, or other fungi. It is just the sort of warm, moist crevice that fungi like. If you have a fungal infetion the belly button will look red, and the redness may extend to the surrounding skin for a few millimeters. It may be itchy. Bacteria also infect the belly button, often taking advantage of the damage already done by the fungui, this leads to scabbing and a yellowish discharge. I highly recommend you see a physician to diagnose and properly treat the infection. Try to resist the urge to pick or scratch, do not try to turn your belly button inside out and clean it. Just wash it gently using salt Water. If you have a shower, use the shower head to rinse it out well. Carefully dab it dry. Discontinue the use of antiseptics or creams your applying to the area. Have the physician carefully examine the area preferably when discharge is noted.

I hope this helps!!

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Wow...thanks! I thought I was just really weird. I have an appointment scheduled for next for the doctor to take a look at it.

God Bless!

mine is always getting red inside, it doesn't bleed but it's from the loose skin on my tummy I think. my belly button doesn't get any air! Maybe I'll tell the dr. next time.

i know this might sound weird but when i get a yeast infection under my breast or stomache i use the goldbond powders i use to get a creame from the dr but it never seemed to work and one of my aunt's told me to use the gold bond powder so i did and if i use them right when it starts it never gets bad and the yeast infection is usually gone in a day or two

Mine got really inflamed and smelly (I know TMI) about 6wks ago. I cleaned and rinsed it really good in the shower then took a q-tip with Neosporin on it and dabbed it in there with that. It was gone in a couple days.

The button on my jeans sometimes gives me the same thing. It's like I have an allergic reaction to the metal in the button. Good luck!

I saw the doctor today and he took a culture...he said he isn't really sure what it could be but will let me know when the results come back.