Do you remember to clean your belly button thoroughly during or after your shower? This is a part of the body that we often overlook, even though dust and various particles can accumulate there.
Proper hygiene helps prevent various infections. Of course, you must proceed carefully, avoiding irritation. For this reason, we will now describe some natural solutions for cleaning the navel naturally.
Why clean your belly button?
Dirt that accumulates around the navel can cause itching and redness. The reason? Due to poor hygiene, bacteria and fungi may have proliferated, leading to infections that can also produce an unpleasant odor.
And what causes it to get dirty? Some fabrics in the clothes we wear, sand from the beach, dead skin cells that naturally shed, or the oil produced by the body, among other things.
However, moisture and dirt in the navel can create an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, which in turn can lead to omphalitis.
As noted in the article Uracosinus: a rare cause of recurrent omphalitis in adults, this is an infection that is usually related to poor hygiene in the area.
To avoid this, we must clean our navels every day. Furthermore, we need to make sure it dries completely, since, as we’ve seen, keeping moisture in that area isn’t good.
However, the navel is one of the parts of the body that we tend to ignore or forget, allowing fat, dead cells, and dirt particles to accumulate, with the consequences we already mentioned.
How to clean your belly button naturally
We already know what to do (clean your belly button) and when to do it (after a shower or bath); now we’ll learn how to do it naturally. We’ll explain. Keep reading.
1. Tea Tree Oil:
One of the properties of tea tree oil is its antifungal capacity. This makes it a good ally in trying to prevent infections and fungi that we can be exposed to by not cleaning the navel properly.
The best way to use it is with a cotton swab, on which you’ll put a small drop of tea tree oil. Then, gently wipe the area to disinfect and clean the navel.
We must be careful not to use too much oil, as it can irritate the delicate skin in that area.
2. Rosemary Alcohol.
Rosemary alcohol is a very important natural remedy if you suffer from omphalitis. The unpleasant odor in the navel can be quite disagreeable, and rosemary alcohol will help cleanse the area while leaving a pleasant aroma.
This is due to its properties, which make it an indispensable supplement in these cases. Furthermore, it does not damage the skin. We will also use a cotton swab to apply it.
Now, it’s recommended that we first clean the navel a little by washing it with soap and drying it very well. Then, we’ll apply the rosemary.
3. Coconut Oil
The last of the natural resources we’ll use to clean the navel is coconut oil. However, this solution should only be used after cleaning the area, either with tea tree oil or rosemary alcohol.
Coconut oil is very moisturizing, and in fact, many people use it daily. It also has properties that help reduce bacteria that may have grown in the navel.
Therefore, you can use it after cleaning the area with the previous methods. It’s a good idea. This way, your belly button will be free of potential infections and other problems.
Care when cleaning the navel.
In humans, the navel is often a sensitive area. In fact, if you’ve ever touched it, you’ve probably noticed it turning somewhat red.
But this doesn’t mean we should stop cleaning it. Quite the opposite: it’s all the more reason to do so. Of course, we must proceed with caution and care.
In this regard, you should keep the following advice in mind:
- Never use your fingernails or fingertips to try to pull off a piece of dirt stuck to your belly button.
- Do not use the same swab twice: if you had one with water to clean at the beginning, change it and take another one to apply one of the products mentioned.
- Do not use ethyl alcohol: this compound dries out the skin, can clog pores, or increase sebum production.
- Dry with a soft cloth or another cotton swab. Do not leave any moisture behind.
- Whether using cotton swabs or a towel, you should make gentle movements, avoiding applying pressure or pushing.
Pay attention to all parts of your body.
Up until now, you may not have paid much attention to the hygiene of all parts of your body. From now on, we want to emphasize the importance of thoroughly cleaning and drying your navel after showering. This will help you avoid skin conditions and other problems that can affect this area.
Likewise, if you have ever experienced symptoms such as irritation, itching, or redness, or any other symptoms that indicate something is wrong, do not hesitate to see your doctor, who will recommend a suitable cream to resolve the infection.
After this, it would be wise to keep in mind the advice given to prevent the same thing from happening again. Therefore, we encourage you to use the solutions we’ve suggested at least once a week to clean your navel naturally.
