The Truth About Picking Debris Out of Your Bellybutton

Let’s be honest Your bellybutton isn’t something you think about often until, of course, you find a little mystery fluff tucked inside. Whether it’s lint, oil, or the occasional rogue hair, it’s tempting to dig around and clean it out. But how bad is it really to pick stuff out of your bellybutton? As it turns out, this habit might be more problematic than it seems.

What’s Actually in Your Bellybutton?

That mysterious gunk in your navel isn’t just fabric fuzz. It’s a mix of lint (a.k.a. “navel fluff”), skin oils (sebum), dead skin cells, dirt, and sometimes even bacteria. And yes, there's science to back it up. A 2018 study in Scientific Reports showed that bellybutton hair can funnel fibers from clothing straight into your navel.

More surprisingly, a 2012 study published in PLOS One found over 2,300 types of bacteria in just 60 bellybuttons some unique to individuals, others common strains like staphylococcus, streptococcus, and corynebacterium. While most of these bacteria are harmless and part of your skin’s natural microbiome, buildup can occasionally cause issues like blackheads, folliculitis (ingrown hairs), or even epidermoid cysts, says dermatopathologist Gretchen Frieling, MD.

The Risks of Picking Too Much

If you’re gently removing a piece of lint or drying your skin after a shower, you’re in the clear. The problem arises when you go digging too aggressively.

Picking or scratching your bellybutton can lead to tiny nicks or cuts, which opens the door to infection, especially given the dark, moist environment where bacteria can thrive. Dr. Frieling warns that repeated picking can lead to:

• Staph or MRSA infections

• Yeast overgrowth

• Prurigo nodularis, a chronic skin condition that causes itchy bumps due to persistent picking

And if you have a bellybutton piercing? Repeated touching or picking can cause scar tissue to develop, increasing your risk of infection or irritation around the piercing site.

The Right Way to Clean Your Bellybutton

You don’t need to sterilize your navel or go overboard. Your bellybutton naturally hosts a microbiome, just like the rest of your skin. That said, if you’re dealing with itchiness, odor, or visible buildup, a little targeted cleaning is a good idea.

Here’s how to do it safely:

• In the shower, gently wash your bellybutton with warm water and mild soap

• Afterward, make sure to dry the area completely to prevent trapped moisture

• For extra cleaning, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and gently swab the inside

• If you’ve irritated the skin, apply a small amount of Aquaphor and cover with a bandage

Above all, resist the urge to poke around too often. “You should really just leave your bellybutton alone,” says Dr. Frieling.

So, How Bad Is It Really to Pick at Your Bellybutton?

Not bad if you’re gently wiping away a piece of fuzz but repeated picking or scraping can damage the skin, increasing your risk of infection, inflammation, and long-term irritation. If your bellybutton seems unusually dirty, itchy, or smelly, you might need a little extra care, but otherwise, let it be.

And yes, regular hygiene is key: just like your underarms or feet, your bellybutton needs a little attention just not too much.

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