If you don't wash your belly button every day, then you might want to take note.
A dermatologist has issued a warning about the need to clean our belly buttons thoroughly - and there's a very good reason why.
Most of us wash our belly buttons in the shower, right? But apparently, that might not actually be enough.
Explaining in a TikTok video, Dr. Geeta Yadav explained that if you've noticed that your belly button has a funny smell, you could have something called a navel stone.
Advert
She said: "Does your belly button smell? Well, you could have an umbolith or navel stone. Want to prevent this? Please wash your belly buttons."
Healthline explains that a navel stone is an accumulation of sebum and keratin that can look a bit like a large blackhead in your belly button.
The site explains: "A navel stone is a hard, stone-like object that forms inside your belly button (navel).
"The medical term for it is omphalolith... Other commonly used names are ompholith, umbolith, and umbilical stone.
Advert
"Navel stones are rare, but anyone can get them. They’re most commonly found in people with deep belly buttons and those who don’t practice proper hygiene habits. They’re seen more often in adults because they can take years to grow big enough to be noticed."
Agreeing with Dr. Geeta's comments, Dr. Ajayi-Sotubo told Boots that practicing poor belly button hygiene can lead to rashes, inflammation and infections.
The doc explained that instead of simply cleaning our belly buttons in the shower, we "should also aim to do a specific clean, focused on the belly button once a week."
Advert
People were quick to comment on Dr Geeta's video, with many claiming they regularly clean their belly buttons.
"I have always cleaned mine and my kids, as they got older I made them clean theirs daily and always thought I was crazy lol," one wrote.
While another said: "I wash my bellybutton every day and apply cream to keep it nice an supple."
But over on Reddit, it seems some people missed the memo.
Advert
In a post about how often people clean their belly buttons, one person responded: "We're supposed to do that?"
While another said: "I never clean mine more than just through daily showers and washing my torso."
And a third added: "Whenever I see fluff, I pull it out."
While a fourth joked: "At least once a day, but sometimes again after lunch if it gets messy."
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Lucy Devine