belly button

hi, im 13 and my belly button has really been bothering me. at first, it would just be wet inside (i have an innie) and it would smell a little. but now, it is itchy, a blackish-brown color, smells bad and produces a discharge that dries up and leaves a crust and has small bumps around it. can you please help me with this?  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be due to yeast infection of the belly button or due to some other fungal infection. Fungal infections often present with bad smell or odor.

Keep the area clean and with a clean dry ear bud gently clean the navel. Also apply some mild steroid cream like dermacort and antifungal cream like clotrimazole and see if it helps. If the symptoms persist then oral antifungal drugs may be needed. Please consult a dermatologist in that case. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.