something growing in my navel

Hi, these past few days ive noticed a stinky smell that sticks to my shirt on the stomach part. then the moment i cleaned my navel or belly button the smell was coming from there, i only clean it once a week by the way with cotton buds and oil. im a fat person so my navel is deep, then i saw skins with red dots that exerts fluid and stinks really bad and it looks like warts.. im not sure.. i need your help on 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.