A doctor has pointed out that most people often neglect a crucial aspect of personal hygiene.
Routine practices such as brushing teeth twice a day and taking regular showers are commonplace to maintain clean hair and skin. But according to one doctor, many of us overlook one important part of the washing routine. While you might think you’re squeaky clean when you step out of the shower, missing this area could lead to “months” of build-up.
An obstetrics and gynaecology specialist – known as Doctor Mim online – highlighted that many individuals fail to wash their belly buttons adequately, which can lead to an accumulation of debris. As part of her job, the doctor often has to perform keyhole surgery that requires an incision into the belly button, and if it’s not clean, she has to do it herself.
Sharing her insights on TikTok, she said: “One of the main ways we do surgery in gynae cases is that we do keyhole surgery. To do that, we make a little cut through the belly button and the camera goes through the belly button. But before we can put a camera through and before we make the cut, we have to clean out the belly button. You would not believe the amount of stuff we pull out of belly buttons. Just months’ worth of matter stuck in there.”
Dr Mim stressed the importance of hygiene, particularly when it comes to belly button cleanliness, which could affect surgical procedures. She acknowledged that in the case of an “emergency” surgery, patients might not have a chance to shower or clean their navels beforehand. However, she encouraged regular cleaning to ensure less work for surgeons in such situations.
Dr Mim asserted: “Let this be your warning. Next time you go for a shower, just give it a good clean, and then we can avoid picking anything out of it during surgery. It’s no problem if you don’t; we can sort it, but it’s just not something that I’d thought about until I [started my job]. It would make our job a lot easier, a lot faster, and a lot nicer if it’s clean.”
The doctor’s advice quickly became a talking point among her followers, with one commenting on the video: “Oh god, never thought about that before.”
While some said they were meticulous about navel hygiene, others questioned why anyone wouldn’t treat it like any other part of the body during a wash. One person mentioned: “I scrub it as much as I would any other smelly place on my body when in the shower. I don’t understand why people wouldn’t.”
How to clean your belly button
For an “innie” (indented/deep) belly button:
- Clean using a cotton swab or washcloth: Wet the cotton swab or soft washcloth with warm, soapy water. Gently clean the inside of your belly button in small circular motions.
- Rinse: Use a clean, damp cotton swab or washcloth (without soap) to rinse away any soap residue.
- Dry thoroughly: Pat the inside and outside of your belly button dry with a towel. Be sure it’s completely dry, as moisture can encourage bacterial or fungal growth.
For an “outie” (protruded) belly button:
- Wash in the shower: While showering, lather your belly button with mild soap and gently clean the area with your fingers or a washcloth.
- Rinse well: Ensure all the soap is rinsed away with warm water.
- Dry: Pat the area completely dry after your shower with a clean towel.