Home > Community > How does one effectively/safely clean-out or wash their belly button to prevent omphalolith-umbolith (navel stones)?
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Al Martin

How does one effectively/safely clean-out or wash their belly button to prevent omphalolith-umbolith (navel stones)?

David Shaffer  Follow

I had never heard of these things and never had them. I had to find out what they are and came across an article in Volume 21 - Issue 7 - July 2013 edition of The Dermatologist.

The article says that

An omphalolith – also referred to as an omphalith, omphalokeratolith or umbolith – is a keratin and sebum containing stone-like mass found in the umbilicus.

Sebum is a light yellow, oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands that keep the skin and hair moisturised, and as indicated in the Dermatologist article, these solid masses are a result of poor hygiene. The hair shown in some pictures is hair from the umbilicus. It is not something the omphalith is growing.

If you shower or have a bath regularly and ensure the umbilicus is clean whilst washing, you should have no problem.

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