7 Causes of Itchy Belly Button During Pregnancy, Pay Attention to Prevention and Treatment Methods

Kapanlagi.com - Itchy and painful complaints in the abdominal area during pregnancy are common phenomena. Itchy belly button during pregnancy can occur due to hormonal changes and fetal growth that causes the abdomen to enlarge and the skin to stretch, resulting in stretch marks.

When you first feel itchy, it's normal to worry. Especially if it's your first pregnancy, panic can also affect your husband because both of you don't know that there are causes of itchy belly button during pregnancy.

However, the cause of itchy belly button during pregnancy is not only hormonal changes, but there are also other causes such as infection, allergies, and insect bites. As a form of caution, you need to know more about this and how to deal with it.

Therefore, here is information about itchy belly button during pregnancy and how to prevent and treat it.

1. Causes of Itchy Belly Button During Pregnancy Due to Infection

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1. Navel Piercing

If you have ever had a navel piercing, you need to pay attention to its condition and cleanliness regularly, especially if you are pregnant. According to information from hellosehat, pregnant women with navel piercings are at risk of experiencing excessive pain during pregnancy.

This can also cause itching in the navel during pregnancy. In addition, the pierced area is also more prone to swelling, infection, and abscess. So, if you feel pain or itching in the pierced area, it is advisable to remove the piercing immediately. And don't forget to consult a doctor.

2. Bacterial Infection

An irritated navel is susceptible to infection if exposed to germs or dirt. Jiri Hulcr from the University of Florida said that there are 67 types of bacteria that may be trapped in the navel. This means that the navel is indeed very susceptible to infection.

Not to mention the dead skin and sweat that accumulate in your navel. In addition to causing itching, bacterial infections can also cause unpleasant odor, yellow or brownish discharge, and even bleeding in severe cases.

3. Fungal Infection

Fungi can grow on your body. Candida is one of the fungi that can grow in dark (hidden) and moist parts of the body. This fungus can cause itching, red rashes, and white discharge from the navel. So, this can be one of the possible causes of itchy navel during pregnancy that you may experience.

2. Other Causes of Itchy Belly Button During Pregnancy

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4. Stretching of the Abdominal Skin

During pregnancy, the fetus inside the belly continues to grow. Therefore, the belly will keep expanding, causing the skin and muscles to feel stretched. This stretching will continue until the end of pregnancy.

Therefore, it is normal to experience stretch marks, itchiness, and discomfort during pregnancy. This is one of the causes of itchy belly button during pregnancy. The belly button, which is located in the middle of the abdomen, will also shift.

5. Contact Dermatitis

Some pregnancies cause the belly button to protrude due to pressure from inside the abdomen and stretching of the skin. The protruding belly button increases the chance of coming into contact with allergens or irritants. This contact can be categorized as contact dermatitis.

The cause of itchy belly button during pregnancy can be due to clothing, laundry detergents or fabric softeners, and creams. Some cases may also be caused by belts, pants buttons, or other objects that may cause irritation.

6. Eczema

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a condition that causes the skin around and inside your belly button to become red and itchy.

7. Insect Bites

Itchy belly button during pregnancy can also be caused by insect bites. Insects such as mosquitoes and bed bugs are common causes, and their bites can cause red bumps or welts.

3. How to Overcome Itchy Belly Button During Pregnancy

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After knowing the causes of itchy belly button during pregnancy, surely you also want to know how to overcome it, right? One thing you must not do is scratch your belly button as an effort to overcome it. It will only worsen your condition. It is better for you to do the following methods.

-Moisten the belly button area with aloe vera gel to reduce itching.

-Apply olive oil or stretch mark cream to maintain skin elasticity.

-You can also use warm salt water to relieve infection in your belly button. Warm water functions to improve blood circulation to the itchy area and salt is useful as a disinfectant.

4. How to Prevent Itchy Belly Button During Pregnancy

Illustration (Credit: Pixabay)

For those of you who have never experienced itchy belly button during pregnancy, be cautious by taking preventive measures. Here are some ways to prevent itchy belly button during pregnancy that you can do.

-Make sure the belly button area remains clean.

-Take regular showers with soap (twice a day) to maintain body cleanliness, especially the belly button area.

-Ensure that you maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle to strengthen the immune system.

Well, KLovers, those are some information about the causes of itchy belly button during pregnancy along with the ways to overcome and prevent it that you need to know. One thing to remember is, if the condition does not improve or the symptoms worsen, immediately contact a doctor for examination and proper treatment.

(Source: theasianparent.com, hellosehat.com)

(kpl/ans)