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What Causes Itchy Red Ring Around The Navel?

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Posted on Mon, 20 Mar 2017
Question: I have a red ring around my belly button that's itchy
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (22 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

It's hard to know for sure what you are describing without seeing it (can you upload a few good quality pictures?) but it is possibly ring worm. Ring worm (tinea corporis) is a common fungal infection.

Other possibilities are yeast skin infection, seborrheic dermatitis, urticaria, or other causes.

You can try an over the counter anti fungal medication that you can get at a drug store such as terbinafine or clotrimazole (Lamisil, Lotrimin, etc).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello -

This is not what I was expecting to see! Ring worm is not usually that red and angry, and the center of it is lighter in color. From what I can see in this picture, it looks like the tissue is solidly very red and angry - not a ring. Is what I'm describing from what I see in this picture correct?

This may be a bacterial infection (cellulitis) which may need an antibiotic. If cellulitis occurs on an extremity, if gotten early on, it can sometimes be treated adequately with hot soaks. But a navel is harder to do this with. I recommend, especially if it is tender and spreading, to go in to the urgent care to have it looked at in person.

It's still possible, if it is red and angry from scratching it rather than bacterial infection, that it is a fungal/yeast infection, but after seeing this, I advise going in to have it looked at in person. And please, if the urgent care is staffed with some physician's assistants or nurse practitioners, request that you want to see a physician instead.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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What Causes Itchy Red Ring Around The Navel?

Brief Answer: Information Detailed Answer: Hello, It's hard to know for sure what you are describing without seeing it (can you upload a few good quality pictures?) but it is possibly ring worm. Ring worm (tinea corporis) is a common fungal infection. Other possibilities are yeast skin infection, seborrheic dermatitis, urticaria, or other causes. You can try an over the counter anti fungal medication that you can get at a drug store such as terbinafine or clotrimazole (Lamisil, Lotrimin, etc).