Despite our differences in appearance and beliefs, we all have at least one thing in common: a belly button.
And yet, most of us tend to completely ignore our belly buttons. I certainly don't give my belly button much thought unless it's causing me pain, and even then I brush the problem to the side.
The poor belly button is constantly neglected, but it is actually a complex part of the body that is just misunderstood. From the moment we are born, our belly button begins to form, and sometimes it can even change shape later in life.
It is important to understand how your body works in case something malfunctions, which is why you should be more educated about how your belly button operates. Keep reading to find out more about how your belly button forms, why it may get dirty sometimes, and warning signs that something is wrong in there.
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1. It Can Change Shape During Pregnancy
When a woman's belly expands to accommodate a growing fetus, an "innie" belly button can pop out and become an "outie", though this doesn't always happen. Fortunately, most women's belly buttons return to their former shape after birth.
2. It Can Carry Almost 2,400 Types Of Bacteria
In a studied published in PLOS ONE, researchers found 2,368 species of bacteria in just 60 belly button samples.
Thankfully, the majority of these bacteria were rare and only found in a few samples — 2,188 were found on less than 10 percent of subjects tested. In reality, the bacteria in our belly button is mostly predictable and limited to 8 major groups of bacteria.
3. Belly Button Piercings Are Susceptible To Infection
Because of all the bacteria that lives in and around our belly button, naval piercings are more likely than other piercings to get infected.
These piercings can take up to a year to heal</a>; during that time, the best way to ensure it doesn't get infected is by keeping the area clean.
4. Hairy Stomachs Attract Belly Button Lint
If you find yourself often cleaning "navel fluff" out of your belly buttons, chances are you have a hairier midline.
According to the findings of Karl Kruszelnicki, a researcher at the University of Sydney, middle-aged, hairy men are most likely to accumulate belly button lint, and that shaving the area helps to mitigate the accumulation.
5. They Are A Focal Point Of Chinese Acupuncture
Based on the theory that the abdominal is connected to the rest of the body, navel acupuncture was created by Chinese doctors to heal everything from muscle pain to chronic conditions. This process is believed to access prenatal energy, or the energy we accumulate before birth, to regenerate and renew health.
6. There's Such A Thing As Belly Button Surgery
Believe it or not, thousands of people undergo belly button surgery, or umbilicoplasty, every year, often to turn their "outie" belly button into an "innie".
The average price of the surgery is $2,400, but people who have gotten the surgery note that it has completely transformed how their stomach looks, especially if they previously had noticeable scarring or loose skin.
7. Not Everyone Has One
Though rare, some babies are born with a hole in the abdominal wall.
In this case, the intestines poke through the abdominal wall and don't create a belly button, though doctors sometimes create one artificially when they perform surgery to fix the hole.
8. You Can Get A Yeast Infection In Your Belly Button
Belly buttons are a breeding ground for bacteria, so it's no surprise that this area is susceptible to yeast infections.
Our naval area is specifically prone to Candidasis, a yeast infection caused by the yeast strain Candida that thrives in dark, damp areas. The best way to avoid an infection is by keeping your belly button clean.
If you notice itching, redness, and odor around your belly button, contact a doctor.
9. It Isn't Self-Cleaning
While our ears conveniently self-clean, our belly buttons need to be cleaned manually to maintain proper hygiene. Every so often, use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to clear the area of bacteria and dirt that gets caught inside.
10. The Majority Of People Have Innies
Though many people believe that "outie" belly buttons form because of how the doctor cuts the umbilical cord, they are actually formed due to extra scar tissue or an umbilical hernia that generally closes a few years after birth.
Only 10 percent of the population has an "outie" belly button.
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