Small acne-like lump in bellybutton, puss and traces of blood

[Stu]

4 months ago, I started noticing a slight discomfort in my belly button, and then I discovered a rather small acne-like lump forming on the top wall of it. However, this got bigger than acne into a lump and it eventually became red, a bit swollen and with "inflamed" sensation, sensitive to touch and generally "burning". I was stretching the skin around it to get a better look, and a trickle of puss with few traces of blood started coming out. Tried to drain it a bit more, but more puss than I expected continued to come out, with some traces of blood, so I stopped. Went to a clinic, where the nurse did a lab on it (which found nothing, no bacteria), but cleaned the belly button out and applied an iodine-soaked gauze with plaster on it 3 times over 10-12 days. The thing has dried up and shrivelled away after that.

In the last 4 days, I felt the small lump forming again, and I can see it. It does not cause any discomfort, but it is not very big and red yet (although I'm sure it's getting bigger). Went to the clinic again, the nurse told me to wait it out as it will probably grow larger and start letting out puss, and she gave me iodine gauze to apply at such time. I got the usual talk how my body is currently fighting whatever it is down there, and that it is no time for antibiotics (and I quite agree with this).

However, can anyone guess what's causing this? I've never had any piercings/operations/anything in that general area of the belly button, I am a generally healthy 31-year-old and now I get this thing which looks like a straght small infection, goes away and comes back 4 months later.

The nurse said that she does see things like that a lot (although none of my friends ever had anything like it), and that generally men get them (hairs, sweat, belly button generally being a sweet spot for dirt & moist), unusually, sometimes on the back (?! which I didn't really understand, how could it be a same thing then?). That was sort of reassuring, but I'm interested can anything be done to prevent this? If you get it for the first time when you're 31, and then comes back 4 months later, I'd like to see is there something I can do about stopping this coming back long term. Pay more attention to belly button when showering?

[walk2live]

It may be a boil. There is a lot of information on the internet about boils and how to treat them. It could also be a cyst. I had one on my tailbone that they had to lance (cut open) and drain and the doctor told me then that most of them clear out and never come back. Mine was back a year later almost to the day and they had to surgically remove it.

Good luck.

T~

[Stu]

Thanks for replying.

Well, here's an update, yesterday it started, well not bleeding, just letting out white-yellowish gooey stuff. I'd be sure it was puss, but it lacked its usual repulsive smell, in fact, it didn't smell at all?

Stuffed an iodine-soaked gauze in the bellybutton and put a plaster on. Stings a bit, I'm hoping it will clear in few days.

So is there any way that I can see for myself is it a boil, rather than a product of cyst? It is just strange to me that the same thing returns after few months after never having anything like it in my life, and lab test on the first one didn't find any unusual bacteria? I'm a bit freaked out about the possibility of having a cyst, is it difficult to diagnose/remove?

[dfdhgdfdr]

Thanks for replying.

Well, here's an update, yesterday it started, well not bleeding, just letting out white-yellowish gooey stuff. I'd be sure it was puss, but it lacked its usual repulsive smell, in fact, it didn't smell at all?

Stuffed an iodine-soaked gauze in the bellybutton and put a plaster on. Stings a bit, I'm hoping it will clear in few days.

So is there any way that I can see for myself is it a boil, rather than a product of cyst? It is just strange to me that the same thing returns after few months after never having anything like it in my life, and lab test on the first one didn't find any unusual bacteria? I'm a bit freaked out about the possibility of having a cyst, is it difficult to diagnose/remove?

i have the same thing happening to me and has came back about four times now
and the doctors tell me the same thing. i think they don't think they know what it is but i hope it goes away soon and if i find out anything i will put a solution on this page.

[Unregistered]

look up CA-MRSA

[Unregistered]

I had this last winter. I went to see my doctor who just prescribed me antibiotics. It didn't go away but it would ooze a lot. It hurt to sit and drive also. I saw a different doctor, who recommended I see a surgeon. I did so and he took a sample of it and said it was an infection but that he would like to cut it open to allow all of the puss out. It oozed on it's own, but not enough for it to completely go away (it was about the size of a dime inside my belly button.) He cut it open and it took about a little over a month to fully go away and I guess it's causes an infection even if there's a tiny bit of lint in your belly button and sweat, etc. It's a ridiculous and painful infection, but good luck! Go see a surgeon and they can cut it open and drain all of the ooze (more than you think there is.) It really helps. Painful for him to cut, but does the trick.

[poshka]

hi, im having the same problem.
also, i try to connect it with another problem that pop with it.

after 3-4 cycels of the belly-b thing, it came back about an year ago
and its just stays. its not growing larger, altho it is feel-able and seen-able.
on the same spot i also feel sharp pain right under my belly-b skin
and not exectly under where the cyst is.
it is happaning when im getting thinner (weight is unstable, moves around 84-90 kg)
im 186cm tall, so differents are not that big.

i went to my doctor, he has nothing comes on hes mind.. and he says its not hernya.
so, he said the usual. its VIRAL.

i guess its not so viral...
anyone with the same problem?
or better, with the solution?
thanks...

[Unregistered]

hey i was wondering if i could put a piece of duct tape over mine and will it shrivel up like a wart?

[Hellothereguys]

It's probably a yeast infection in your belly button. Search it up in google.

[mrsflightmedic]

hey i was wondering if i could put a piece of duct tape over mine and will it shrivel up like a wart?

What it sounds like ALL of you are describing is MRSA. It is very contagious and very prevalent in the community. No matter how careful you are, it is out there. The only way to prevent it is pretty much live in a bubble suit. Otherwise use good sanitation practices, washing hands after using bathroom, wipe down your toilet seat before you use it or use a sanitary cover, if you sweat a lot make sure you shower as soon as possible to remove bacteria. MRSA is a bacterial staph infection that is resistant to common antibiotics.

I have it because I worked 10+ years in the Emergency Medicine Sector and exposed to it, so I became colonized even after using extreme precautions.

MRSA is VERY painful and hard to get rid of, it can recur. Unfortunately for me mine recurs about every 3-4 months in the same location. Starts out looking like a small pimple or boil, then hardens, gets larger.

The best suggestion I can make for anyone on here is to have your physician refer you to an infectious disease specialist.