Belly Button Stones: What Are They and What Causes Them?

The belly button marks the spot where a person's umbilical cord was once attached. Also referred to as navel, this part of the body is usually overlooked when it comes to sanitary care unless strange marks start to appear. For instance, belly button stones can be found hiding in a person's navel which will only pop out during pregnancy. Although they are usually harmless, they can encourage an infection or more serious medical condition if left untreated.

What Is a Belly Button Stone?

A belly button stone is a hard stone-like object that is also called omphalolith, from the Greek words omphalos which means "navel" and litho which means "stone." It also comes with other names, such as ompholith and umbolith.

Belly button stones are rare, although it can happen to anyone. They are common to people with deep navels and to those who do not exercise good sanitary habits. They are also seen more frequently in adults since these formations can take years to grow big enough before being noticed. Since omphaloliths do not show symptoms, a person may not even know that they actually have one until it has grown very large.

Navel stones are sometimes being mistaken as blackheads, but they are completely different conditions. Blackheads are small bumps that appear on the skin as a result of clogged hair follicle as well as sebum and keratin buildup. Although it is a type of acne, blackheads appear dark because the hair follicle is open and all its contents are exposed to air, resulting in oxidization of lipids and melanin. Meanwhile, a belly button stone results from the sebum and keratin that get collected in the navel.

Another big difference between blackheads and navel stones are the way they are treated. Belly button stones are removed by pulling them out of the navel, while blackheads are usually pushed out of the follicle. Aside from this, blackheads can be treated with topical retinoids. A larger version of blackhead, the dilated pore of Winer, can be removed by punch excision. Despite the differences in their treatment, both blackheads and belly button stones can be looked at and monitored by a dermatologist.

What Causes the Formation of Belly Button Stone?

An omphalolith forms when sebum and keratin from dead skin cells accumulate in a person's belly button and harden into a tight mass. Upon exposure to oxygen in the air, it turns black through the process of oxidation. The black mass can appear in various sizes from tiny to a large formation that is enough to fill the entire belly button.

There are some people who have increased chance of getting a navel stone. The biggest risk factor is the failure to practice proper navel hygiene. People with deep belly buttons are also more prone to such formations. In addition, obesity and belly hair can lead to higher chance of collecting sebum and keratin, thus leading to increased risk of forming belly button stones.

Most belly button stones are harmless and do not cause any symptoms while they are forming. In fact, a person can have them for many years without knowing about it. However, serious conditions, such as infection, inflammation, or ulceration, can develop in the omphalolith. Symptoms, such as pain, redness, odor, or drainage, are usually the reason a belly button stone is noticed.