How to treat a dark, leathery lesion inside the belly button?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have a dark, leathery lesion inside my belly button that leaks yellow fluid, smells bad when irritated, and is itchy afterwards. It has been there for over a year and seems to be getting worse. It is not a typical mole or cyst, and I am concerned it could be a skin lesion, endometriosis, or an infection.

Please suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your query and can understand your concern.

It sounds like you have a chronic, persistent lesion in your belly button with concerning features like discharge, bad smell, itching, and changes over time. Based on your description, here is what is important.

Potential causes to consider:

Chronic infection (like bacterial or fungal): The discharge, bad odor, and irritation suggest a possible infection in the skin fold.
Chronic granuloma or inflammation: Sometimes the belly button can develop a granuloma (a type of persistent inflammation) or an infected sebaceous cyst that does not heal well.
Endometriosis (if you have had previous abdominal surgery or an endometriosis diagnosis): Rare, but it can cause chronic pain, swelling, and cyclical changes.
Skin cancer (like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or melanoma): Though rare, especially if the lesion is dark, leathery, and growing.

What you should do next:

See a doctor as soon as possible, preferably a dermatologist or general surgeon, for an in-person exam.
You will likely need a culture or biopsy to check for infection (bacterial, fungal) or to rule out cancerous changes.
Get treatment for any infection with antibiotics or antifungals as needed.
If endometriosis is suspected, you might need a gynecological evaluation. Because it has been there for over a year and is getting worse, it is important not to delay. Letting it go longer could make treatment harder.

I hope this answers your query.

Let me know if I need to assist you further.