You probably don’t think about your belly button much. Unless, of course, you’re trying to clean it or you’ve just noticed a weird lint collection. It’s just there. A literal scar from the first major "surgery" of your life: the cutting of the umbilical cord. But here is the thing: no two are exactly the same. Even identical twins have different navel shapes because your belly button isn't determined by genetics. It’s all about how that cord healed.
Actually, it’s kinda fascinating. Most people think your types of belly buttons are determined by how the doctor snips the cord. That is a total myth. Doctors usually clamp the cord about an inch or two from the baby's body. The remaining "stump" eventually shrivels up and falls off, leaving behind what we call the umbilicus. How the underlying tissue heals—and how it attaches to the muscle underneath—dictates whether you end up with a "pouty" outie or a deep, cavernous innie.
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The Most Common Shapes and Why They Happen
Most of us—roughly 90% of the population—have innies. If you’ve got one, you’re in the majority. But even among innies, there is a massive variety. You might have a "Vertical" navel, which is often seen in people with toned abdominal muscles. It looks like a thin slit. Many plastic surgeons actually consider this the "aesthetic gold standard" for some reason, and it's the shape most often requested during umbilicoplasty. Yeah, people actually pay for navel surgery. It's a thing.
Then there’s the "Oval" shape. This one is pretty deep and doesn't have a hood. If your belly button looks like a little round crater, that's the one. Then you have the "Hooded" navel. This is where a bit of skin hangs over the top of the innie, making it look a bit like a half-moon or an eye with a heavy eyelid. It’s perfectly normal, though some people find it harder to keep clean because it traps moisture.
The Mystery of the Outie
Outies are the rare gems. Only about 10% of people have them. An outie happens when the umbilical stump sticks out instead of being recessed. Honestly, it’s just a quirk of healing. However, sometimes what looks like an outie is actually an umbilical hernia. This happens when a bit of intestine or fatty tissue pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles.
If you’ve had an innie your whole life and it suddenly pops out, see a doctor. That's not a "type" of belly button change; that's a medical condition. Usually, it’s harmless, but it can get pinched. Dr. Bruce Ramshaw, a specialist in abdominal wall reconstruction, often notes that while many hernias are asymptomatic, they should be monitored to ensure the tissue isn't getting "strangled."
Why the Shape Actually Changes Over Time
Your belly button isn't a static monument. It moves. It stretches. It shifts. Pregnancy is the biggest catalyst for change. As the uterus expands, it pushes the abdominal wall forward. Many women with deep innies find their belly buttons "popping" into outies during the third trimester. It’s wild. Most of the time, it goes back to "normal" after birth, but sometimes it stays a bit stretched out or looks "squashed."
Weight fluctuations play a huge role too. Significant weight loss can leave the skin around the navel sagging, creating what some call a "frowning" belly button. It looks like a horizontal line that curves downward at the ends. On the flip side, weight gain can make an innie much deeper as the surrounding adipose tissue grows outward.
The Science of the Microbiome Under the Rim
Let’s get a bit gross for a second. Your belly button is a literal jungle. Back in 2012, researchers at North Carolina State University launched the "Belly Button Biodiversity" project. They swabbed 60 volunteers and found 2,368 species of bacteria. Most of these were rare, but some were truly bizarre. One guy had a bacterium previously found only in soil from Japan—and he’d never been there.
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This biodiversity is why some types of belly buttons smell worse than others. Deep innies and hooded navels are prone to "omphaloliths." That’s the fancy medical term for naval stones. Basically, sebum, dead skin, and lint get packed together over years and harden into a black, rock-like mass. If you don't clean it, it can cause infections.
Caring for Your Specific Navel Type
If you have a shallow innie or an outie, your job is easy. Soap and water during a shower usually do the trick. But if you have a deep vertical or hooded type, you need to be more intentional. Use a Q-tip with a bit of warm water and mild soap. Don't go digging like you're searching for buried treasure, though. The skin inside is incredibly sensitive because it's so close to the peritoneum—the lining of your abdominal cavity.
If you notice redness, itching, or a "cheesy" discharge, you might have a yeast infection. Because it’s dark and damp in there, fungi like Candida love to set up shop. This is especially common in people with "horizontal" or "frowning" types where skin folds touch. Keep it dry. After a shower, pat it down thoroughly or even use a hair dryer on a cool setting if you’re really prone to infections.
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Piercings and Anatomy
Thinking about a piercing? Your anatomy matters. A "hooded" navel or a very deep innie provides a great "shelf" for a piercing to sit on. However, if you have a true outie, most reputable piercers will refuse to do it. There isn't enough stable tissue to hold the jewelry, and the risk of rejection or infection is sky-high. Always check with a professional who understands abdominal anatomy before committing.
Actionable Steps for Navel Health
Don't ignore that little divot in your midsection. It's a window into your health and a relic of your biological history. Start with a self-exam today.
- Check for symmetry: A sudden bulge on one side could indicate a hernia or a cyst.
- Scent check: A faint smell is normal, but a pungent, "sour" odor usually means a bacterial or fungal buildup that needs cleaning.
- Moisture management: If you have a deep innie, ensure you dry it completely after swimming or showering to prevent maceration of the skin.
- Consult a pro: If you see any discharge—clear, yellow, or bloody—see a GP. It could be a persistent urachus (a rare connection to the bladder) or just a simple infection.
Maintaining the health of your belly button is mostly about hygiene and observation. Whether you have a T-shaped navel, a vertical slit, or a prominent outie, it's a unique part of your body's landscape. Treat it with the same care as the rest of your skin, and it’ll stay just a quiet, harmless reminder of where you came from.