Body odor is natural part of human physiognomy, while some people may experience less of it, it can be stronger in others. This odor is not uniform throughout your body, certain body part smell more, like your armpits, groin and feet. The Cleveland clinic explains that this smell is due to bacteria and smell on your skin. Your body odor can also change if you are on medication, or ate a certain food or even experience some hormonal changes.

Similarly, It's common for belly buttons to have a slight odor, but sometimes it can become noticeable and unpleasant. While a little smell is often nothing to worry about, a strong, foul odor, especially when combined with other symptoms, could be a sign of a more serious problem. It's important to understand the possible causes of a smelly belly button so you can take the right steps to address it. Knowing when to simply clean it better versus when to seek medical help is key to keeping yourself healthy.

Possible Causes of Belly Button Odor

If your belly button smells bad and you also have redness, swelling, pain, or bleeding, you should see a doctor. These symptoms could be a sign of an infection that needs medical treatment Here are some reasons why this may be happening.

Not Cleaning It Well

Just like any other part of your body, your belly button needs regular cleaning. If you skip cleaning it with soap and water, things like dirt, sweat, and natural oils can build up inside. As explained above, his buildup creates a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to a musty or unpleasant smell. This is especially true if you have a deep belly button, as it has folds and crevices that are harder to reach and clean properly. A deep belly button is a warm, damp place, which is exactly what bacteria love.

Stuff Getting Stuck

Even if you take regular showers, your belly button can still collect things like dead skin cells, lint from your clothes, and other small pieces of debris. WebMD explains that these things can get trapped inside, and when mixed with moisture from sweat or water, they can start to smell bad. Sometimes, these things can clump together and form a hard, smelly lump called a navel stone. This stone can be quite smelly, even though it's usually not painful.

Bacterial Infections

We all have bacteria on our skin, but sometimes they can cause infections. According to WebMD if bacteria get inside your belly button, especially through a small cut or scratch, they can multiply and cause an infection. Infections like impetigo and cellulitis can cause redness, swelling, pain, and pus, along with a bad smell. People with weak immune systems or poor blood flow are more likely to get these infections. If these infections are not treated, they can lead to serious problems, so it's important to see a doctor.

Yeast Infections

Yeast, which is a type of fungus, can also grow in your belly button, especially if it's warm and moist. According to the Cleveland Clinic a common type of yeast is Candida. Yeast infections can cause a sour, bread-like smell, along with redness and itching. Sweating a lot, wearing tight clothes, or taking antibiotics can increase your risk. People with diabetes or weak immune systems are also more likely to get yeast infections. These infections usually go away with antifungal creams, but it's important to keep the area dry to prevent them from coming back.

Cysts

Cysts are small, fluid-filled bumps that can form under the skin. They can happen when dead skin cells and oils get trapped in your belly button. Most of the time, these cysts are harmless and don't cause any problems. But sometimes, they can become infected, which can cause them to swell, become red, and release a gray or white discharge with a cheesy smell. If a cyst gets infected, it might need to be drained by a doctor.

Piercings

If you have a belly button piercing, it's very important to keep it clean. If you don't clean it properly, bacteria can build up around the piercing and cause an infection. Signs of an infection include pain, redness, swelling, and smelly pus. If the infection is not treated, it can spread to your bloodstream and cause serious health problems. Cleaning your piercing regularly with warm, soapy water can help prevent infections.

Air conditioners feel great when the weather turns hot and sticky. Most of us spend hours under one, at home, at work, or even on long drives, and it barely crosses our minds. But sitting in cold air for too long can quietly leave your neck and back feeling tight and sore. AC isn't going to cause a serious spine problem on its own, but it can tighten up your muscles and make existing pain worse.

Why Does This Happen?

Muscles function optimally when they are relaxed and warm. As soon as the cold air comes into contact with them, the body automatically starts tightening them as it seeks to retain its warmth. When this occurs in places such as the neck, shoulders, and lower back regions, there is a chance that these muscles will get sore and stiff. This condition worsens even more if the cold air continues to blow in the same spot for hours, especially while sleeping or sitting at a workstation.

What It Does To Your Neck And Back

Your neck and back rely on several muscles to keep you upright and moving properly all day. Cold air can slow blood flow to these muscles, which makes them tense up more easily. That's why people often wake up with a stiff neck after sleeping under an AC vent or feel upper back pain after a day in a freezing office. If you already deal with something like cervical spondylitis or chronic back pain, cold air can make those symptoms flare up even more.

It's Not Just The AC

Cold air rarely works alone. Bad posture, sitting too long, skipping exercise, and not stretching enough all add to the problem. Picture sitting at a computer for hours in a chilly office: that's tense muscles and poor posture combining at the same time, which makes stiffness and pain even more likely.

Simple Ways To Avoid It

A few small changes can make a real difference: keep the airflow away from your neck and back, set the temperature to something comfortable rather than freezing, get up and stretch every so often, drink enough water, and keep a light sweater or shawl nearby if it gets too cold.

AC keeps us comfortable when it's hot outside, but too much cold air for too long can leave your neck and back stiff and achy. A little attention to airflow, posture, and movement throughout the day can help you stay comfortable without paying for it later.

(By Dr. Aanchal Sharma, Pain Physician, Principal Consultant and Head of Department, Department of Pain Medicine at BLK MAX Hospital, New Delhi)

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition that causes pigment loss in patches of skin. It is highly treatable and does not spread from person to person. However, stress, poor sleep, diet, and overall immune health may influence how active the condition becomes, experts said today on World Vitiligo Day.

Awareness around vitiligo remains low and is often clouded by misconceptions. Observed annually on June 25, World Vitiligo Day aims to raise awareness and challenge the stigma associated with the condition.

HealthandMe spoke to experts to understand the disease and the factors that may affect it.

Dr. Rashmi Ranjan, Consultant – Dermatology, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Noida, said the biggest misconception is that vitiligo is contagious.

"It cannot spread from one person to another through touch, sharing food, or close contact."

Dr. Rashmi told HealthandMe that many people also incorrectly believe vitiligo is caused by poor hygiene or specific foods, claims that are not supported by scientific evidence.

Also read: Sleeping Too Little or Too Much? Neurologist Explains Health Risks

What Is Vitiligo?

Vitiligo occurs when the body's immune system attacks melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing skin pigment. While the condition is not life-threatening, it can have a significant emotional and psychological impact.

“As a chronic autoimmune disorder, vitiligo develops when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks melanocytes—the cells responsible for producing skin pigment. The result is the appearance of white patches that can develop anywhere on the body and may gradually increase in size or number over time,” Dr Hetanshu Parekh, Consultant Plastic Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgeon, Bhailal Amin General Hospital, told HealthandMe.

The Emotional Impact of Vitiligo

The theme of World Vitiligo Day 2026 is "From Stigma to Strength".

According to Dr. Rashmi, visible skin changes often attract unwanted attention, questions and social judgment. Some people may avoid social gatherings or experience challenges in relationships and employment because of persistent misconceptions.

Children may face bullying, while adults can struggle with anxiety and low self-esteem. Emotional support from family, friends and healthcare professionals is therefore crucial.

A recent study also highlighted a strong link between vitiligo and mental health in India. Nearly 89% of patients reported moderate to severe depression, while close to 60% said they covered their patches, underscoring the continuing impact of stigma.

Read More: Did Donald Trump Take Eli Lilly's Weight Loss Drug? What Did White House Say

Vitiligo and the Role of Lifestyle Factors

Dr Hetanshu said vitiligo is often viewed as a skin condition alone, but the disease is far more complex. He explained that

Stress

• Stress can disrupt immune balance and increase inflammation, potentially worsening vitiligo.
• New or expanding patches are often observed after major life events such as exams, work pressure, illness, financial difficulties or bereavement.

Sleep

• Quality sleep is essential for immune regulation and overall health.
• Chronic sleep deprivation, irregular sleep schedules or less than six hours of sleep may worsen autoimmune conditions, including vitiligo.

Diet

• There is no specific "vitiligo diet" and no food can cure the condition.
• Deficiencies in Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, folate and copper may affect immune and skin health.
• Experts recommend an anti-inflammatory diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided.

Skin Protection

• Repeated friction, cuts, burns and excessive sun exposure may trigger vitiligo patches (Koebner phenomenon).
• Use sunscreen regularly, wear protective clothing and avoid unnecessary skin trauma from tight straps, jewellery or repetitive rubbing.

Is Vitiligo Treatable?

Advances in targeted topical medications, phototherapy and immune-modulating therapies have expanded treatment options and enabled more personalized care, said Dr. Rashmi told HealthandMe.

Dr Hetanshu stressed that lifestyle measures should complement, not replace, medical treatment. Treatment measures include:

• For small, stable patches, doctors commonly prescribe corticosteroid creams and tacrolimus ointment.
• More extensive or rapidly spreading vitiligo may require narrowband UVB phototherapy, excimer laser therapy, oral corticosteroids or newer JAK inhibitors such as tofacitinib and ritlecitinib.
• Patients with stable disease for six to twelve months may be candidates for surgical procedures such as skin grafting and melanocyte transplantation.
• Medical tattooing and camouflage techniques can help in difficult-to-treat areas.

Blood cancers are among the most challenging, but advances in treatments, such as targeted therapies, advanced transplantation techniques, and increasingly customized approaches, are offering a new ray of hope for patients. Among these innovations, Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy, commonly known as CAR-T cell therapy, represents one of the most important breakthroughs in modern cancer care in recent times.

Unlike conventional treatments that directly target cancer cells, CAR-T cell therapy harnesses the patient's immune system to identify and attack cancer. It is a powerful example of how medicine is moving towards personalized treatment strategies that are designed around an individual's disease biology.

How CAR-T Cell Therapy Works

To understand CAR-T therapy, it is important to understand the role of T-cells. These are specialized immune cells responsible for recognizing and eliminating abnormal cells in the body. In some blood cancers, cancer cells develop mechanisms that allow them to evade immune surveillance. CAR-T therapy addresses this challenge by genetically modifying a patient's T-cells in a laboratory to recognize specific proteins present on cancer cells.

The process begins with the collection of T-cells from the patient's blood through leukapheresis. These cells are then engineered to express specialized receptors, called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which enable them to recognize cancer cells more effectively. Once modified and multiplied, the cells are infused back into the patient's bloodstream, where they seek out and destroy cancer cells.

Potential of CAR-T

Currently, CAR-T cell therapy has shown encouraging results in several blood cancers, including certain forms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. For some patients whose disease has relapsed after multiple lines of treatment or failed to respond to conventional therapies, CAR-T therapy has offered a valuable new treatment option.

One of the most promising aspects of CAR-T therapy is its potential for durable responses. In selected patients, the engineered immune cells can continue to remain active within the body, providing ongoing surveillance against cancer recurrence. While every patient may not experience the same outcome, the ability to achieve long-lasting remission in heavily pre-treated cancers has generated significant optimism within the oncology community.

CAR-T therapy: The Challenges And Side Effects

All that being said, CAR-T therapy is a highly specialized treatment that requires careful patient selection and close monitoring. Some patients may also experience side effects such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurological complications, or temporary suppression of normal blood cell production. Fortunately, advances in supportive care and growing clinical experience have substantially improved the management of these complications.

The Future of Blood Cancer Care

Researchers across the world are working on next-generation CAR-T platforms designed to improve effectiveness, reduce toxicity and expand treatment eligibility. Investigational approaches include "off-the-shelf" CAR-T products derived from healthy donors, dual-target CAR-T cells capable of recognizing multiple cancer markers, and therapies aimed at overcoming treatment resistance.

Scientists have also been exploring the potential of CAR-T therapy in other blood cancers and even selected solid tumors. While significant challenges remain, ongoing research continues to push the boundaries of what immune-based therapies can achieve. As research advances and access continues to improve, CAR-T cell therapy is expected to play a very important role in the future of blood cancer care. For patients, families, and clinicians alike, it represents a powerful reminder that innovation continues to redefine what is possible in the fight against cancer.

(By Dr. Dinesh Bhurani, Director – Hemato-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC))