Here at IFLScience, we like to cover some of society’s most pressing questions about science. Should
What is a belly button?
Before we get into the ins and outs of innies and outies, it’s important to know what a belly button actually is. The fancy clinical name for a belly button is the umbilicus, which is a handy reminder that it’s the point where the umbilical cord used to be, connecting a developing fetus with the placenta.
After birth, the umbilical cord isn’t needed anymore, so typically it’s cut and clamped, leaving a little stump that eventually dries up and falls off. The belly button is the scar that’s left after this process.
The formation of innies and outies
Some people believe whether you have an innie or an outie belly button depends on how the umbilical cord is cut or where the clamp is placed – but that
For a regular outie belly button, there’s nothing to worry about, though they’re certainly the rarer of the two types – an estimated
If you happen to be the proud owner of an innie, while you’re (hopefully) clearing out any fluff that might have accumulated up in there (it happens to the best of us), you might also be inadvertently digging out a wealth of bacteria. A
Belly buttons can sometimes change
Although for the vast majority of people, their belly button will not change, there are a couple of reasons why some people’s navels might change appearance. The first is what’s known as an
The second is medical conditions that put extra pressure on the area, forcing an otherwise innie belly button into an outie. The most common of these is
Whatever kind of belly button you have, it’s perfectly normal. Just please, for the love of all that’s good,