Umbilical Granuloma
Patient information leaflets
NHS Borders
Scottish Borders Health Visiting Service
"Information given on this site is not meant to take the place of a talk with your doctor or health worker."
What is an Umbilical Granuloma?
An umbilical granuloma is an overgrowth of tissue during the healing process of the belly button (umbilicus). It usually looks like a soft pink or red lump and often is wet or leaks small amounts of clear or yellow fluid.
How can I treat it?
Umbilical Granuloma can be simply treated by applying ordinary household salt.
- apply a pinch of table/cooking salt over the umbilical granuloma and cover the area with a clean gauze dressing for 10-30 minutes
- gently rinse the salt away using warm water and another clean gauze dressing
- repeat this procedure twice a day for at least 3 days
- see your GP or Health Visitor if the umbilical granuloma does not respond to treatment
What should I look for?
You will notice the granuloma gets smaller; it may change colour and become dry.
If the belly button or area around it becomes red, has an offensive smelling discharge or your baby develops a temperature your baby may have an infection.
Please contact your GP for further details and/or treatment.
Further Information
This leaflet was produced by NHS Borders Health Visiting Service and is based on information issued by the Institute of Health Visiting and the Royal Bath University Hospital.
Please contact the department should you need this leaflet in another format