In fact, recent studies suggest that bacteria on your body may strengthen your skin's defense system, but if you never clean your belly button, they'll grow unencumbered, and that can be a problem.

If the belly button piercing is infected keep it in and clean the area with antibacterial soap. To avoid an infected piercing, clean it twice a day, avoid tight-fitting clothes, and soak the area ...

which helped carry the lint towards the belly button. Once it fell into the belly button, it wouldn't easily come out again. But perhaps there are some other factors involved . . . Do you have a ...