it does dry it out, but that's not always a good thing. alcohol dries too quickly and then you're left with dry skin that's still a breeding ground for bacteria as soon as it touches and gets sweaty again. it's just a thing some people have to go through, unfortunately. i've found the tp ball the best way to clean it out and keep it dry and untouched for long enough that the irritation goes away, but my belly button is usually red.