Breaking out anywhere on your face (or body) can be super annoying, but there’s nothing quite like the frustration of a giant, throbbing pimple inside your nose. Anyone who’s had one knows just how much these bumps can hurt. And perhaps the worst part? You can’t comfortably stick your usual skin care remedies (like acne patches or spot treatments) up there.
At best, a pimple inside your nose is an uncomfortable nuisance. But in some cases, it could also signal something more serious, like an infection, Fatima Fahs, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in West Bloomfield, Michigan, tells SELF. Of course, knowing the difference can be tricky since, you can’t exactly see what’s going on in there. That’s why we asked dermatologists how to tell if that suspicious bump is even a “zit” in the first place—and how to get it out of your life either way.
What can cause a painful bump inside your nose?
Just like acne on your chin, forehead, or back, “pimples in your nose can pop up when hair follicles get blocked by dirt, oil, and dead skin cells,” Dr. Fahs says. That said, not every nostril lump is a typical zit, Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan Beach, California, and the founder of Ocean Skin and Vein Institute, tells SELF.
Instead, a “pimple” in this area may actually be an ingrown hair (a small bubble of inflammation that forms when a strand gets trapped beneath your skin). “This could especially be the case if you’ve been plucking your nasal hairs,” Dr. Shokeen says, since tweezing can cause the hair to break off unevenly and curl back into your skin. In this situation, using a warm compress (more on that below) can ease the discomfort, she says—but please, don’t use your tweezers to dig up your nose and try to excavate the stuck strand. (That could end up causing even more irritation and delay the healing process.)
If your spot is incredibly painful and swollen (even when you don’t touch it), that could be a sign of infection—or more specifically, folliculitis (an infection of the hair follicle). In your nose, these bumps are called nasal vestibulitis furunculosis, Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, tells SELF. Usually, it’ll look like a hard boil (a.k.a. nasal furuncle) that’s bigger (and angrier) than a typical whitehead. The condition is triggered by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (which thrive in moist environments, like inside the nostrils) or physical irritation (from nose blowing, say, or booger picking).
In less common (and more serious) cases, a super sore nostril bump can also signal an especially concerning infection called nasal vestibulitis, Dr. Zeichner says. If that’s what you’re up against, you’ll notice swelling and pain that spreads beyond your little blemish. When left untreated, this condition can lead to rare but potentially life-threatening complications, like cellulitis (a skin infection that can get into your bloodstream) and cavernous sinus thrombosis (a clot that restricts blood flow to your brain), Dr. Shokeen explains. That’s why, if you notice any of the above symptoms, it’s best to see a derm or your primary care provider, who can prescribe topical or oral antibiotics.
How to get rid of a pimple inside your nose
Assuming that you’re not dealing with an infection (which you’d probably know since it would hurt like hell, Dr. Shokeen points out) and you do, in fact, have a regular ol’ nose zit, there’s good news: Your bump should heal on its own within a week or two, she says. Still, putting up with a tiny tormentor even for a few days can suck. To ease your discomfort in the meantime, here are some safe, derm-approved home remedies to try—and a few to avoid.
1. Apply a clean, warm compress to the outside of your nose.
While it may make sense to target your inner nostril directly, Dr. Fahs recommends putting a warm compress on the outside of your nose. Not only is this approach more comfortable, but it’ll also prevent you from accidentally burning the thin skin inside your nostril.
For painful pimples, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends soaking a clean cloth or towel in warm (not scalding hot) water, then applying it to the affected spot for 10–15 minutes, three times a day. The warmth can help reduce swelling and relieve pressure by bringing hardened buildup (or, in the case of ingrowns, trapped hairs) closer to the surface, Dr. Shokeen explains. And don’t worry, even though your cloth won’t directly touch your zit if you press it on the outside of your nose, “the heat should still be close enough to minimize inflammation and draw out trapped gunk (like pus or dead skin cells), which will help the bump heal faster and hurt less,” Dr. Fahs says.
2. Use a saline nasal rinse to keep the area as clean as possible.
One of the best ways to prevent an irritated nose pimple from getting worse is to keep it clean—and a saline nasal rinse works wonders for that, according to Dr. Shokeen. “It can flush out irritants [like dirt, dust, and bacteria], which should prevent the spot from becoming even more aggravated,” she explains. Plus, the salt in the saline solution contains mild anti-inflammatory properties that can momentarily soothe the area and ease any discomfort.
For the best results, Dr. Shokeen recommends buying a pre-mixed bottle online vs. making your own at home (since DIY versions are less sterile and may not contain the right salt-to-water ratio), following these instructions from the FDA, and repeating the process twice a day (for no more than three weeks) until the blemish is gone.
3. Don’t stick any topical acne treatments up your nose.
You might be tempted to whip out your strongest acne-fighting products to destroy your stubborn zit. However, all the dermatologists we spoke with strongly advise against doing that.
That’s because the skin inside your nostrils (known as mucosal skin) is super thin and sensitive, Dr. Shokeen explains. So, strong actives like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and tea tree oil are likely too harsh and can irritate the bump even more. Not to mention, “there’s a risk of accidentally inhaling [these chemicals],” she warns. “Most over-the-counter acne treatments aren’t designed to be used inside your nasal cavity, so shoving them up there isn’t exactly a good idea.”
In some cases, Dr. Zeichner says that dryness inside your nose could also disrupt your skin barrier and possibly irritate your zit—which is why adding a bit of hydration (with a small dab of petroleum jelly or a gentle, noncomedogenic cream) can help soothe the spot. However, Dr. Fahs cautions that thick products “could also potentially make a pimple worse by trapping more oil and creating clogged pores.” So don’t go too hard on the moisturizer, and if you’d rather err on the side of caution, Dr. Fahs says “it’s best to just leave the area alone and keep it as clean as possible.”
4. Do. Not. Pop.
When you’re dealing with a throbbing nostril monster, getting rid of it ASAP (perhaps by pinching the outside of your nose and praying something inside bursts) may sound like the easy way out. But seriously: Resist that urge!
In general, poking, picking, or otherwise messing with your skin can lead to more breakouts, scarring, and possibly an infection. And specifically around your nose, the risks are even higher: This part of your face (known as the triangle of death) is loaded with blood vessels that are directly connected to your brain. So, an infection here (from a popped pimple, say) could travel through these vessels and cause bigger problems like a stroke, vision loss, or yep, death. (Before you freak out: These worst-case scenarios are pretty rare, but still, important to consider before you start squeezing that sucker.)
5. For particularly uncomfortable inner-nostril zits, grab the Ibuprofen.
If you’ve got an angry little invader that makes its presence known every time you smile, sneeze, or deeply inhale, Dr. Fahs recommends taking an OTC anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen (Advil). It won’t necessarily get rid of your zit, but at the very least, it should relieve some of that discomfort,” she says.
That said, if things start to get worse—as in, the pain becomes practically unbearable, the swelling spreads, or you develop a fever—it’s time to see a derm or your primary care doctor ASAP. They can determine if you’re dealing with a more serious issue, like an infection or a cold sore (yep, you can get them inside your nose). Depending on what’s causing your bump, they can also offer personalized treatment options, like prescribing a topical antibiotic cream (such as bacitracin or mupirocin) or draining your cyst for instant relief.
As helpful as these tips can be, you’ll still need to be patient—which can be hard when an inconvenient, achy lump is ruining your day. That’s why, in the future, it’s smart to focus on prevention (especially if inner-nostril pimpless are a recurring issue for you). As a start, consider doing saline rinses more regularly (a couple of times each week) and see if that helps, Dr. Zeichner suggests. It’s also worthwhile to make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist to figure out why these breakouts keep happening—and how to get them out of your life. And for the love of all things nasal, keep your fingers (and tweezers) out of there!
Original article appeared on SELF
