Here’s What to Do About a Pimple Inside Your Nose
Breakouts can be frustrating, but some breakouts more so than others. One of the most frustrating types of breakouts is getting a pimple inside your nose. Not only can it hurt, but getting rid of it (or even just getting to it) can be a real conundrum. But wait! Before you proceed to pop it, we asked dermatologists what they suggest.
How Did That Pimple Get There In the First Place?
Simply put, there’s a lot of reasonsâbut just as with any normal pimple, it comes down to a compromised skin barrier. According to Kenneth Mark, MD, cosmetic dermatologist, âClogged pores, ingrown hairs, or inflammation of the hair follicles inside the nose can all cause a pimple.â
What Should You Do If You Get a Pimple Inside Your Nose?
While you might be tempted to mess with your pimple, itâs crucial to resist the temptation says Dr. Sanda Lee, a.k.a. Dr. Pimple Popper. âNose pimples are particularly painful because the nose has lots of sensory nerve endings and the inflammation leads to swellingâand this leads to pain. It hurts to even touch it and move it around. It can be hard not to pick or rub your nose, but you should try to keep your hands off of it.â Why? Ssqueezing and picking the area can end up making the problem worse. âThis leads to a bigger pimple and more pain,â she says,
How to Get Rid Of a Pimple Inside Nose
Resist the urge to pop your pimple. Dr. Lee notes that you’ve got to wait it out until a whitehead forms. âThis is a sign that your body is fighting off the pimple by sending its army of cellsâlike macrophages and neutrophilsâto fight off the infection (likely bacterial) and literally push it out of the body. That’s why a painful, deeper red bump usually eventually comes to the surface of the skin and becomes a pustule. Or in this case, it comes to the surface of the inside of the nose, which is actually a mucous membrane.â
How to Prevent A Pimple Inside Nose
While it’s not abnormal for a pimple to form inside your nose on occasion, if it happens frequently, could be because you’re doing something wrong. âIf you are prone to getting pimples inside your nose, a good thing to do is use a Q-tip and a topical prescription antibiotic ointment called Mupirocin ointment, which is good at eradicating staph,â says Dr. Lee. âAs derms, we will often prescribe this for people to apply to the inside of their noses to help control the bacterial count.â
If youâre prone to pimples on the rest of your face, itâs important to keep acne-causing bacteria at bay to curb the spread. Dr. Lee suggests using SLMD Salicylic Acid Cleanser. âCombine this with the SLMD BP Lotion, which is formulated with benzoyl peroxide to combat acne-causing bacteria on your face that might potentially spread into your nose.â
What Should You Do If Your Pimple Doensât Go Away
If itâs been a few days and your painful pimple has popped yet, have a professional look at it and make an appointment with your dermatologist.Â