Pimple Inside Nose: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

A pimple inside nose is just as annoying and as irritating as any other pimple found on forehead, cheeks or chin. Unfortunately, nasal pimples tend to be more painful and tender because the nasal mucous membrane is much more delicate than regular skin. A pimple inside nose puts pressure on capillaries and nerve endings, making the feeling of soreness much more pronounced than expected.

Pimple inside nose: Causes and Symptoms

A painful pimple inside nose can develop on inner part of the tip or wings of the nose, nasal septum, and nasal floor. Pimples affecting nasal mucous membrane vary in size and appearance. Not all boils inside the nose have pointed tip. Quite often they develop under the skin without significant white or black head filled with pus. These nasal boils are called blind pimples.

Here is a list of common causes of pimples inside nose:

1. Blockage of pores

Human skin consists of pores that quite often get clogged with natural oily secretion called sebum, dead skin cells, bacteria and environmental dirt. As a result, an inflammatory infection develops, seen as a red, swollen pimple.

2. Folliculitis

Folliculitis usually develops due to a bacterial or fungal infection which triggers an inflammation of hair follicles. A bacterium known as Staphylococcus Aureus is usually responsible for such doings; however other fungi, viruses, as well as in-grown hair are hazardous factors as well. Folliculitis is not life threatening, however, a simple whitehead pimple caused by this condition can turn into crusty sore if the infection spreads beyond acceptable.  

3. Hair removal

When mucous membrane inside the nose gets scraped or cut, chances of developing a pimple significantly increase. People usually scratch the membrane when trimming of plucking nose hair with scissors or tweezers. When cuts on membrane get infected with bacteria, a pimple appears.

You can prevent the development of a pimple inside your nose by being gentle and by keeping your hair-removal tools sterilized

4. Nose picking

A habit of nose picking can lead to the formation of a painful pimple. When fingernails scratch the sensitive mucous membrane inside the nose, it instantly becomes exposed to bacteria and dirt on fingers. Aggressive nose picking can cause damage to capillaries which can complicate the infection even further.

5. Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an inflammation of sinuses caused by bacterial infection, allergies or other illnesses. Excessive mucus drainage not only increases the risks of blockage of pores but also makes people reach for tissues. Regular nose blowing additionally damages the inner lining of the nose, exposing already affected nasal canals to bacterial threats. Such nasal problems can even lead to chronic sinusitis.

6. Exposure to irritants

Exposure to irritants, such as chemicals, dust, pollen, smoke, and other pollutants and allergens, leads to the swelling of mucosa membrane of the nose. Microscopic particles inhaled through the nose can clog the hair follicles, and if allergic reaction develops, excessive production of mucus worsens the risks of inflammatory infection, characterized by swelling, redness, tenderness and pus drainage.

Other causes of painful pimple inside nose may include:

• Nasal polyps
• Allergic rhinitis
• Hormonal disorders
• Poor hygiene
• Nose piercing
• Unhealthy lifestyle, poor diet, and stress
• Foreign objects stuck inside the nose

Symptoms of a pimple inside nose somewhat defer from those located on the face. If a pimple located on nasal mucous membrane leads to a more complicated infection, the symptoms may surpass the usual redness and swelling and elevate to more severe signs of bodily distress. Here is a list of symptoms associated with nasal boils:

• Swelling of nose
• Feeling of tenderness and throbbing pain
• Red, pink inflamed nose skin
• Sometimes visible head of a pimple filled with pus
• Itching and burning sensation of the skin
• Nasal obstruction similar to the feeling of blocked nose
• Mouth breathing
• Impaired sense of smell
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache

A pimple inside nose can be easily mistaken for a nasal polyp, and we can all agree that misdiagnosis is never beneficial. A nasal pimple can even be a sign of an underlying disease. The unknown sore inside your nose can be a symptom of a serious illness, for instance, lupus, vasculitis or cancer. So, when should you see a doctor?

You should see a doctor when/if:

• you are not sure whether the sore inside your nose is a pimple, polyp or some other outgrowth,
• a pimple inside your nose is too painful, too big and obstructing nasal breathing,
• a pimple inside your nose turns into an abscess,
• you are affected by fever, headache or fatigue,
• home removal remedies don’t show any results, and the severity of your pimple progresses over a course of a couple of days.

Pimple inside nose treatment options

Medically approved treatments

When seeking medical assistance for the removal of a pimple inside nose, your doctor may give you topical or oral medicine, and in severe cases of infection, even put you through surgery.

Most common topical over the counter medications include:

• Benzoyl peroxide
• Resorcinol
• Salicylic acid
• Fusidic acid
• Sulfur
• Azelaic acid
• Retin A
• Mupirocin

If you decide to use any of the above listed over the counter medications, make sure they have low concentration, for instance, Mupirocin 2%. Keep in mind that these pimple-removal treatments can cause some side effects, such as burning, redness, peeling of the skin and discoloration, therefore, always carefully read the instructions and never use these treatments without the consent of your medical specialist.

Medical specialists sometimes give their patients oral prescription antibiotics. Antibiotics treat a nasal infection, reduce inflammation, and prevent sepsis (blood poisoning). Here is a list of most commonly used prescription antibiotics in the treatment of nasal boils:

• Clindamycin
• Erythromycin
• Tetracycline
• Cefazolin
• Vancomycin
• Linezolid

These antibiotics should not be used for long periods of time, and should never be combined with topical antibiotics. Do not consume listed medications without the authorization of your doctor. Listed antibiotics should not be taken with certain medications, for instance, Erythromycin and antacids containing, calcium, sodium or magnesium. Furthermore, Tetracycline must not be given to kids!

Home remedies

Following home remedies are general in nature and are not a recommendation or substitute for the treatment provided by your medical specialist. If you are having any doubts or concerns about the listed remedies, consult your medical specialist beforehand.

1. Tea tree oil

Instructions:

• Dilute tea tree oil with carrier oil (coconut, jojoba, olive oil etc.)
• Soak a cotton ball or cotton swab in the mixture and apply it to the affected area.
• Allow the application to penetrate your skin for 5 minutes.
• Rinse the application off with warm water.
• Repeat the treatment 2 to 3 times per day until a pimple is gone.

NOTE: Tea tree oil may cause skin irritation. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use tea tree oil. Do not ingest tea tree oil because it is toxic.

2. Lemon juice

Instructions:

• Obtain juice of a lemon.
• Soak swab in the lemon juice and apply it on the pimple.
• Leave the application on for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
• Repeat the process until you see positive results.

3. Epsom salt solution

Instructions:

• Add a tablespoon of Epsom salt to half a cup of hot water. Stir well until dissolved.
• Let the solution cool down to room temperature.
• With cotton ball apply on the affected area.
• Allow the application to dry for 15 minutes before washing it off with water.
• Repeat the process twice a day until a pimple drains out.

How to pop a pimple inside nose?

It is not advised to pop a pimple inside the nose without medical assistance. People are often not completely sure whether the bump in their nose is actually a pimple. Misdiagnosis and improper treatment can lead to severe consequences. Blind pimples especially should not be opened and drained by nonprofessionals, since they don’t have a typical white head.

An incorrectly popped pimple can lead to infection of venous tissue. In such case, a person develops thrombophlebitis of superficial veins. When speaking of infections, a danger of sepsis is always present. Sepsis is often deadly medical condition caused by body’s overwhelming immune response to infection.

Is your pimple inside nose swollen and simply unbearable? Well, if you decide to pop your nasal pimple by yourself, at least make sure it is ready for drainage. If a pimple is matured and the pus head is clearly eager for release, follow these procedure steps carefully:

1. Take a painkiller, for instance, ibuprofen about half an hour before starting the procedure.
2. Head to a well-lit room, fetch a magnifying mirror and tilt it so you can see your pimple clearly.
3. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and disinfect a sewing needle with alcohol.
4. Pop the head of a pimple with a needle by inserting the pointy tip gently through the surface. Do not squeeze a pimple because you may damage the surrounding tissue!
5. Insert a cotton swab in your nostril and put slight pressure on the spot beside the pierced pimple. Wipe drained pus away with the cotton swab.
6. Apply a little bit of antibacterial ointment on a clean cotton swab and brush it over the popped pimple.

Conclusion

A pimple inside the nose can be caused by unhealthy diet, poor hygiene as well as folliculitis and sinusitis. Regardless of how innocent a pimple inside your nose may seem, it is always recommended to seek medical attention for reliable diagnosis, since nasal boils sometimes is a symptom of serious underlying diseases.

Most importantly, do not poke your nasal pimple with fingers or any other object. Abrasion of tissue and bleeding can lead to further complications. To prevent new flare-ups establish a gentle, regular and proper cleaning routine for your nose.