How to Treat a Pimple In Your Nose, According to Dermatologists

No matter where it appears, acne is never fun. We've come to accept that breakouts will happen from time to time, but some are simply more of a pest than others. We're talking about the zit you get in the middle of your forehead right before picture day, the hormonal acne on your jawline that just won't go away, and the painful pimple you get inside your nose every now and then.

We've previously covered all types of breakouts, but one that doesn't get enough of a spotlight– especially for all of the pain (both figuratively and literally) it can cause– is a pimple inside the nose. It may seem as if developing a pimple in this spot is uncommon, but it happens a lot more than you may think. What's more, we can all agree that any type of blemish in or around your nostril can be uncomfortable and even painful.

Because of its location, treating a pimple inside your nose has a few tricks to it. It's not exactly like you can pop a pimple patch over it as you can with blemishes in other areas. So, we tapped board-certified dermatologists, Y. Claire Chang and Joshua Zeichner, to walk us through why we get breakouts inside of the nose and how to treat them when they happen.

Types of Pimples You Can Get Inside Your Nose 

 “It may sound like a bizarre spot to get acne symptoms, but inside and around the nose can often be affected by acne or acne-like bumps,” says Dr. Chang. While many people refer to any bump as “acne,” breakouts are a symptom of the condition and appear in various types. “Breakouts inside the nose can present in a variety of ways, including comedones or whiteheads, inflamed papules, pustules, cysts, as well as larger boils or abscesses. They can be associated with no symptoms or may present with redness, pain, and drainage.”

• Whiteheads. Also known as closed comedones, whiteheads appear as small, flesh-colored, or white bumps on the surface of the skin. 
• Papules and pustules. These types of acne are what many people think of when they think of a pimple: small to medium-sized red bumps, either with or without a white head in the center. Pimples can happen on the nose and inside the nostrils because of the high concentration of oil glands in that part of the face, says Dr. Zeichner. “The most common types of acne I have seen around the inside of the nostrils are pustules or blackheads.”
• Cysts. Cysts are often large, red bumps that rest just under the surface of the skin, making them impossible to pop and somewhat more difficult to treat than some other types of acne symptoms. A cyst inside of the nose can lead to pain or sensitivity. 

What Causes Pimples Inside Your Nose?

Breakouts inside the nostril can be due to multiple factors, namely clogged pores, dead skin cells, and ingrown hairs. 

•  Clogged pores. Like all acne symptoms, pimples here occur when a pore becomes clogged with acne-causing bacteria known as P. acnes. “Similar to acne on the face and body, oil glands in and around the nose can become blocked,” says Dr. Chang. “This can lead to clogged pores and inflammation, subsequently triggering acne.” 
• Irritating triggers. Friction can lead to irritation, which subsequently leads to inflammation. This can be anything from tweezing to picking. 
• Ingrown hairs. “Ingrown hairs can also happen inside the nose, leading to red, painful bumps,” says Dr. Chang. “Tweezing or plucking nose hairs can predispose you to ingrown hairs. They typically resolve on their own, but warm compresses can help.”  
•  Bacteria. While bacteria is a known cause of acne, other forms of bacteria can lead to a different type of skin infection: “Nasal vestibulitis, or nasal folliculitis, is a localized infection of the hair-bearing area of the nose called the nasal vestibule," says Dr. Chang. "It presents as redness, painful swelling, crusting, and sometimes a boil or furuncle in the nostril. It is usually caused by the bacteria S. aureus. Nasal vestibulitis can occur as a primary infection or secondary infection, with risk factors including nasal hair plucking, nose blowing, nose picking, and nose piercing. Severe cases can lead to cellulitis as well as more serious and widespread infection.” 
• Virus. "Recurrent painful nasal bumps or scabs may be an indication of cold sores, due to herpes simplex virus,” says Dr. Chang. Viral infections cannot be cured, but their symptoms can be managed with medication. “If you have recurrent Staph or HSV infections, antibiotics or antivirals, respectively, can help prevent future infections.”  

How to Prevent Getting Pimples Inside Your Nose

Acne symptoms begin forming inside of the pores before we see breakouts on our skin, but if you suspect that a pimple is about to appear, you may be able to prevent it, or at least send it packing more quickly. Since there are a handful of factors that can cause these types of breakouts, there are also several ways to prevent them from popping up in the first place.

• Avoid irritation: “Avoid triggering factors, like tweezing or plucking nasal hairs, nose picking, and nose piercing,” Dr. Chang explains. Avoid rubbing, irritating, or blowing your nose too hard, as this might lead to excess irritation and worsening inflammation. 
• Keep your skin clean. We can’t exactly control how much oil our bodies naturally produce (to a degree), but we can keep the surface of our skin clean and exfoliated, which can prevent clogged pores. “Wash your face with a salicylic acid based cleanser to remove excess oil and dead cells from the surface of the skin,” says Dr. Zeichner. 
• Use skincare with acne-fighting ingredients. Benzoyl peroxide is effective at killing acne-causing bacteria, but salicylic acid may prevent pores from clogging in the first place as it removes dead skin cells. If you have chronic breakouts in and around your nose, a salicylic acid treatment may work well at reducing symptoms. With that said, Dr. Chang only recommends using these types of ingredients on the exterior portion of the nostril and avoiding applying it too deep within the nose, as this can cause excessive irritation.

How to Treat a Pimple in Your Nose 

A breakout inside of your nostril is no less irritating than a pimple anywhere else on the skin, but it should be treated just a little differently on account of its location. Namely, it’s recommended that you treat the area around the breakout—like the outside of the nose, edges of the nostrils, and the skin just below the nose, rather than applying products inside, which could cause irritation. 

• Make sure it’s a pimple. Before you can effectively eliminate a breakout, make sure you know exactly what it is so you can get your treatment plan right. “I recommend treating pimples inside the nose after consulting with your dermatologist to get an accurate diagnosis,” suggests Dr. Chang. “Appropriate treatment depends on the cause of the pimple.” 
• Cleanse around the area. All skin needs to be cleansed regularly, especially for anyone who is acne-prone. This applies to the nose as well. Dr. Zeichner says a face wash formulated with a mix of hydroxy acids removes oil, dirt, and dead cells from the surface of the skin. Rather than suds up inside of the nose, stick to washing the skin around your nostrils to prevent any possible irritation. 
• Do a warm compress. Adding moist heat to the area can help loosen the pore and bring the pus to the surface. This will make it easier to safely extract the pimple when it's ready. Plus, it will help relieve any associated pain.
• Look to topical treatments. “Acne vulgaris may be treated with acne treatments, like topical salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and topical antibiotics,” says Dr. Chang. “Severe cases may require oral antibiotics.” Dr. Zeichner recommends Neutrogena's On the Spot Acne Treatment with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide to “shrink a pus pimple,” as well as Clean & Clear's Advantage Spot Treatment with 2% salicylic acid “to dry out a blackhead.”
• Drop the occlusive products. Occlusive products are moisturizers that create a protective barrier on the outside of the skin, trapping moisture. While occlusives can hydrate dry skin, it can lead to clogged pores on some skin types. “Breakouts are caused by oil being trapped in the follicles by sticky skin cells. This allows for overgrowth of acne-causing bacteria and subsequent inflammation,” explains Dr. Zeichner. “Occlusive ointments can physically block pores directly leading to breakouts.” 
• Keep your overall health in check. Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies, and when we treat ourselves well, inside and out, it’s usually apparent in our complexions. “Stress, diet, and occlusive skincare products can lead to acne flares,” Dr. Zeichner states. “Stress, sugary foods, and dairy promote oil production which blocks the pores.”