Zits are no fun, no matter where they appear. But if you’ve had one inside your nose? Well, you know that they are a very particular kind of annoyance. No, they may not be visible to others, but they can be difficult to treat, as well as quite painful. Pimples are the result when those pores become filled with dead skin cells, dirt, makeup, and oil; the pore isn’t able to slough it out fast enough; you get a clog, bacteria grows; internal inflammation sets a trigger; and then a pimple (be it a blackhead, whitehead, or pustule) forms. They can occur in the nose, specifically, because of excess picking, mucus from a cold, or the like. How do you know what the little bump in your nostril really is? Well, it’s not always easy to tell—as folicilites and zits look and act very similar. However, folliculitis is caused by yeast that inflames the hair follicle in the skin and causes pimple-like bumps to appear. It’s normal for this type of yeast to live on the skin, but when it is not controlled, it can lead to these acne-like breakouts. Speaking of hair follicles, “It can be an ingrown hair,” notes King. Ingrown hairs are simply strands that got trapped in the pore and thus are growing into the skin. They are very common and usually not a big deal. However, they can become a problem if they become inflamed. “If the lesion gets worse or more painful with time, these can be signs of an infection, and it’s important to see your doctor,” she says. If you really can’t tell, and it’s bugging you, you can visit a derm to help you identify what your problem is. They may even diagnose it as a cold sore. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). “The virus typically lays dormant in the underlying nerve, but when there’s a triggering immune event (such as stress, sunlight, or trauma) to the skin, it can cause the virus to flare in the nerve,” board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare Purvisha Patel, M.D., previously told us about the difference between cold sores and pimples. Yes, cold sore blisters can appear inside the nostril (this is much more rare; most appear around the mouth or near the nose—not usually in the nose). And visiting a derm will mean they’ll be able to test the bump so you can know for sure. While acne, folliculitis, and ingrown hairs tend to look and feel similar, cold sores act a bit different: They form in small blisters, which then will usually pop on its own, then will scab over heavily. The scab eventually flakes off in a few days. That’s why, and we hate to tell you this, the best course of action is to let it be. (We’re all about solutions here, but sometimes the best action is no action.) “If the pimple inside your nose is painful, you can apply a hot compress to the area, which will help soothe it,” says Hatfield. “It will go away on its own; just be sure not to mess with it or try to pop it.” If not doing anything is simply not an option, King notes there are some topicals that can be safe for the area. “Acne pimples will be resolved with time,” she assures. “But there are also OTC acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide that can be carefully applied.” Careful is the operative word here: This is not an area of the skin you want to slather stuff onto liberally. Finally, if it does become inflamed, like it may in the case of folliculitis or an ingrown hair, you may need something prescription-strength: “If there is a bacterial infection, topical and/or systemic antibiotics may be given,” she says.
