Pimples Inside The Nose: Major Causes + Derm Recommendations 

We tend to associate acne with the zits that appear along your cheeks, jawline, or even forehead; makes sense considering they're the most visible and common. But zits can appear anywhere you have a pore—then, all it takes is a bit of buildup, some internal inflammation, and you've got yourself a pimple. 

As we noted above, you can get pimples anywhere you have a sebaceous gland. "There are pores present in the skin just inside the nose, so it is possible for one of these pores to clog, and this can result in a pimple," says board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D.

So that zit may not be a zit at all—it's far more rare, but there are other causes. "If you have a raised sore spot in the nose, it is most likely a pimple," assures Nicole Hatfield, certified esthetician for Pomp and. founder of Radiant Beings Wellness & Beauty. "Another more likely cause could be an inflamed hair follicle, also called folliculitis. However, if it begins to spread or becomes more painful rather than less painful over time you should see a doctor to be sure it is nothing serious." 

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. 

OK, so for arguments sake, let's say it is acne. How do you treat it? Acne is difficult to treat anyway—when it's not located in a delicate area. The thought of applying, like say a charcoal mask, inside your nose just doesn't seem all that appealing, no? In fact, it blatantly sounds like a bad idea.

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.