Can You Get a Pimple Inside the Nose?

While a pimple inside your nose might not cause the same level of embarrassment as bumps that appear on your face, neck or other visible parts of the body, nose pimples are painful and can lead to severe infections, according to MedlinePlus 2. Reduce your chance of nose pimples by understanding what triggers the bumps and recognizing how you can prevent them. Contact your doctor before taking any home remedy to cure pimples.

Significance

MayoClinic.com reports that pimples inside your nose primarily occur because of folliculitis, or an infection of your hair follicles caused by bacteria 123. A nose pimple often appears as a small, white bump around a hair follicle and is accompanied by itchiness and mild pain. Most nose pimples will clear without treatment, although some cases will require a doctor’s care. Your risk increases for nose pimples if you poke or touch inside your nostrils with an oily or dirty finger because the nose is a common site of infections.

Identification

Antibiotics prescribed to treat acne over an extended period are the trigger of gram-negative folliculitis 2. The antibiotics disrupt the normal balance of bacteria that exists inside your nostrils and lead to an abundance of harmful organisms, according to MayoClinic.com. Staphylococcal folliculitis is a form of the condition triggered by staph bacteria and typically occurs because of a cut, wound or scratch inside your nose 2. In some cases, a hair follicle inside your nostril becomes deeply infected with bacteria and results in a boil, or a red or pink bump that appears swollen, according to Massachusetts General Hospital 4.

Effects

Most cases of gram-negative folliculitis clear once you stop using antibiotics, although in some instances the bacteria expand inside your nose and lead to severe acne lesions, reports MayoClinic.com 123. Staphylococcal folliculitis should resolve once the wound or scratch heals, while a boil may fill with pus and cause more pain before the bump finally drains 2. A large boil may result in a permanent scar, while small boils cause no long-term damage.

Warning

Avoid picking or poking inside your nose when possible to reduce your risk for pimples, recommends Go Ask Alice!, a health resource from Columbia University. Use a tissue if gentle probing inside your nostril is necessary. Frequent nose picking can lead to broken blood vessels and cauterization -- a burning process needed to stop bleeding -- in severe cases.

Potential

Alert your doctor or dermatologist if a pimple or nose infection doesn’t heal within a few days to avoid potential scarring or a deeper infection, reports MedlinePlus 2. Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics or an antifungal medication, although cases of gram-negative folliculitis caused by antibiotics may be treated with isotretinoin 2.