Acne on the nose: causes, signs and how to treat it

One of the areas of the face most often attacked by acne is the nose. Pimples on the nose, especially on the inside, can be a sign of an infection in your sense of smell. So, what causes acne in this section and how do you get rid of it?

Causes of acne on the nose

Just like other causes of acne, pimples on the nose appear due to the buildup of dead skin cells and clogged pores from excess oil. Apart from that, the nose is also included in the T-zone.

The T-zone is an area of the face that is more prone to acne, from the forehead to the nose to the chin. This area tends to produce more oil than other facial areas. As a result, the nose area and its surroundings are often overgrown with pimples.

In some cases, this condition is not only caused by acne vulgaris (the growth of the acne itself), but also rosacea. Rosacea is a skin problem characterized by swelling accompanied by a red rash.

Your nose may appear enlarged due to inflammation and pimples may appear over the skin affected by the red rash.

The difference between acne vulgaris and rosacea

Sometimes, it can be difficult to distinguish the cause of acne on the nose due to acne vulgaris or rosacea. The reason is, both of them are marked with almost similar red bumps. However, there are some things that can actually be the difference between these two skin problems.

First, the area of the skin that is experiencing problems. Rosacea tends to occur on your face, from your forehead, nose, cheeks, to your forehead. Meanwhile, acne vulgaris can also occur in the same area, but acne can also appear in other areas of the body such as the back.

Second, the symptoms of the two are quite different. Generally, acne vulgaris is characterized by blackheads, either white (whitehead) or black (blackhead). While rosacea only causes redness and swelling of the skin.

Causes of acne vulgaris

After successfully differentiating between acne vulgaris and rosacea, identify the causes of acne that can appear on the nose and other facial areas as follows.

Bacterial infection.
Build-up of dead skin cells.
Clogged skin pores.
Hormonal changes, especially during puberty, stress, and menstruation.
Skin care products, hair, and cosmetics that clog pores.
Diet that can trigger inflammation of the body.

Some of the factors above can trigger excess oil production which in turn can clog pores and make dead skin cells accumulate. As a result, pimples appear in areas that contain more oil, especially on the spines.

Causes of rosacea

Actually, until now the main cause of rosacea is not known for sure. However, there are several factors that cause a reddish rash and swelling on the skin of your nose, namely:

genetic factors,
excessive immune system reaction due to bacterial infection, as well
a protein that normally protects the skin (cathelicidin) causing redness and swelling.

If you can't tell the difference between the type of acne you have and rosacea, it's best to consult a doctor or dermatologist.

How to get rid of pimples on the nose

Basically, acne on the nose can be treated based on the underlying cause. If you see acne due to acne vulgaris, some of these treatment methods may be recommended by your doctor.

Acne medication

One way that is quite effective in getting rid of acne, especially on the nose, is to use acne medication. Acne medication is available in various forms, from oral medications, creams, to ointments. In addition, this drug can also be obtained based on a doctor's prescription or without a prescription.

The following types of drugs are commonly used to treat acne.

Retinoids to prevent clogging of hair follicles.
Benzoyl peroxide to kill acne-causing bacteria.
Salicylic acid and azelaic acid to fight acne-causing bacteria.
Dapsone which is commonly used for acne that has inflammation.
Antibiotics to reduce redness and fight acne-causing bacteria.
Isotretinoin for patients who do not respond to other acne treatments.

Keep in mind that you should always take the medicines according to the instructions on the label and the doctor's orders.

Choose a gentle facial cleanser

Apart from using drugs, there are other habits that need to be considered to support the process of getting rid of acne, namely washing your face. Try to clean your face with a gentle cleanser twice a day.

Whenever possible, try to avoid certain products, such as facial scrubs and astringents. The reason is, this product can irritate the skin and worsen acne conditions on the nose.

Avoid exposure to direct sunlight

For some people, sun exposure can make their acne worse. In fact, the acne medications used sometimes make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, you need to first check whether the drug you are using belongs to this type of drug.

If so, try to avoid direct sun exposure. You can also protect your skin with sunscreen. Also make sure to see if the product is labeled non-comedogenic (does not cause blackheads) or non-acnegenic (does not cause acne).

Ice your nose

If you feel pain in the area of your nose with acne, try applying a warm compress to the area. Compress with a warm cloth is said to help reduce pain due to acne.

You can compress the nose with acne three times per day for 1-2 minutes.

Tips to prevent pimples inside the nose

Most cases show that acne on the nose is painful and difficult to go away. Therefore, finding out how to prevent acne in this area is much better to reduce the pain.

Here are the steps to help you prevent pimples from appearing on your nose.

Be diligent in cleaning your face

Clogged pores that cause acne can be prevented by gently cleaning the face. This means that you are not advised to leave your face dirty for too long to reduce the risk of developing acne.

Therefore, after doing activities, it is advisable to immediately clean your face with a special soap for acne or light-based ingredients. You can also choose a face wash that doesn't contain alcohol so that your skin doesn't feel tight.

After that, dry your face with a clean towel or tissue. This is so that no soap residue is left on the face.

Wash hands before handling nose

So that dirt and bacteria do not stick to the nose area, make it a habit to wash your hands before touching your sense of smell. Washing your hands at least helps to clean the bacteria that sticks to your hands.

Apart from the two methods above, there are other things that need to be considered to prevent acne on the nose, namely: