There’s no frustration like that of waking up to a freshly-formed pimple or nose bump. They’re painful and embarrassing, and while some resolve without much effort, for many sufferers that’s not the case. Nose pimples and bumps can be chronic, difficult to treat, and may be a source of damaging inflammation and scarring. If you’ve ever agonized over these unwelcome imperfections and wished for a simple solution to be rid of them, there’s hope.

CAUSES OF NOSE PIMPLES AND BUMPS

If you suffer from nose bumps or pimples, you’ve probably wondered why— and if there’s any way to avoid them. But what is a pimple, anyway? Most people use “pimple” to refer to a small cyst or pustule caused by acne, but there are actually a variety of skin conditions that can cause bumps resembling pimples in or on the nose. Expert diagnosis and treatment of severe and chronic skin conditions is always best left to a dermatologist, but with so many highly effective treatments available over-the-counter, it’s not always necessary. Here are the three most common causes of “pimples” on and in the nose:

1.   Acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is responsible for the majority of nose pimples that people experience, including those just inside the nasal opening. Ranging in presentation and severity, they occur when hair follicles plug with oil and dead skin cells. Noninflammatory acne (like blackheads and whiteheads) is just the clogged follicle, and inflammatory acne (papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts) is the result of those clogged follicles becoming infected with bacteria from the skin (Cutibacterium acne.) Pimples on or in the nose caused by acne vulgaris are common in people with outbreaks elsewhere on the face, but they frequently occur on their own.

2.   Acne rosacea

Few people realize that rosacea can be a cause of “pimples”. While it’s not as common as acne vulgaris, this skin condition can mimic a more typical breakout and become very difficult to treat. An inflammatory condition, rosacea causes blood vessels below the skin the break gives the skin a red or flushed appearance. Some people also develop a facial rash from rosacea. This rash, consisting of red or pus-filled bumps, can appear on the nose and across the center of the face.

3.   Nasal vestibulitis (Folliculitits)

Nasal vestibulitis is a type of folliculits, an infection or inflammation of the hair follicle. This infection can be fungal or bacterial, but is most frequently caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. It commonly occurs around the nasal opening and appears as a small red bump or bumps. If infected, the bumps may contain pus and spear similar to a typical acne pimple. Poor hygiene practices or improper hair removal practices can be factors in the development of nasal vestibulitis, so be on the lookout if you’ve recently attempted to pluck, tweeze, or wax any  nose hairs.

Other causes

While less likely, it’s possible for a bump on or inside the nose to be caused by a boil (furuncle) dermatofibroma, lipoma, or mole. If your skin bump is swollen, growing in size, or if you experience fever and/or pain that spreads behind the nose, consult a physician.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Of course, determining the cause of the pimples plaguing you is only one piece of the puzzle. With new advances in skincare being made every day, there are more options than ever available to address every concern under the sun. Unfortunately, for those suffering from the inflammatory skin conditions that cause nose pimples, more isn’t always better. As a consumer, it can be overwhelming, expensive, and frustrating to navigate the skincare aisle.

When You’ve Tried Everything

Even for common concerns like pimples caused by acne vulgaris, conventional treatment approaches don’t work for everyone. Benzoyl peroxide spot treatments, salicylic acid face washes, and moisturizers appropriate for your skin type are all a great place to start, but if you’re one of the countless people struggling to control breakouts with these measures alone (or you’ve found they leave your skin dry, itchy, and prone to redness) there are other options. A hypochlorous acid (HOCL) spray like Purclarity Skincare’s Revitalizing Mist is both anti- microbial and anti-inflammatory, so it both treats and prevents pimples. And unlike the topical or oral antibiotics commonly prescribed by dermatologists to treat stubborn cases of acne, HOCL acid can kill off pimple-causing bad bacteria without the same risk of antibiotic resistance. That’s because it’s naturally made by your immune system, which is also how it manages to be so incredibly soothing to the skin. That’s great news for anyone with chronic acne concerns, because the majority of topical treatments (both over-the-counter and prescription) strip the skin barrier and result in irritation.

Acne Vulgaris Vs. Rosacea

For those who actually have acne rosacea, typical pimple treatments are only be ineffective, but can exacerbate the sensitivity and inflammation causing nose bumps. They also further compromise the skin barrier. It’s incredibly frustrating when acne rosacea involves infected pustules, because they resemble acne vulgaris pimples so closely— but typical acne treatments just won’t work. An effective, rosacea-friendly solution is Purclarity Skincare’s Revitalizing Mist. This hypochlorous acid mist is non-irritating and gentle (HOCL acid is naturally made by your immune system) but works incredibly effectively to kill the bacteria responsible for pimples. It’s anti-inflammatory, too. Over time HOCL acid can not only treat the “pimples” caused by rosacea, but help combat the redness and sensitivity.

A Hairy Situation

If an attempt at removing your nose hairs resulted in the angry red bump(s) known as nasal vestibulitis (also known as folliculitis,) you might be panicked to discover that a staphylococcus infection is likely responsible for the “pimple” inside your nose. While it’s true that certain staph infections can become serious, in the absence of any symptoms beyond a small pustule or bump there’s no need to dismay (if you are concerned about the infection spreading or any unusual symptoms like fever or pain spreading behind the nose, consult a physician.) Minor nasal vestibulitis infections are common and treatable (better yet, preventable)  with the use of a hypochlorous acid spray. Immediately after nose hair removal, use a HOCL acid spray like Purclarity Skincare’s Revitalizing Mist to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria that might cause an infection of the open hair follicle. If you’ve already developed a bump inside your nose, the spray is also effective as a treatment— just don’t forget about it for next time!

THERE’S HOPE: HYPOCHLOROUS ACID

Whatever the cause of your nose pimples or bumps, relief is possible with regular use of a hypochlorous acid spray. It’s safety and efficacy has been well established, and it’s been used by doctors and surgeons for many years. Its new popularity as a skincare ingredient and availability to consumers in products like Purclarity Skincare’s Revitalizing Mist is incredible news for those suffering from difficult-to-treat pimples. It’s unlike any other treatment available, offering:

Convenience: a simple spray bottle application

Affordability: less than $20

Accessibility: no prescription necessary

Safety: no side effects, safe for long-term use

Versatility: treats and prevents a variety of common skin conditions

So, before you bleach another pillowcase with benzoyl peroxide or worse, pop your pimple (it never helps!) why not try a simple spritz of hypochlorous acid?(Purchase it here.)