Nasal Vestibulitis: When a Wound Inside the Nose Goes Bad

Activities such as nose hair pulling and nose picking can create a wound inside nose. If it gets infected, it might turn into nasal vestibulitis which can be a hassle to someone.

What is Nasal Vestibulitis?

Nasal vestibulitis is a bacterial infection in the nasal vestibule or portion at the entrance of the nostrils. It is uncommon for people to have any issues around this portion of the nose, but it can cause discomfort to those who have it.

People who have persistent soreness inside of the nose or obstructions such as pimples-like growth should consult with a professional.

Signs and Symptoms of Nasal Vestibulitis

The signs and symptoms of nasal vestibulitis are not specific to this infection. If these have been going on for days, it is best to go to your doctor to point out what’s causing these symptoms.

• Bleeding
• Dryness
• Flaking or crusting inside the nose due to dryness
• Pain at the entrance of the nose
• Swelling

Causes of Nasal Vestibulitis

Nasal vestibulitis is mainly caused by the staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The body can fight off this type of bacteria but if there is a wound inside nose, it becomes easier to be infected by it.

• Pulling of nose hairs when done incorrectly can cause wounds inside the nose which makes it prone to infections
• Nose picking, especially with sharp objects or nails, can lead to scratches and bleeding
• The blowing of the nose makes a person rub their noses frequently and easier for bacteria to transfer from the hands to the nose
• Nose piercing especially septum piercings as the holes can be a way for bacteria to enter and infect the person
• Cancer therapies increase the chance of skin infection due to dryness inside the nose
• Other factors such as humidity and medication make the nasal vestibule prone to wounds and scratches

Risks and Complications with Nasal Vestibulitis

The 2 common risks and complications for nasal vestibulitis are cellulitis and nasal vestibular furunculosis.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that infects broken layers of skin. It has similar symptoms to that of nasal vestibulitis and may include headache, chills, and fever.

If you have inflamed skin around the face that becomes swollen over time, consult your doctor. There are available treatments for this and the sooner it can be addressed, the lower the chance that it escalates to a more serious condition.

Nasal vestibular furunculosis

Nasal vestibular furunculosis is also a bacterial infection that is found on the hair follicles around the inside of the nose.

These growth or furuncles are also known as boils which are found in the nasal vestibule. It can cause swelling and redness around the nostrils and can be painful. It has the same symptoms as cellulitis and can develop into more complicated infections if not treated properly.

What Can You Do About it?

Depending on the severity or cause of the infection and complications, doctors prescribe antibiotics to reduce the spread of infection, especially if there is a wound inside nose. These come in topical creams or oral medications and should be used as instructed to make healing faster.

If there are furuncles that formed because of the infection, these are removed as it poses a risk of spreading to other parts of the body and even to other objects or persons. For mild cases, a hot compress also helps soothe the area and drains the boils.

As the cause of nasal vestibulitis is due to an open wound in nose or in the nasal vestibule, it is a good idea to minimize activities that can create these. Try to limit nose-picking and to remove nasal hairs properly. If you have piercings in the nose, make sure to take care of it so that there are no unusual reactions to it.

Practicing good hygiene also helps in preventing infections to occur. Frequent hand washing can be a good start to minimize the presence of bacteria in the hands.

Key Takeaways

Nasal hair plucking and nose picking are some of the causes of nasal vestibulitis. A simple wound inside nose can turn into bacterial infections, which have serious complications if left untreated. The best thing to do is consult your doctor if there are irregularities found around the entrance of the nose to know what to do next. Good hygiene also helps to stop spreading bacteria causing infections.

Learn more about Nose Conditions here.