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Scab inside of left nose not healing
Hello All,
I have a scab inside my left nose for the last couple of months that won't heal. It's on the mucous membrane. I reached out to my doctor who later referred me to an ENT, but their treatment is not working, so I'm looking for someone who experienced this before and could perhaps help me out. They think it's just dry nose.
At first I noticed the scab when I was blowing my nose and saw dried blood and felt stinging. When I looked inside my nose with an otoscope, I saw the attached pictures, which I sent to my doctor. He said it's an infection and put me on a 10 day Mupirocin ointment with instruction to keep it moist for a week after that antibiotics course is done. So I applied saline gel every two hours for a week straight, but as you can see from the pictures the scab is back at full force, so I don't think it's related to dryness, but I'm not a doctor.
Here is a description of the pics:
Pic 1: before the Mupirocin treatment started
Pic 2: halfway through the treatment
Pic 3: after the Mupirocin treatment ended
Pic 4: now
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.
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P.S. I just remembered! I had a place inside my nose years ago (BEFORE COVID) and a Dermatologist removed it and I used Polysporin on it. It healed beautifully.
That may be the route to go.....Dermatologist if the ENT cannot help you. Hugs & Prayers....
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2 ReactionsI am a 42 year old male that was diagnosed with heart failure last July. I have several heart medications that I now have to take for the rest of my life, and have to use an inhaler for my lungs when I have never had asthma or any other kind of breathing issue. About three or four months after I initially got released from the hospital last year, I noticed that on the very inside of my left nostril, on the inside, there was what originally just felt like a hardened booger. It was insanely hard to stop myself from picking at it. It did not inhibit my ability to breathe, and whenever I blew my nose to try and dislodge it, nothing would ever come out onto the kleenex, even though it had felt like I had loosened it off the inside of my nostril enough that even the softest blow should have forced the whole thing out.
I'm insanely stubborn, and so when blowing my nose did nothing to remove it, I used my fingernail to pry it off. It was mildly painful, but this was the first occasion, and I didn't think it was anything more than dried mucus. When I finally got a decent piece to come off, I saw that it was almost all just dried blood and scab, and when I used a tissue to blow again, there was actual blood, and it was obvious that it was only from the area where the scab I had just picked was at. I wasn't experiencing an actual bloody nose or anything. It bled lightly for a few seconds and then because I was satisfied I had actually accomplished something with that scab gone, I got bored, stopped messing with it, and moved on with my day.
It wasn't until about two months after that first experience that I started to realize I was messing with that same nostril a lot, and it was always the same thing. I felt that huge-feeling scab on the very inside edge of the left nostril against the inside. And no matter how many times I removed it and dabbed the resulting bleeding, I could feel another scab in the same spot within 48 hours.
So fast forward to today, over a year later, and I am STILL at war with this stupid nostril scab that refuses to stay gone. I have no major allergy issues.. haven't my entire adult life, and I haven't changed locations to experience different environments outside.. and so what I'm actually concerned about and wondering, is if anyone knows of or has heard anything about heart failure causing this kind of thing? That is the only thing that I can think of, because even though its a major life-changing event, nothing else in my life has been altered from what its been for over a decade with this nose thing never having been an issue.
So can heart failure cause ..nose scabbing?
I have no information about heart failure or those meds, but I did have two things similar to you. In 2022, I had a recurring, non-healing sore on my temple. I saw my dermatologist, who took biopsy and confirmed it was basal cell carcinoma. It’s very treatable if caught early. I had Moh’s surgery and it is gone completely.
Then, a few months ago, I had a recurring sore spot inside one nostril. I showed it to my dermatologist when I was there for something else and she took a swab for the lab. It was a bacterial infection and she prescribed an ointment for me to use for a couple of weeks. It went away and so far, hasn’t returned.
So, it could be anything really. I’d get it checked out though, just to be safe.
I had the same thing in both nostrils. I saw my ENT who told me just to use Vaseline in it.
I did this for quite some time and yes, it felt better, but it didn’t heal it. I read on the Internet that you should not use Vaseline in your nose because it dissolves and can leach into your lungs causing permanent damage. So I stop the Vaseline. I am seeing my GP soon and I am going to ask her what she recommends. Interestingly enough when I saw my ENT he had an assistant or someone who was training and she thought that maybe it should be operated on and removed. But he said just use Vaseline so I’m frustrated because I still have these things in my nose and they are very irritating. I will post after I see my GP and let you know what she says.
@krevin, I moved your post to this existing discussion started by @ofbushido:
- Scab inside of left nose not healing https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/scab-inside-of-left-nose-not-healing/
Click the link to see helpful responses.
@krevin, I recommend that you talk to your doctor about the nose scabbing. With air conditioners going at this time of year, it could be something as simple as your nose being too dry. I find petroleum jelly helps to keep things moist in the nostils especially before sleeping. On the other hand, if a scab is not healing properly, it may need medical attention. Best to talk with your doctor.
Are you on blood thinners? Is your environment at home and work, etc. dry, 50% humidity or less?
This is found on the mayo clinic site
I've put petroleum jelly on the inside of my nose for years to relieve dryness. Is this safe?
Answer From Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Petroleum jelly is generally safe to use. But rarely, breathing in (inhaling) fat-based substances (lipoids) — such as petroleum jelly or mineral oil — for long periods can cause lung problems.
Petroleum jelly applied to the inside of the nostrils usually drains down the back of the nose with normal nasal secretions. Then it is swallowed. Rarely, small amounts of the jelly can travel into the windpipe (trachea) and lungs. Over many months, the jelly can build up in the lungs. This buildup can lead to potentially serious swelling and irritation (inflammation) in the lungs known as lipoid pneumonia.
In some people, lipoid pneumonia causes no signs or symptoms. In others, lipoid pneumonia may cause cough, chest pain or shortness of breath.
Lipoid pneumonia is often found on a chest X-ray or CT scan. Sometimes, a doctor confirms the diagnosis with a bronchoscopy.
When lipoid pneumonia is caused by petroleum jelly, then generally the only treatment is to stop the use of the jelly.
If you have concerns about the use of petroleum jelly, relieve nasal dryness by using a vaporizer or humidifier instead or try over-the-counter saline nasal spray. If you must use a lubricant, choose the water-soluble variety. Use it only sparingly and not within several hours of lying down.
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1 ReactionTry Ayr, Saline Nasal Gel, it's available at most pharmacy. I use nasal pillows for CPAP and every morning I apply it.