I have had a scab in my left nostril for years.

Has anyone found an answer?

I am a 34 yo female, I've had a scab on one side of my nose ever since high school. I think it started from a scratch while picking way back then. It was much worse and much larger when it first started and would bleed a lot when I picked it, which I kept having to do to clear my nose. However recently I've gone years without touching it at all and while the scab is a lot better than it used to be, and no longer bleeds, there is still a small scab that always keeps coming back no matter what. This is going on 17 years now. I also always have some inflammation/obstructed breathing on that side of my nose as well. I never heard something like this could be serious like cancer so that's why I never got it checked out, I figured it would heal eventually and forgot about it. Now that I've heard the word cancer from this post I'm terrified and going to see an ENT asap. Does anyone know what else this could be?

Hi @holly09, Welcome to Connect. I've always had trouble breathing through one side of my nose which always seemed to have gunk in it and I have a deviated septum. I went to a Mayo Clinic ENT about 4 months ago and he got me doing twice daily nasal rinse followed by a Mayo proprietary nasal spray and it has worked miracles for my breathing. I wouldn't be afraid to see an ENT. Just write down your list of concerns and questions and take them with you to discuss with the ENT. I went back to the first few posts on this discussion and found a few recommendations from members that might be helpful. One was Rosewater and glycerin - here's the post if you want to read through several it might be helpful - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/100599/ One of the first few posts mentioned a product called Ayr Saline Nasal Gel that helped them - https://www.amazon.com/Ayr-Saline-Nasal-Soothing-Count/dp/B01IKJ22DU/ref=sr_1_5.

Have you ever had it looked at by a doctor?

Hi, thanks for your reply and the advice about rinses. I haven't ever had it looked in all these years. Do you know if it's true that scabs or injuries that don't heal could eventually lead to cancer? That is definitely a question I will be asking when I go to my appointment.

Has anyone found an answer?

I am a 34 yo female, I've had a scab on one side of my nose ever since high school. I think it started from a scratch while picking way back then. It was much worse and much larger when it first started and would bleed a lot when I picked it, which I kept having to do to clear my nose. However recently I've gone years without touching it at all and while the scab is a lot better than it used to be, and no longer bleeds, there is still a small scab that always keeps coming back no matter what. This is going on 17 years now. I also always have some inflammation/obstructed breathing on that side of my nose as well. I never heard something like this could be serious like cancer so that's why I never got it checked out, I figured it would heal eventually and forgot about it. Now that I've heard the word cancer from this post I'm terrified and going to see an ENT asap. Does anyone know what else this could be?

I have it in both of my nostril and they do block my nose, I have to try and open up so I can breath. Then my nose starts to bleed and it is really hard to stop and by the time it stops they are blocked back up right away it is a nightmare and it is 24-24. Doctors don't have a clue. The funny thing is my nose is always dripping not just blood but nasel fluid also sorry for the spelling. If anyone finds out anything please let me know. Thanks

My nose always drips. Like a runny nose, and if not running nose, just wet inside where I feel like I have to blow my nose or wipe inside it with a tissue. I keep tissues in my pockets ALL THE TIME!! I’m SO TIRED OF THIS! Over 30 years of this! Doctors suggest the AYR gel to keep inside of nose ‘moist’ when they hear the word ‘scab’ thinking the inside of my nose is dry. Ugh. I don’t need that gel. My nose is ALWAYS MOIST INSIDE. In the morning I was crusty scabs inside my nose. It’s like my cartilage leaks fluid and I wipe it away all day. Like a runny nose. As night it crusts up like a crusty, crystally scab. It is dry then!! Too dry. Where when I breathe, I can HEAR the dryness of my inhaled nose breath like it’s a different SOUND from when the scab has been picked away. I feel like everyone around me can hear the dry inhale of my nose breath if I leave the scab. Like a flute sound - not so dramatic … but we all know everything about our own bodies. This sound of inhale via my nose when the scabs ARE THERE is different. It’s uncomfortable, it’s dry, … I can FEEL the scabs there, in the way - like I have a booger or something. All I want to do is get it out! Then it’s out, my nose bleeds, it’s painful / because my nose is constantly going from phase ONE: moist, obnoxious drippy/runny nose , blowing/wiping nose to phase TWO: dry, scabby, ‘there’s something in my nose - get it out!’ I’ve tried AYR gel, I’ve tried Neo Sporin ointment, I’ve tried herbal teas on a cu-tip to try to heal it or make it feel better,,, I’ve thought maybe it’s a staph infection, so I’ve tried crushed antibiotics with water on a cu-tip on the raw, open skin when scab is gone. I’ve tried everything! I need a nose cartilage TRANSPLANT!! Anyone have this same thing? HELP!! I’m going to just cut my damn nose OFF!!

My nose always drips. Like a runny nose, and if not running nose, just wet inside where I feel like I have to blow my nose or wipe inside it with a tissue. I keep tissues in my pockets ALL THE TIME!! I’m SO TIRED OF THIS! Over 30 years of this! Doctors suggest the AYR gel to keep inside of nose ‘moist’ when they hear the word ‘scab’ thinking the inside of my nose is dry. Ugh. I don’t need that gel. My nose is ALWAYS MOIST INSIDE. In the morning I was crusty scabs inside my nose. It’s like my cartilage leaks fluid and I wipe it away all day. Like a runny nose. As night it crusts up like a crusty, crystally scab. It is dry then!! Too dry. Where when I breathe, I can HEAR the dryness of my inhaled nose breath like it’s a different SOUND from when the scab has been picked away. I feel like everyone around me can hear the dry inhale of my nose breath if I leave the scab. Like a flute sound - not so dramatic … but we all know everything about our own bodies. This sound of inhale via my nose when the scabs ARE THERE is different. It’s uncomfortable, it’s dry, … I can FEEL the scabs there, in the way - like I have a booger or something. All I want to do is get it out! Then it’s out, my nose bleeds, it’s painful / because my nose is constantly going from phase ONE: moist, obnoxious drippy/runny nose , blowing/wiping nose to phase TWO: dry, scabby, ‘there’s something in my nose - get it out!’ I’ve tried AYR gel, I’ve tried Neo Sporin ointment, I’ve tried herbal teas on a cu-tip to try to heal it or make it feel better,,, I’ve thought maybe it’s a staph infection, so I’ve tried crushed antibiotics with water on a cu-tip on the raw, open skin when scab is gone. I’ve tried everything! I need a nose cartilage TRANSPLANT!! Anyone have this same thing? HELP!! I’m going to just cut my damn nose OFF!!

I too have started with this experience about two weeks now. It is bizarre. Here I am searching for info and common sufferers. It’s an annoying thing to deal with and feels like something (scabs) are “growing” in my left nostril. Maybe I have a bleeding capillary? I do have Psoriosis, so initially thought it sprang up in my nose. As it pops up in random places due to stress. I just need to have it checked out. May try the rosewater/glycerin .