Scab inside of left nose not healing

Posted by ofbushido @ofbushido, Mar 27, 2021

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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I've had a similar issue for 20+years. Just dealt with it putting mupricin or some other ointment on it nightly. It would go away but always came back. Finally decided to have deviated septum surgery since the ENT said it was probably from dry air hitting the side of the septum that was pushed out. I live in OK and it is dry here. Had surgery 2 weeks ago... not a fun recovery. I'm still healing but will report back as to how much this helps. Praying for relief from this very annoying situation!

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Hi. Out of curiosity, I was just searching around for any stories about this kind of nasal issue with other people. I've dealt with my nasal septum drying out and scabbing/bleeding a bit for nearly 15 years. I saw an ENT doc years ago and asked all the usual questions but he really wasn't concerned about it. The doc was older, had seen it all at that point in his career, and remarked it was just dryness. Considering my own issue started while I was living and working outside a fair amount in an extreme cold weather region, it made sense. Call it a case of frost nip of the septum. It's not cancerous or bacterial, but a chronic condition you have to treat every so often. These days I treat it to heal with a neem oil skin salve. Of all the lotions and whatnot, it seems to heal the fastest. I want to add that during the height of Covid, when we were all at home and maybe not showering every day, this really seemed to heal the most. It really is an issue with dryness. Considering my dry skin around my face, this further makes sense. All signs point to chronic dryness.

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Profile picture for matisses @matisses

Hi. Out of curiosity, I was just searching around for any stories about this kind of nasal issue with other people. I've dealt with my nasal septum drying out and scabbing/bleeding a bit for nearly 15 years. I saw an ENT doc years ago and asked all the usual questions but he really wasn't concerned about it. The doc was older, had seen it all at that point in his career, and remarked it was just dryness. Considering my own issue started while I was living and working outside a fair amount in an extreme cold weather region, it made sense. Call it a case of frost nip of the septum. It's not cancerous or bacterial, but a chronic condition you have to treat every so often. These days I treat it to heal with a neem oil skin salve. Of all the lotions and whatnot, it seems to heal the fastest. I want to add that during the height of Covid, when we were all at home and maybe not showering every day, this really seemed to heal the most. It really is an issue with dryness. Considering my dry skin around my face, this further makes sense. All signs point to chronic dryness.

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@matisses Interesting, mine was the worst during Covid. It didn’t help that I had Covid in March 2020…I feel like it made it much worse and it never really healed after, as where before it would heal for periods of time. I’ve tried sesame oil and even recently tried lanolin. Do you find that you feel better during the summer?

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Profile picture for alexisnarroyo @alexisnarroyo

Hello! I have something very similar. Your story sounds like mine. For months I’ve had this white scabby thing. I’ve used the same cream with little results. Did it eventually heal up? I have seen 2 ENT’s. I have a culture at the lab and have yet to receive the results. Curious how yours has been.

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Hi @alexisnarroyo … did you ever get this healed? I have same problem and can’t find much help

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Profile picture for katiemac85 @katiemac85

Hi @alexisnarroyo … did you ever get this healed? I have same problem and can’t find much help

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It's hard to guess but I've had so many symptoms that may be from dryness that in defence because my stentorian sneezing was causing bloody fluid results. Finally I started lightly twirling a QTip in the petroleum jelly and lightly rubbing it in my nostrils. It seemed to help as long as I don't forget to do it. It also stopped the mad itching. I have nonallergenic rhinitis and its been a problem for years. I used to have various sores as you've described. It seems to relieve all.

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Hi! I’m Ashley and I came across your story as I was looking up possible a diagnosis for my scab. I have a super similar story, and first noticed mine when I was pregnant with my daughter. It is so painful, and looks just like this!! I also tried mupirocin with the same results! Have you ever found a resolution!? Or at least a diagnosis??

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Hi,

Did anyone find a solution to this I am suffering since a long time with the same issue ENT asked me to apply Mupirocin for a month but I doubt it will help

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Profile picture for rima123 @rima123

Hi,

Did anyone find a solution to this I am suffering since a long time with the same issue ENT asked me to apply Mupirocin for a month but I doubt it will help

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Personally, I would try a Dermatologist. I had a growth inside my nose years ago that was removed and treated by a Dermatologist. I cannot remember what she gave me to put on it....sorry. I know that Mupirocin is a very strong antibiotic ointment, but, everyone does not respond to it, I personally have when I've been treated with it. I would request the ENT culture the area to see what kind of antibiotic is needed or go to a Dermatologist. Blessings & Prayers...

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yes. I have had the same thing in my left sinus for the last 3 years. I have bounced around from dr to dr, had a ct scan, I have gone to multiple ENT's, given z packs, Mupirocin, do nettie pots multiple times a day, tried humidifier....nothing helps. It always feels like there is something in there, even when there isn't. This has never been an issue until covid came around. I have always ( and still am) suspicious of having some sort of long covid, or something to do with the covid shot. I get terrible head pressure, and got so light headed yesterday, I thought I was going to pass out. I am a 49 year old male, and in really good health. This is very frustrating that I can't seem o get answers from anyone. I am at wits end, and willing to try anything. My last Dr said he is out of ideas, and the only other thing he can think of is surgery, although, he said that may actually make the problem worse! Ugh. Please help.

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Profile picture for oceans78 @oceans78

Hi all!
I happened to run across this and had to jump in because I too have had that same problem in my left nostril but I’ve had it since 2019! I’ve been seen multiple times by regular docs, they gave me the same Mupuricin, along with an oral antibiotic b/c the very first biopsy test said it was a staff infection. I did the antibiotics and mupuricin for the two weeks and it’s seemed to kinda go away, but it can back shortly after.
It’s been biopsied twice again and it all came back negative for staff or anything really. The ENT at OMC used some Liquid Metal stuff she put on the open raw skin after she scraped the scab off. Apparently that Liquid Metal burns the skin but she was trying to kill off that area in hopes to refresh it. That was last year and it came back/never was affected by that metal stuff.
I keep hearing “dry air” but I’m MN there’s constant humidity for months and I’ve even used a dehumidifier in my bedroom. So I feel it’s something else.
I have an ENT Appt at Mayo in Rochester on 12/5 and I’m hoping they can figure out what this is. It’s gotten worse to the point that my left sinus seems to feel almost raw or irritated. I cannot see “dry air” being the culprit for a three year scab that causes nose bleeds when I deal in out in order to get air flow. My right nostril is somewhat closed and less air gets through that one (that an ENT pointed out when I went to OMC here.
I’m hoping Mayo doesn’t send me home with a third bottle of mupuricin and some saline to spray up my nose to keep it moist. I’m at the end of my rapidly fraying rope with this scab.. it’s now become an all day every day battle…

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I know this is old but did you ever find out anything about the nose sore that won’t heal when you went to Mayo?

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