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

Posted by emmur16 @emmur16, May 3, 2016

I have had a scab in my left nostril for years. When the scab comes out there is bright red blood that I dab a few times and it stops. I had seen online someplace cases of numbers of people all with the same affliction. They said that the scab was some form of an infection and they had received many suggestions from doctors about just leaving the scab alone so it won't bleed or giving them medications that do not work or cause the person unpleasant side effects. Mind you, this is not BSC but some thing that fastened onto the cartilage of the nose and is a hard thing to eradicate. I tried Essential oils and used Tea Tree Oil and also Cleavers which I put on a cotton ball and put it in on my nose cartilage for an hour. Cleavers does not have a pleasant smell refreshing as do my other oils and it is a dark color but it is supposed to do the trick. Cleavers did help and the scab in smaller and does not clog the nose as some people complained of. I know it is something requiring an antibiotic to cure. It is some form of herpes simplex I feel. I know "bugs" of that sort love the lining of the nose and that there are many blood vessels ready to bleed if disturbed by this whatever it is called. I would love anyone's input who has encountered the same thing.
Thank you people.

I am a healthy ninety except for ankylosing spondylitis and wet macular

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@snmttcj

I have the exact same problem although my bleeding isn't as much as yours sounds,I am a bit naughty tho and can't seem to help myself to pick at my scabs they are so very big and annoying I can barely breathe at times which temps me to pick ,also does anyone else notice the dried mucus/scabs are a bit smelly? I actually have made my nostril split at the front tip of my nose due to exsesive picking 😕 about 4 years ago I went to stay with my mother for a few months and she got a small pimple like thing in her nostril it's flared up and can't recall exactly what the doctors said it was but they gave her antibiotics and in only a few days was all cleared up,I went back home oblivious to the fact it could affect me then after a few days I got a big sized pimple like lump in one nostril and also flared up badly in both nostrils worse than my mum's did I get very very bad scabs now I have had a course of antibiotics and that didn't work although only seen 1 doctor that all she could tell me it was a infection so a course of antibiotics should do the trick she was wrong,from what I have gathered alot of you that have written in have similar problem no diagnosis,what is going on with us all ☺️ anyway anyone have any suggestions as to what this horrible painful, annoying scabbing is? Help someone......thankyou.

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Oh my goodness someone who finally gets me!!!!! I could have typed this myself. I went to the doctor about it and was told I had a fissure. He said they can happen anywhere but it was in my nose, gave me some cream it went away for years. Now it is back and full force. That dr has retired and now I’m just like ugh to make the appointment and go again.

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I have the same problem with a sore in my nose and have had it for about 40 years! However, my doctor prescribes Mupirocin, an antibiotic cream that works wonderfully. It does get a scab and bleeds. But the Mupirocin gets rid of it totally. The nose sore will go away in warmer weather unless we are in a lot of traffic or parking garages such as for doctor appointments. It also re-occurs in the winter when it's cold. Rain is the best weather for it. I'm lucky in that I live in Washington State. It rains a lot here! I put Mupirocin in my nose before I go shopping or to a doctor appointment. It protects against germs and Marijuana smoke (which stinks!) getting to you. I mention Marijuana because it is legal in Washington State. Anywhere you go that has a lot of people you will smell the Marijuana smoke. Not pleasant!
Besides the Mupirocin I also use Mentholatum in my nose at night.
Good luck!
PML

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52YOM. Had a scab on and off for at least the last 17 years. Hasn't healed in at least 8 years. ENT scraped it and put silver nitrate on it. Did NOTHING whatsoever . He said he would love to see me in the OR but would most likely give me a deviated septum. No thank you. It is just a scab, A PIA, but doesn't affect my breathing. I have tried vaseline, triple antibiotic, a prescription antibiotic cream ,a very stout RSO oil applied directly on it, and calmoseptine. I guess I will try this rosewater infusion stuff now...nothing whatsoever helps it..

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@atc007

52YOM. Had a scab on and off for at least the last 17 years. Hasn't healed in at least 8 years. ENT scraped it and put silver nitrate on it. Did NOTHING whatsoever . He said he would love to see me in the OR but would most likely give me a deviated septum. No thank you. It is just a scab, A PIA, but doesn't affect my breathing. I have tried vaseline, triple antibiotic, a prescription antibiotic cream ,a very stout RSO oil applied directly on it, and calmoseptine. I guess I will try this rosewater infusion stuff now...nothing whatsoever helps it..

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Hi!
I have had a scab in my right nostril for the last 40 years. My doctors put me through the same thing you went through; with the silver nitrate etc. Nothing worked. Finally my doctor prescribed Mupirocin ointment 2%. This worked great! It cured the sore up in about a week. However, it always comes back when it's really cold out or I'm around a lot of traffic or a parking garage or two. I keep refilling the ointment and using it whenever it's needed. I've gotten so I put the ointment in my nose especially before going out in public whether there's a sore or not. It's works good as a preventative medicine.
Good luck!
PML

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@pml

Hi!
I have had a scab in my right nostril for the last 40 years. My doctors put me through the same thing you went through; with the silver nitrate etc. Nothing worked. Finally my doctor prescribed Mupirocin ointment 2%. This worked great! It cured the sore up in about a week. However, it always comes back when it's really cold out or I'm around a lot of traffic or a parking garage or two. I keep refilling the ointment and using it whenever it's needed. I've gotten so I put the ointment in my nose especially before going out in public whether there's a sore or not. It's works good as a preventative medicine.
Good luck!
PML

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So weird,,,,I thought I was the only one on earth with this... Yes, I have went through multiple tubes of Muproxin.. ?Does nothing whatsoever for me 🙁 Honestly,, Dollar tree triple antibiotic has been by far the most help as far as keeping it moister, but absolutely NOTHING heals me. I am going to get the rosewater and glycerin. And yes,,, the last time it did heal up was July/August, moist/humid. I have tried nasal mist and everything the docs threw at me 🙁 I know there are far worse problems!!!! But would love to have it healed...

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I have had a scab in my left nostril for about 20 years. Two ENTs have told me it's from dry air hitting the septum which is deviated and kind of pushed out where this scab is. It will get better when the weather is more humid or when I can keep myself from picking it off, which is difficult because it's so annoying in there, but it always comes back. I've tried saline sprays, AYR, antibiotic ointment, saline rinses, and it always comes back. So the ENT recommends getting my septum fixed, says he can't promise it will fix it, but feels it's better than a 50/50 chance. Has anyone tried getting a deviated septum fixed as a way to get rid of this??

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I have a similar situation with my right nostril. Just inside towards the septum is where mine is located. If I do absolutely nothing at all, I have to dab blood each and every day, right after blowing my nose. This takes off the dry scab that is always there. I dab about one or two tissues to get it to stop. That is it for the day. It only happened in the morning when I first get up. The rest of the day is fine. I was told by a doctor that I should put triple antibiotic ointment on that area, and after a while, it will go away. I still have it after 2 years, however when I put vaseline on it at bedtime and again in the morning, it keeps it from scabbing over so badly. Therefore, recently I have not had the bleeding each day as in the past. I continue to use vaseline with cocoa butter, and that surely has helped a lot. I know it is because of dry air, as it always acts up in the winter months much more than in the summer. Hope this helps you in some little way with your reoccurring problem. God Bless you, sir, and Happy 90th birthday to you and May God give you more healthy and blessed birthdays.

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I do not know whether this will help anyone, but it did me: Zarbee's Soothing Saline Nasal Mist Spray with Aloe, 3 Ounce Canister $6.48 (March 19, 2023) at Walmart. I found getting used to it a little awkward because there is a tab you press vs squeezing a bottle; it also has more of a stream than a mist. But after a few days, I could tell it was definitely working. My small scab went away and it hasn't come back. I don't even have to use it every day anymore. Though long term, my scab was relatively small, compared to some of the descriptions in other posts. The last time I picked at the scab I had a nosebleed that wouldn't stop for several hours. A Mayo doctor I talked to at the Farmer's Market in Red Wing, MN suggested I try Afrin to stop the nosebleed. Duh, I thought, it shrinks the nasal membranes (decreases inflammation) when they're swollen and blocking breathing; therefore that shrinking will also help shrink the capillaries and blood vessels, stopping the bleeding. I used 2 sprays and the bleeding decreased. I did 2 more sprays and then stuffed my facial tissue back in that nostril and checked after about 5 minutes and the bleeding had stopped. **NOTE you can become "addicted" to Afrin if used daily and/or for too long. It happened to my brother and he was miserable for almost 2 whole weeks before his nasal inflammation subsided. I was literally researching a product of 100% aloe that would work for my chronic dry nose less expensively when I came across this site and subject. I want a product with few or no additives or preservatives and therefore in a small amount, but still budget friendly. I am currently researching amazon and some "additives" such as tea tree and vitamin C which are both said to have healing properties for dryness. I will post again if I am able to find something that meet my expectations.

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@mcorland

I have had a scab in my left nostril for about 20 years. Two ENTs have told me it's from dry air hitting the septum which is deviated and kind of pushed out where this scab is. It will get better when the weather is more humid or when I can keep myself from picking it off, which is difficult because it's so annoying in there, but it always comes back. I've tried saline sprays, AYR, antibiotic ointment, saline rinses, and it always comes back. So the ENT recommends getting my septum fixed, says he can't promise it will fix it, but feels it's better than a 50/50 chance. Has anyone tried getting a deviated septum fixed as a way to get rid of this??

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I went through surgery for a deviated septum and it didn't solve the problem. I have scabs that are often about the size of a quarter. I can reach up in my nasopharynx (the area below my nose and above my mouth) and grab them. It's cup shaped, as others have described. After removal, I then have more drainage down my throat.

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@annie1979

Ask your doctor if it could be necrotizing sialometaplasia. I was recently diagnosed with this, sounds similar to what you explain. Maybe read up on it and ask your doctor to do a biopsy. That’s how I found out.

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How was your Sialometaplasia finally treated?
I have it in my septum and ent is recommending surgery and skin graft…

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