If you suddenly feel pain in your nose, what could be the possible causes?

Nose pain is a relatively common issue. Patients often report dry and painful noses, feeling uncomfortable. Doctors usually first consider atrophic rhinitis, but more commonly, the pain occurs in the front part of the nose. Sometimes pressing on it can cause pain, and the most common cause of nasal pain symptoms is nasal vestibulitis, which is related to many factors.

Frequent nose picking or pressing can lead to infection of the wound, or if there is eczema in the nasal vestibule, it can cause significant pain.

Usually, we recommend using ointments, such as antibiotic, antifungal, or anti-allergic ointments, to apply to the nasal vestibule. Be careful not to apply beyond this area or to the mucous membrane inside—only apply to the skin at the front of the nasal vestibule for effective treatment. However, maintaining good hygiene habits is crucial for treatment and preventing recurrence.

What constitutes good hygiene habits? Avoid picking and pressing the nose. Especially for children, if inflammation is found in this area, it should be treated promptly. Parents can use a fine cotton swab, dip it in some ointment, and gently apply it to the nasal vestibule, repeating this three times a day for several days to observe if the inflammation subsides.

However, nose pain could also indicate other issues. If the pain is not located at the nasal vestibule but higher up, or if it affects both sides of the face, you should consider whether it might be sinusitis or another condition. If there is also bleeding, blood-streaked mucus, or even pus, this is a sign to visit a hospital for related examinations, such as nasal endoscopy or CT scans of the sinuses and nasal cavity, to diagnose any other potential diseases.

Another common issue is trigeminal neuralgia, which typically doesn’t manifest in the nose but rather on one side of the cheek.

Finally, a word of caution about the area outside the nose, known as the danger triangle—the region below the nostrils on both sides. Medically, this is called the "danger triangle." What is the danger triangle? The facial veins in this area lack valves, so blood can flow in both directions. It can flow through the ophthalmic vein or into the cranial venous circulation.

Therefore, infections in the danger triangle should not be squeezed. Not only should you avoid squeezing boils in this area, but you should also use antibiotics to prevent systemic infection from entering the bloodstream. Additionally, it's best to apply some antibacterial medication on the surface or visit a hospital for treatment.

Can boils develop inside the nasal cavity? The answer is yes.

Boils can form wherever there is skin. The nasal vestibule is lined with skin, and there is enough space and conditions inside for boils and other skin conditions to develop. Generally, you won't be able to feel a boil inside, but the main symptom is pain.

How Should We Clean Our Noses Daily?

Generally, unless there is significant scabbing inside the nasal cavity, there's no need to clean it deliberately. The nasal cavity has a self-cleaning function, with numerous cilia that move to clean it. The skin in the nasal vestibule has many nasal hairs that can block large dust particles from outside. Mucus or secretions from the nose can clean it effectively, so there’s no need for special cleaning.

When is it necessary to intervene in cleaning the nasal cavity? When there is nasal vestibulitis or other inflammations. In such cases, it's best to use some saline or ointment to reduce the inflammation.

Due to environmental pollution, especially in the dry air of winter, many people's nasal cavities don't clean themselves as effectively. In these cases, you can visit a hospital for nasal irrigation. Nasal irrigants are widely available, and adults can use standard nasal irrigants. However, nasal irrigation in children can easily cause choking and poses certain risks, so it's recommended that parents use spray-type nasal irrigants to assist in cleaning their children's nasal cavities.