Sore scab in nose wont go away...been a rough ride...

[hyperj]

Here is the story,

I have had a sore in my left nostril for years now towards the cartilage.  No, its not from coke or anything as I have never done anything like that.  I get a scab, I blow it out of my nose, and it comes back 12hrs to 24hrs later. I tried to explain that it blows out on a regular basis.  Sometimes I pick it out and it bleeds.  I use saline spray and saline gel on a regular basis and have used vasaline, bacitracin, and antifungal steroid creme.    

I have gone to 2 ENT specialists.  1st one told me not to pick my scab and it will heal.  Well that’s pretty much impossible because I blow my nose and it comes out (if I keep it lubricated).  Also, the scab covers my airway and is unbearable.  2nd doc cauterized my nose to “shock it” and stimulate cell growth.  It didn’t work.  Was painful as heck and then I found out I was allergic to basitracin.  I then had Nose surgery for a biopsy, and it came back negative, so no cancer (yay!).  He said that is seems like the cells aren’t normal in my nose so it isn’t healing right.

Here is the problem though, from the biopsy, he cut up my nose, and now that area he cut out will not heal either.  So he took a small area that wouldn’t heal, and made it much larger.  As disgusting as this sounds, it forms a scab and oddly resembles a craisin in size and color.  It is like a blood clot and the scab gets so large it blocks my airway, but now it is so far back from the surgery that I cant even see the sore in the mirror.  


I went to the ENT for a follow up, but I ended up seeing another doctor and they told me to just keep it moist.  It was typical but useless advice because it just keeps scabbing up!  Anyways, I am seeing the ENT that did my surgery on Friday, and I hope he has some sort of solution.  It just doesn’t make sense, some weeks I try to leave it alone for a couple days, and it feels like it might scab up and never come back, then I blow the scab out and it feels completely gone!  But then it comes back within a day.  

I am mentally and physically exhausted from this nose issue   I feel like I have done everything in my power, and it is even worse than when I started.  Any advice or related stories are welcomed.  

[MissArie]

I have had the same problem for almost 4 years now. I feel your pain.  I hope someone can provide us some help with this issue.

[bst52]

I have had this problem with a scab and blowing it out for about 15 years.  I never thought anything of it until recently started to have extreme nosebleeds.  The other day I was washing my face and nose started to bleed.  Called the nurse line on my insurance and she told me to call 911.  I felt dumb calling 911 for a nosebleed but it was pretty severe and was going on 8 hours.  I was coughing up clots from the blood in my throat.  Anyway in ER they told me to keep it moist.  I had been keeping it moist with vaseline.  I am seeing my pcp on Monday  3/23 and hopefully she can shed some light into this situation because I am afraid of blowing my nose or touching my face.  As always, the scab is back and all the doc could tell me was it was a dry spot in my nose.  If you are interested in what my pcp has to say let me know and I will tell you.

[saruhh87]

I have had the same problem for about 2 years now =(  My ENT just keeps putting me on antibiotics to help get rid of the infection. After about 10 different antibiotics, its still the same. I refuse to keep taking them and now all he has for me is an ointment. It helps for a period of time, but then it comes back. My dr. said it was an ulcer in the nose and that it only takes time. Ive been looking into surgery, but after reading your clip, I dont know if that is such a good idea!

[ReReAustralia]

I have the exact same problem. It started about 3 weeks ago when i had a flu. I just assumed my nose was sore from the constant blowing. My nose is quite tender and starting to swell and go a bit red on the outside. The scab on the inside keeps bleeding when it peels off or when i blow my nose. Some people have suggested it may be coldsores but after reading many stories on the net I've realised it must be a more severe case. Please update on any information you receive. I will be visiting a Dr. soon however, i believe i will receive the same outcome as everyone else....antibiotics or an ointment.
Thanks

[neverending495]

I have had this problem for over 25 years now. I saw a dr for it about 15 years ago. He said nothing really works but to cauterize the nose.

Cauterize
To use heat or chemicals to stop bleeding, prevent the spread of infection, or destroy tissue.

That sounded bad so I skipped it. The dryer it gets the worse it is. It is just very annoying. I often wonder if it causes issues with my sleep.

[Mollie227]

I also had a sore in my nose that made the inside of my nose crusty and dry (scab and snot?) and wouldn't heal, it was so irritating.  Someone recommended Lansinoh, a pure form of lanolin, used by nursing mothers.  It works!  First, it moistened my nostril so it felt natural (I used it 2x a day to start) and then my nose just steadily improved till 10 days later its healed.
Its over the counter and not that expensive.  I recommend it!

[NE_yogi]

I tried soy lecithin granules, dissolved (softened, really) in just a little water, spread over the spot-- amazing! Overnight, for the first time the scab didnt pull off, and was so reduced in size. After years of annoyance, I think I found the fix. (And of course, use the nightly steamer to keep air moist.)

[NE_yogi]

I tried soy lecithin granules, dissolved (softened, really) in just a little water, spread over the spot-- amazing! Overnight, for the first time the scab didn't pull off, and was so reduced in size. After years of annoyance, I think I've found the fix. (And of course, use the nightly steamer to keep air moist.)

[lkglady]

why didnt a dr. respond?? my experience is similar! ive been on a topical antibiotics now  for 2 weeks. it doesnt scab up while on it, but stays soft and i can take a flash light and see it in my nose. it is a white scabby looking area. it doesnt look any better, just not hard. the biggest thing the antibiotic seemed to help was a stinging feeling on the top of may head. (hopefully nerve related) and i had a slight ear ache.

[Dasystem]

I've had a large scan on the inside of my nose for a week and a half now, it feels likes its on the cartilage, it's pretty much impossible to heal because when i wake up in the morning my left nostril is almost blocked solid.  I have to pick out a bit of crusties and then try to get rid of the scab blocking my airway... Its like there's no more skin or something, and whenever it tries to heal my nose just gets blocked... Waking up with a nostril full of dry blood and mucus/snot is driving me insane. Plz help

[HollyPocket]

So, I don't know if we are talking about the same thing but I get those nose scabs in the inside cartilage of my nostril. I have gotten them on and off for years! Seems like one day I will just realize it's gone... but it always comes back! The worst is when I wake up in the morning, it feels all "caked" and is hard to breath (I'm a total picker too) I pick the nasty and always loose the scab.

So, this one that I have had for months now, I think I figured them out!

What I do...
* Anytime it feels dry, take a little Mentholatum (grandmas cure for everything) and put it on a q-tip, wipe it genitally on the sore, I usually do both sides to make it even.
* This will keep it moist, the longer you use that, the less you have to apply... I am down to once a day....
*** I think I also figured out why I get them! So I noticed that I always have a runny nose, just a little runny though. I also always wipe my nose with the back of my hand or my sleeve (sorry, gross but true) I bought a ton of Kleenex and put them in every room, including my car and desk at work. I made myself conscious of my runny nose and now I grab a soft Kleenex and DAB, don't rub!

Mine is getting better, almost gone! Just a little sore, but not even scabby! I hope this helps you all! If you are going to the doctor, and have had this forever, mention that it my be impetigo... seems like it can be created from dirty boogies~
Good luck everyone! Please let me know if this works for you! Hey, It's worth a try right?

[jcjc1234]

It's kind of comforting that I'm not the only one with this annoying problem. I'm kind of freaking out though because you had it checked for cancer, (glad that came back as good news for you). I've had my scab for a few years and I'm sick and tired of coming out of my bathroom every morning with a wad of tissue stuffed up my nose to stop the bleeding. I'm going to try a few things (preferably all natural) and I'll let you know how it works.

[hkramb]

I've had that, it gets worse in the spring and fall when my allergies are really bad.

A small swab of cortison cream over the sore (when the scab is freshly off) and slather in diaper cream...works practically overnight, sore gone.  If that doesn't work try neosporin and put smear of diaper cream over it (with zinc)

[wyomin]

hi, all the comments are exactly what i have been going through for years - went to a ENT specialist 4 months ago - tried Kenatome - sort of helped but my ENT said only solution is a plug either side of the septum as it had gone right through.   I had this done last week (June 2012) and it seems fine - only took 10 mins in his rooms, no pain - cost just a regular dr visit and he said he has done this for hundreds of patients and they stay in forever.   I must say so so nice not to wake up to a stuffed nose / blow or pick so i can breathe then a blood bath and kleenex stuffed up my nose.

Look into it -- it works and no more problems.    hope this helps.

[ChadSWAG]

Great info guys!  I have had my nose cauterized...It's where they stick acid on the end of a wooden applicator and the chemical burns the bleeding blood vessel, it helped on one side, but the other side is just as dry as can be.  I am a Student Nurse and during Micro-Biology we swabbed and cultured the inside of our noses.  I tested positive for MRSA.  For about 2-3 weeks I showered with Hibiclens (OTC & Walgreens has their own less expensive brand) **(let the soap sit on your skin for at least a minute, pay close attention to arm pit and pubic regions (warm and moist) as this is where the germs love to hide).  I also used Mupirocen ointment in my nose.  Well, tested again and no CA-MRSA.  But the scab is still there!  

[mamapajamajack]

Any updates from anyone? I have had this excact issue for over 7 years now. It was on both sides originally but it went away on the right side and got worse on the left. It causes constant pain in my head and teeth (effects my trigeminal nerve which was irritated after my wisdom teeth came out). I have headaches all the time which are worse after blowing/picking. I cannot believe there are so many people with this issue and no cure. I hope to find a natural solution as well but I can't even get a good diagnosis. The ENT I saw told me it was a staph infection and there is nothing that I can do about it except use Bacitran (an ointment intended for dry skin) which might lesson it a little.

[GoodHealth11]

I have had the same problem for years and I have finally found the root cause for myself.  It turned out to be dairy causing the problem.  I would never go a day without one nostril being fully clogged and by accident I discovered what was causing the problem.  I started exercising and as a result started to cut out fat in my diet.  Most importantly dairy products.  I switched from drinking milk to vanilla almond milk (gross at first, but love it now), cheese (cut down on the pizza) and took out the cream and started going black with my coffee's.  Well, within week or two I noticed that when I laid down at night or got up in the morning my nose never gets plugged and doesn't run nearly as much as it use to run.  The scab is still comes back, BUT it is really small and takes a long time before I need to pick at it or it interferes with my breathing.  It definitely doesn't build up as quickly as it use to and I am assuming this is because with the lack of dairy my nose doesn't run as often as it use to run.  I haven't taken myself 100% off dairy  as that has been really hard, but with the reduction I have made it has definitely made a HUGE difference to this problem that had been driving me nuts for years. Give it a shot and report back in a couple of weeks to let others know whether or not  dairy was your problem as well.  Would be nice if this was the problem for several of you as well.  Good luck

[itsallweird]

oh man I just read my biography! I'm going to try cortison, diaper cream (eww), mentholatum-ya for grandmas!, and lansinoh! Hopefully, one of these works! I'll post back with results! Just yesterday I was told by another doctor do not use Neosporin when it has been recommended by my pcp and a pharmacist! geez who to believe but I do still have this on going pita!

Thanks all!

[eunbri]

i agree with the dairy products.  I am 60 years old -  about 10 years ago I started having problems of dry skin, including inside of my nose, and eczema on my hands and back.  I changed to goats milk, which has helped a lot but not totally cured it.  I think the answer lies here with foods, especially dairy products and, instead of finding a cure, try to find the cause by changing and introducing  alternative products

[skoolbus]

I had this as well... I had two areas in my left nostril. One was really high up in my nose, the other near the entrance. Now I've had these for probably over a decade or more. I saw one ENT and they said it was a wart (they said they were guessing, they were going to burn it out). I said, nah, I'm good and left. I actually got one of those dry ice wart applicators to cauterize it... it worked. 4-5 years later it came back. Then a few years later one higher up came into existence. I went to a new ENT, and he cauterized with this stuff (forgot name) but it was put on a very small q-tip. It healed completely, it's been over 2 years. I'm going to have him do the one near my nostril entrance.

Reason as to why this happens. Deviated septum perhaps? When you breath in the air sometimes hits the internal area of the nose, where it's tender and is just blood vessels so it dries out. So basically have your septum fixed, or learn to love ointment and blowing out scabs. Maybe you're lucky like me and it was just a scab that couldn't heal without cauterizing. A broken blood vessel that won't heal.

[Sailor59]

This may be long, but I tell you what i know. I was in the Navy in early 90's, I was assigned fire watch for two weeks, in the bottom of a aircraft carrier in 1992. Every night when I went back to the barracks, I would wash my nose out. My nose was filled with black smut from the arc-gouging they were doing. At the end of the two weeks, both of my nostrils developed sores in the center wall, both sides.

Days, months, then years went by. Around 2005 or so, my left nostril healed...yeah! However my right nostril still today has scar tissue. The scar tissue bothers me, so I peel it out, this is not easy to do. Sometimes it bleeds profusely if I catch it wrong. Sometimes it doesn't bleed. At any rate, it's sore to touch and the nerves are connected to my teeth on that side.

I'm going to try Ayr again. Maybe I should just leave it alone. It's amazing how fast the scar tissue grows, in two days there was another new layer. One reason I keep pulling it out, is hoping it won't come back. That's how I remember the left side becoming scar free, one day it was just a small piece then, and I didn't mess with it too much after that and it slowly went away.

I worry about infections, now that I'm 42, gotta stay healthy! Hope yours got better!

[MeToo222]

Have had this for about 2 years now, off and on... don't know what it's from. My boyfriend gets it too but doesn't seem as bad or as often as I get it. It's like a paper cut at the end of my nose but goes inside the nostril as well where it forms a larger scab. It can be one spot or a few at one time. OUCH! It will seem to heal but keeps coming back...???

[hyperj]

This is amazing to me that people replied to my original post!  I totally didnt see this for 6 yrs, its crazy to me that 6 years have past!! unfortunately I have no progress to report :(  It is still a huge problem for me daily.  I have not been back to the ENT in years, but my wife is now a nurse, so as soon as medical kicks in I will start to go back, i really want a solution! I have sent her this thread and will try many of your solutions mentioned!!  I am truely thankful i made this post years ago, to know other suffer the same way as I do make me feel at home (oddly enough!) and I hope we can find a common solution!  Cheers to all of you!

[keeper918]

And it's still going....I can't believe so many with the same condition, including me, unfortunately. I am on oxygen and unfortunately I have to be super careful not to use anything that may be petroleum based products.  Very dangerous for me. A known carcinogen that I don't need blasted into my lungs. I know of one water based gel that's safe for people on oxygen and it's not cheap. I will look into the lanolin, and be tested for mersa and impetigo.  A big Thank you for all the suggestions

[IGOWEGO]

I am going crazy with my nose problems.  I too have the sores and tenderness described here in detail, but the worst park is the constant urge to pick.. It makes me crazy and I can't even get a full nights sleep.Seeing my ENT tomorrow and going to beg her for some relief beyond the oily sprays and creams. I wish somebody a had an answer for me.

[Diane0610]

I have been convinced all day that I have nose cancer. After reading all of these posts, I will sleep better!!  It's so annoying!

[bob220]

I have had this problem on and off, scab never seems to heal. I use betnovate crème (which I use on and off for eczema). This works pretty quickly and the problem goes away - - till it returns a month or so later - then another dab of crème  works again. It appears to be a  Staphylococcus infection the bacteria of which lives in the nose  and there does not appear to be much you can do about it other than crème.