I’m a surgeon – here are 6 reasons nose scabbing could be a sign of something dangerous

Have you ever had those annoying crusts in your nose?

A sudden change in the weather, allergies, or a virus can damage or irritate the sensitive skin inside your nose, causing sores — and, in some cases, bleeding.

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And while they’re quite painful, they’re usually not a cause for concern.

But in some cases, a sore in the nose can indicate an underlying health problem.

dr Samit Unadkat, Consulting Rhinologist at My Nose London, explains what a crusted nose can indicate:

1. nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are painless, soft growths in your nose.

They’re not usually serious, but are commonly associated with a loss of smell, says Dr. Samit to The Sun.

They can continue to grow and clog your nose if left untreated.

2. Nose Cancer

Cancer of the nose and sinuses is rare in the UK, with only around 460 cases diagnosed each year.

“The cancers are associated with watery eyes, tooth, facial or numbness, one-sided hearing loss and crusting of the nose can be bloody,” explains the expert.

“Patients who work with hardwood, the dyeing industry, chrome plating, and leather tanning are at higher risk for nasal cancer.”

3. Cocaine Abuse

A cocaine addict’s nose can suffer from many problems ranging from nosebleeds to life-threatening infections.

And in some cases, a hole develops (known as a septal perforation).

“A hallmark feature of this type of perforation is blood-stained nasal crusting,” says Dr. samite

“Cocaine and its extenders can be very harmful to the nose, leading to complete breakdown of the nasal skeleton and skin,” he added.

4. Inflammatory Conditions

Nasal crusting can be an early symptom of inflammatory diseases, Samit said.

It can alert doctors to granulomatosis, which affects the blood vessels, eosinophilia, an immune disorder, and sarcoidosis, which affects the lungs.

“The perforations can become crusted over by turbulent airflow through the nose.

“In addition, any of these serious conditions can affect the kidneys and lungs.

“They often require long-term immunosuppressive treatment, such as steroids or other medications.”

Samit says most nasal scab treatment plans will be straightforward.

“Often it’s simple solutions like nasal rinses and nasal steroids or nasal creams,” he explains.

“But if a more serious condition is identified, biopsies, surgery or immunosuppression may be needed,” he adds.

The expert said that in many cases, a scabby nose can be caused by something as harmless as overuse of decongestants.

“Most decongestants are available over the counter, but excessive use, each lasting more than a week, can lead to crusting in the nose,” he says.