There’s a special hell that is a ripe pimple cropping up in or around your nose. These intruders can be big, painful, and let’s face it, total eyesores. But before you even think about giving one of those suckers a good squeeze, you should know that there’s a reason—a few, actually—why you shouldn’t mess with nose zits.
Popping a pimple anywhere usually isn’t a good idea (you can read more about that here). But when it comes to your nose in particular, the stakes are considerably higher—so much so that experts have dubbed the region from your nasal bridge to the corners of your mouth the triangle of death or danger triangle, Mamina Turegano, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Sanova Dermatology in New Orleans, tells SELF.
The good news is that you probably won’t die after going to town on that annoying nostril bump in front of your bathroom mirror, Dr. Turegano says. Still, we strongly suggest you keep reading to learn why, exactly, this area of your face has earned its ominous nickname.
What is the triangle of death?
Imagine a triangle with these three points: One at the top of your nose, and one at each corner of your mouth. Yep, everything inside that shape is the danger zone, Kiyanna Williams, MD, board-certified dermatologist and staff physician at the Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF.
“This area is unique because there are a lot of blood vessels there that are connected to the brain,” Dr. Williams explains. Specifically, she’s referring to a group of veins in the cavernous sinus, a region of the skull behind the eye sockets. An infection in the triangle of death (from a popped pimple or otherwise) can potentially travel through these blood vessels, which can lead to life-threatening conditions like meningitis, an infection of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST), a clot that restricts blood flow to the brain.
Yes, these scenarios sound incredibly scary, but don’t panic: Getting a deadly infection from poking at a nose zit “is an extreme case,” Dr. Williams says, “but that’s why this part of the face, compared to the cheeks, for instance, is more high risk.”
Why you shouldn’t pop a pimple on your nose (or anywhere inside the “danger triangle”).
You might get more zits.
CST worries aside, there are much more probable outcomes you’ll want to avoid. For starters, you might make your blemish even angrier if you don’t leave it the heck alone, Dr. Turegano says. That’s because the force from squeezing can increase inflammation, leading to even more pain or swelling, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Not to mention, you’re also pushing and spreading the bacteria from inside your zit to nearby areas, which can cause new pimples to show up in those places, too, Dr. Turegano adds.
You’re more likely to get a scar.
Putting pressure on your face by poking and picking is also a recipe for acne scarring, Dr. Williams says, especially if you’re dealing with tender cystic bumps. Think about it: You’re causing physical trauma to an already irritated spot, which can increase inflammation. In response to this injury, your body will try to heal the wound by releasing melanin (molecules responsible for skin pigment), potentially resulting in hyperpigmentation (a.k.a. dark spots), Dr. Turegano explains. Even with surface-level whiteheads, squeezing can still increase inflammation and, therefore, potentially lead to scarring, she adds.
