Why Should Not Poke Acne on the Nose? Here's the Risk

Illustration of a woman with acne on her nose (Photo: Freepik/stockking)

JAKARTA - Pressing pimples is often considered a trivial thing that many people do when they see small bumps appear on their faces. However, this habit turns out to be dangerous, especially if the acne is in the nose area and around the mouth. Dermatologists warn that this action can cause serious infections that are potentially fatal.

A woman named Alisha Monaco experienced a worrying incident after trying to squeeze a pimple under her nose. Within a few hours, one side of her face was severely swollen to the point that she had to get medical treatment.

The case is a reminder of the nose area to the corner of the mouth including sensitive parts of the face. This area is often referred to as the 'triangle of death'.

This term refers to the area of the face that stretches from the base of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Although it sounds dramatic, dermatologists explain that there is indeed a medical reason behind the term.

According to Dr. Monica Li, clinical lecturer in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science at the University of British Columbia, the area has many blood vessels that are directly connected to important parts inside the head.

"It's a very vulnerable zone because it has a lot of blood vessels," he explained, quoted from the CTV News website.

When acne is pressed, the skin's protective layer can be damaged. This condition makes it easier for bacteria from the outside to enter the skin tissue and cause infection. If someone has cleaned their hands or the tools they use, the risk of infection remains.

"Once the contents of the acne are removed, a gap will form in the skin. From there, microbes from the outside have the potential to enter the tissue," said Dr. Li.

In the case of Alisha Monaco, she admitted that she had tried to squeeze the pimples carefully. Monaco cleaned the hands and tools used with alcohol. But a short time after the pimples were squeezed, he began to feel something was not normal.

A few hours later, his condition worsened. He woke up from sleep and realized that the side of his face felt stiff to the point that it was difficult to smile. His eyes began to swell, his vision was a little blurry, and his ears felt like they were clogged.

Finally, Monaco had to get medical treatment and was given several types of drugs, including antibiotics and steroids to treat the infection. The swelling on his face was so severe that he could only smile with one side of his mouth. It took about three days for his condition to completely recover.

Dermatologists explain that squeezing pimples not only causes temporary pain. This action can also aggravate inflammation on the skin, which can then cause permanent scars and skin discoloration.

In more serious cases, infections that occur in the death triangle area have the potential to spread through the blood vessels to the brain. This is what makes the condition can be fatal even to death, although such cases are considered rare. Therefore, experts advise that acne is not self-pressed at home.

If acne feels painful, inflamed, or often appears, you should consult a doctor to get the right treatment.

"If someone has acne, they should just let it go and not press it," said Dr. Li.

He also added that doctors have safer methods for treating acne, including special medical treatments or injections that can help reduce swelling quickly.

Alisha Monaco's story is a lesson for many people that small habits like squeezing pimples can actually carry great risks.

"I will never touch a pimple on my face again. The risk is really not worth it," said Dr. Li.