A bump on the nose is a common facial feature or characteristic that can be there as a result of genetics, allergies, or a medical reason. For many, a bump on the nose bridge can be a permanent facial feature that does not need medical attention. It could be a simple nose cartilage bump or a bump on the nose bone that results in a uniquely shaped nose. On the other hand, a bump on the nose or small bumps on the nose could be acne, infections, or a result of a sinus problem or allergies. Some medical conditions such as cysts or polyps can also result in nose bumps.
Not everybody that has a bump on the nose is going to want to seek treatment. For bumps that are a result of genetics, you may just live with it. Or, you can seek treatment by surgery or cosmetic procedures that can treat the bump or remove it. There are also treatment options for other conditions such as allergies. There are ways to treat the bumps caused by a sinus problem. If you have bumps on the nose and are worried about what to do about it, there are options available. Learn more about what causes bumps on the nose and the treatment options here.
Common Causes of Nose Bumps
There are many different causes of nose bumps. You might suffer a broken nose from a trauma or injury that results in a bump on the nose or a bump on the nose bridge. Infections and allergic reactions are another common cause. Treatment for the bump on your nose will depend on what is causing the bump.
The most common causes of a bump on the nose or bump on the nose bridge are:
- Trauma or injury
- Infections
- Allergic reactions
- Genetics
- Medical conditions
Trauma or Injury
Trauma or injury is among the most common causes of a bump on the nose. When the nose is injured, scar tissue can result in excess cartilage, or the nose can break. If the nose does not heal properly, a bump on the nose could result and be a permanent condition. You might even have many lumps or bumps inside the nose as a result of a nose injury.
In many cases, this may simply be a cosmetic issue, however, the nose is necessary for breathing, and a broken or injured nose could complicate that. Treatment for this is often surgery such as rhinoplasty or other medical treatments that can reshape the nose and make breathing easier again. If breathing is difficult, or you notice bleeding or abnormal mucus leaks, you should see a doctor to get the bump on the nose repaired.
Infections in and Around the Nose
The most common kinds of infections in and around the nose are sinus infections and acne. These types of infections can be treated very easily.
Sinus infections can cause a bump on the nose when your sinuses are inflamed or there are polyps stuffing up or congesting your sinus cavities. Acne is another kind of infection that can appear on the nose as a bump on the nose.
Acne on the nose or inside the nasal cavity can be a result of excess sun exposure, a fatty or greasy diet, hormonal fluctuations, or a predisposition to bumps on the nose.
If you have chronic acne on the nose, you may want to talk to a doctor about advanced methods of treatment that go beyond what over-the-counter treatment can provide. You can find relief of both sinus infections and acne infections from many over-the-counter treatments today.
Allergic Reactions
For anyone that has suffered from allergies, the nose will be the most commonly affected bodily structure. You might get an inflammation inside the nose that results in a bump on the nose bridge, or anywhere on the nose. It is common to experience swelling or inflammation on the nose, both inside and out, when you have a bump on the nose.
You might also experience an allergic reaction that results in a bump on the nose for reasons that have nothing to do with sinuses. Some food allergies, or allergies to specific fabrics can result in a bump on the nose.
If you wear masks for health purposes, you may get an allergic reaction that causes a bump on the nose. Like every other condition that results in a bump on the nose, this cause is one that needs to be examined carefully so that you can access the right treatment for it.
Genetics
Genetics plays a significant role in the development of bumps on the nose. If you have a bump on the nose as a result of genetics, your doctors will refer to this as a dorsal hump. If your parents, and any of their parents, were born with a bump on the nose or developed one in life, there is a chance that you could too.
When genetics plays a role in a bump on the nose, you may also see bumps inside the nostrils, around the septum of the nose that results in additional bone cartilage that causes the bump, and bumps inside the nasal cavity or space behind the nose that causes a bump on the outside.
Medical Conditions
There are many medical conditions that can result in a bump on the nose. This is why it is imperative that you have a doctor look at the bump on the nose to determine what is causing it. Acne can be a medical condition if the acne persists and is resistant to traditional medical treatments.
Other medical conditions include cysts, polyps, keloids, and rhinophyma. These conditions are typically benign conditions that may not be life-threatening. If you have bumps on or in the nose, these can be removed surgically or treated. In some cases, antibiotics or over-the-counter remedies can help to treat the bump on your nose caused by a medical condition. If the bump on your nose is a cyst or polyp, a doctor may want to get diagnostic imaging to rule out anything more serious than a cyst that can be removed.
Types of Nose Bumps
As there are different causes of bumps on the nose, there are different types of nose bumps as well. The most common types of nose bumps are:
- Acne
- Cysts
- Polyps
- Keloids
- Rhinophyma
Each of these conditions will have its own treatment options.
Acne
Acne is a condition where bacteria gets clogged in the pores of the skin. When this is left untreated, this forms a bump that can be raised on the skin, that appears like swollen skin, or a raised bump under the skin.
These bumps can typically be treated with at-home remedies or over-the-counter medication. If the bump on the nose is acne and it does not go away quickly, talk to your doctor for stronger medications or treatments that can help to clear your skin.
Nasal Cysts
Cysts can occur anywhere in the body and are small sacs that are filled with air or fluid. They develop inside the body without cause and can be a nuisance.
In some cases, they will cause pain because they are not supposed to be there and are a foreign substance in the body that causes discomfort. Cysts can happen in the nasal cavity or on the nose bridge and they can appear suddenly. These look very much like acne bumps that aren’t on the surface of the skin but are raised bumps underneath the surface of the skin.
Nasal Polyps
Nasal polyps are much like cysts but they are shaped differently. These look like grapes or tears inside the nose. The most common cause of these polyps is inflammation. Many nasal cysts are caused by inflammation of the lungs.
You might also get nasal polyps if you have asthma or are prone to some autoimmune disorders. These are not painful polyps but for cosmetic purposes, they may bother you.
Keloids
A keloid is a bump that can appear around a body piercing or other wound to the skin. This is not a common condition, but a small percentage of people that get piercings will experience this.
What happens here is that the skin becomes wounded and a raised bump will appear around the piercing. Keloids are bumps that will grow with time and are likely the cause of infection to the wound or a puncture in the skin. Taking care of the wound or skin puncture will go a long way toward ensuring that this type of nose bump does not bother you for a long time.
Rhinophyma
Rhinophyma is a skin problem of the nose that is caused by rosacea. This will result in a bump on the nose that causes the nose to swell or become enlarged. You will also see larger pores, red color on the skin, and the surface of the bumps will appear rough and yellow.
The bump on the nose in this case will be red and bumpy, and be larger than acne. This is a bump on the nose that can be easily treated. When rhinophyma goes untreated, the condition will worsen with time.
Treatment Options for Nose Bumps
There are many treatment options for nose bumps. These range from simple at-home remedies to medication and even treatment. If your nose is broken and you do not get it treated.
The most common treatment options for nose bumps are:
- Topical medication
- Oral medication
- Surgery
- Natural remedies
Topical Medication
Topical medication is an ideal treatment plan for nose bumps caused by acne or sinus medication. Moisturizing regularly and maintaining good hygiene will help here. If you have acne or an open wound that is causing the bump, you need to dress it with clean and sterilized hands in order to ensure you do not make the condition worse.
Oral Medication
Oral medication for a bump on the nose bridge or any bump on the nose can include antibiotics, sinus medications, and even pain relievers. These medications will typically work to cure the cause of the bump on the nose. You may not see instant results here but will feel better and see improvement within a few days.
Surgery
Rhinoplasty is among the most common surgeries on the nose today. It is also among the most common cosmetic procedures. You may need this if you have a broken nose that has gone untreated, or if genetics plays a role in a dorsal hump or bump on the nose.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes can dramatically change the way you look at a bump on nose or nose bridge. Seek treatment as quickly as possible in order to ensure you tackle the cause of the bump and get the right treatment.
At home, you can make some changes as well, by using ice and rest to relieve the pain. You may also need to change the way you sleep with an elevated head if you suffer from pain due to inflamed sinuses or polyps inside the nasal cavity.
Prevention Tips for Nose Bumps
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There are many things that you can do to prevent a bump on the nose.
Use these tips when preventing nose bumps:
- Avoid trauma and injury
- Maintain proper hygiene and skin care
- Manage allergies
- Consider lifestyle changes
You can avoid trauma and injury to the nose by ensuring you wear the right protective gear when you are outside or playing sports. Some nose injuries are traumatic and can not be prevented, such as those from a car accident or other injury. All of these types of nose injuries can be treated.
Maintaining proper skincare and good hygiene on the face will help to treat acne, allergies, and infections of the skin. Get into the habit of developing a new and structured routine that can help you to prevent acne and allergy attacks that will contribute to a bump on the nose.
Talk to your doctor about managing your allergies if your nose with a bump on the bridge is caused by inflamed or impacted sinuses. Adopt some simple lifestyle changes with your skin care routine and your sleep habits that will help you to sleep comfortably and experience fewer challenges with your breathing.
If you are unable to prevent the bump on your nose that is caused by genetics or another medical condition, hope is not lost. Talk to your doctor to have it tended to right away.
Treat the Bump on Your Nose
In most cases, you never need to worry about the bump on your nose as it is not usually serious. It may bother you that it is there though, and it can go away with the right treatment. With some at-home or over-the-counter remedies, the bump on the nose can be easily treated in time. Medication, surgery for bumps in nose cartilage, and changing lifestyle habits can also treat bumps on the nose and help you to feel better about them.
You will need to know what is causing your nose bump before you can decide on a treatment plan, but there are many specialists in the medical field that can help you to diagnose and treat this condition. If you need to know how to get rid of a bump on nose bridge or any other area of your nose, talk to your doctor about your options.