Black spots near the nose: causes and care

Flat brown or grey marks can remain after a pimple settles, while tiny dark plugs that sit within visible pores may be open comedones. A dermatologist can examine an isolated spot that looks unlike the others.

Oil and dead skin exposed at a pore opening can oxidize and look dark; this is not trapped dirt. Acne commonly presents with a mixture of comedones and inflamed pimples. Folliculitis can present as tender or itchy bumps centered on hairs, sometimes leaving darker marks after the bumps resolve.

Location offers useful clues. Irritation from rubbing, hair removal, heavy cosmetics or repeated squeezing can deepen discoloration beside the nostrils. Redness, scaling or burning around the nose points away from a simple blackhead and deserves a more careful assessment.

Cleanse gently and avoid scraping, pore tools and forceful extraction, which can injure the skin and prolong a dark mark. Choose non-comedogenic moisturiser and sunscreen, and introduce only one acne product at a time so irritation is easier to identify.

Keep fragranced products away from the nostril creases if they sting. Photograph the area in similar lighting every few weeks; changes in texture, border or colour are easier to describe when you have a comparison.

Arrange a skin assessment if one spot is new and changing, has an irregular outline, develops several colours, bleeds, crusts repeatedly or does not heal. Seek prompt care for rapidly spreading redness, marked swelling, severe pain, fever or swelling near the eye.

A routine appointment is also reasonable when recurring bumps leave marks, over-the-counter care causes burning, or the diagnosis remains unclear.

Ask whether the dark areas are plugs within pores or pigment in the skin, which products may be aggravating the nasal creases, and which treatment fits your skin sensitivity. Mention recent hair removal, new skincare and any tendency to form long-lasting marks.