How To Clear Up Nose Acne

Unless you've been #blessed with clear skin, you've most likely experienced acne at some point in your life, right?

In fact, according to the NHS, acne is one of the most common skin conditions with 95 per cent of people aged 11 to 30 being affected to some extent, which is a hell of a lot of people.

Pesky little spots can pop up everywhere but one of the most irritating (and often painful) areas is on the nose, with hundreds of thousands of Google's most-asked questions being specifically about nose acne.

If you've got any burning questions about the causes of nose acne - and how to treat it - Dr Ophelia Veraitch, a leading dermatologist at the renowned Cranley Clinic on Harley Street, has answered Google's most-asked questions about it.

What causes spots to occur on the nose, both blackheads and whiteheads?

Blackheads and whiteheads are caused by an over-productions of sebum. With the combination of dead skin and debris from day to day life, pores become blocked and inflamed causing whiteheads and blackheads.

Blackheads are essentially open pore pimples whereas whiteheads are where the dirt and debris get trapped in a pore, often causing redness and inflammation. They are both clinical signs of acne.

Everything you need to know about blackheads (and keeping them at bay)

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By Elle Turner and Lottie Winter

Why is my nose red and spotty?

The nose naturally has the largest pores on the face and this means it tends to be the part of the face that suffers the most with blackheads and whiteheads. Sebum (oil) is necessary to keep the skin protected and lubricated, but some people's sebaceous glands can produce too much sebum. When too much sebum is produced on the nose, this can cause dead skin to start to block pores, which in turn, causes redness, inflammation and ultimately, spots.

How do you get rid of spots on your nose?

The key to treating acne is controlling the oil production and effectively removing dead skin. Ensuring you have a skincare range that is oil-free and avoiding serums is essential as the oil in those products will only exacerbate acne. Look for cleansers which are non-foaming as these will stimulate oil production and ensure that your makeup is non-comedogenic as this will allow your skin to breathe and will help prevent your pores becoming blocked.

Why am I suddenly breaking out on my nose?

Oil production is the key to most breakouts and the levels of sebum are often closely related to your hormones. Puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause can all trigger an increase in sebum production. However, don't be fooled into thinking sebum over-production can only affect women and teenagers; testosterone belongs to a class of male sex hormones called androgens, which triggers acne by over-stimulating oil glands. Androgens also change the skin cells that line hair follicles making them stick and more likely to clog pores.