Suggest Remedies For Scabs In The Nose

Posted on Fri, 12 Jan 2018

Question: Good morning - My Wife has had a scab on her nose that heals and then re-scabs and then heals and re-scabs for about 3-4 weeks. The wound area is getting smaller on each new scab but this is the longest time she's had it. She has used antibiotic ointment and tea tree oil to help with the healing. Just wondered what you thought. It's not bleeding.

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Delayed healing scab post infection .

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear

Welcome to Healthcaremagic.com
I have evaluated your query thoroughly .

* This seems delayed healing of the post infection scab , with less likely other
possibilities in absence of bleeding .

Kindly provide further details so that I can answer your query more precisely .

1. What was the initial size and current size of scab now .
2. History of any systemic illness as diabetes or else .
3. Currently having itching , pain or else .
4. Any noticeable change or difference of overlying or surrounding skin in
form of temperature or tenderness .
5. If possible , a high resolution photo pic as an attachment in follow up
conversation would be of great help .
6. Details of antibiotics with dose , duration taken till now .

Awaiting for your response .

Regards .

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (45 minutes later)

Thanks for your quick response Dr. XXXXXXX

1. What was the initial size and current size of scab now .
Initially about 1/16" or less and grew to about 1/4". Now a little less than
1/16"
2. History of any systemic illness as diabetes or else .
No.
3. Currently having itching , pain or else .
Maybe some itching as it healed but then it would re-scab again. No Pain
4. Any noticeable change or difference of overlying or surrounding skin in
form of temperature or tenderness .
No
5. If possible , a high resolution photo pic as an attachment in follow up
conversation would be of great help .
I'm at work currently but can get you a pic if needed.
6. Details of antibiotics with dose , duration taken till now .
Over the counter gel antibiotic for about 2-3 weeks and Tee Tree oil for about
2 weeks

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
follow up .

Detailed Answer:
Welcome .

Thanks for the details .

* Till the narration , it seems scab about the end of the healing process .

Still , I would like to evaluate the photo pic once you reach home .

Regards .

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (19 hours later)

Thank you again Dr. XXXXXXX I do have pics I can send you however I do not know how I can attach them? Can you assist me?
Hello again Dr. XXXXXXX - I was able to upload pics to the "new reports" section above. I hope I did this right? There are (4) pics - close-up and farther away. Hope they are good enough to view. I was incorrect - she said the size was bigger than 1/4" but now it's closer to 1/4" - I think it's smaller and it has actually shrank in the past two weeks. One other question - When the scab falls off she usually has a dark remnant spot where the scab was. Is that normal. She is light-skinned but just curious. And one more, is it unusual for an injury to scab and rescab in a period of 4 weeks? She said it started off as a pimple and she felt she picked at it a little too much initially. She does have sensitive skin.
Sorry for all the questions - just wanted to cover everything. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (47 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Benign or malignant condition of skin , not normal scab .

Detailed Answer:
Welcome dear

Thanks for the details and attached images .

* Likely to be pathological condition of the skin as benign or malignant .

1. It is not normal to have dark remnant spot after scab falls off every time .
2. It is unusual for repeated scab formation and final picture like this at 4 weeks .

* Strongly recommended to consult an expert skin specialist to get biopsy of
the lesion & further management .

Hope this will help you .

Wishing her fine recovery .
Regards .

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (25 minutes later)

Thank you dr. Now you got me a little scared. I had read that when a scab falls off there can be a dark or brown spot. She gets this with other wounds. I read where they call that hyperpigmentation. And it's not unusual. Does that sound familiar? Of course, I will get her in for a biopsy as well.

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (1 minute later)

Brief Answer:
you are true for initial scabs , but not at 4 weeks .

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear

I am not making you scared dear , but at 4 weeks interval this is not normal that
is what my message is .

You have read right that scab gives dark or brown spot with hyperpigmentation that occurs in initial phase
but in our case with subsequent repeat scabs and final photo pic is indicative of
unusual condition ( as hyperkeratosis or other changes ) , which mandates biopsy

Hope this makes it more clear .

Would like your follow up even after you close the conversation ( regarding biopsy
and her progress at YYYY@YYYY ) if you wish .

Regards dear take care .

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj