Nasal Pain

A number of conditions and injuries can cause nasal pain. Working with a board-certified ear, nose and throat doctor is the best way to determine the underlying cause and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Find your ENT Request Appointment

What Causes Nasal Pain Or Discomfort?

Pain or discomfort in the nasal area can develop for many different reasons. The most common ones include:

Injury

An acute injury is a very common cause of pain in this area. In many cases, it’s in the form of a fracture of one or more of the nasal bones, leading to pain, swelling and bleeding. This form of trauma typically happens while playing sports, during an assault, or as the result of an accident.

Nasal Polyps

A nasal polyp is the most common type of growth that develops within the nose. It is often benign (not cancerous) and may cause pain as it increases in size. In addition, polyps tend to accompany other symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose and a diminished sense of smell.

there is a woman holding her eye with both hands

Cancer

Nose cancer is very rare. However, it sometimes arises as a metastasis when cancer begins in another body area and spreads to the nose.

When this occurs, it may cause pain, bleeding and changes in smell, along with other symptoms.

Foreign Object

A foreign object stuck in the nose is a common cause of pain among children, who often insert marbles, erasers, small beads and other tiny objects inside the nasal cavity. The inner lining then swells and causes the object to become firmly lodged. As the inflammation increases, the inside and outside of the nose often become painful and tender to the touch.

In addition, congestion, a runny nose, a diminished sense of smell, voice changes and bleeding may develop. If your child has a foreign object stuck in the nose, it will need to be removed by a board-certified ear, nose and throat physician. Attempting to dislodge the object at home can push it deeper into the nasal cavity and may lead to more inflammation.

Infection

A viral or bacterial infection of the nose and sinuses may result in pain and discomfort, especially if the infection is severe.

Inflammation

Nasal inflammation develops in a number of ways. Nose picking, hard mucus, irritating gases and the use of certain nasal sprays can all cause painful inflammation.