The nose knows. Or does it? While this vital organ can tell you if someone is baking your favorite cookies in the kitchen or alert you to nearby dangers, it can’t tell you what causes psoriasis or whether you have a flare-up inside your nose.

In this article, we share five things to know about psoriasis in the nose. If you have questions or think you may be experiencing a psoriasis flare in your nose, schedule an appointment with your health care provider or a dermatologist.

1. Psoriasis in the Nose Is Rare

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, approximately 50 percent of people with psoriasis experience symptoms on their face, which includes the forehead, cheeks, chin, and areas around the eyes, nose, and mouth. Having symptoms of psoriasis inside the nose, however, is rare.

2. It Could Be Facial Psoriasis

What appear to be symptoms of psoriasis in the nose could be symptoms of facial psoriasis on or around the nose. Although facial psoriasis can occur anywhere on the face, it’s most common on the hairline, upper forehead, eyebrows, and the skin between the nose and upper lip. If you experience dryness, flaking, or crusty lesions in the area between your upper lip and nose, it is more likely to be psoriasis on the face than in the nose.

There are several types of psoriasis, and they can affect any area of the body. The parts of the body that psoriasis affects most frequently are the knees, elbows, and scalp, and the types most likely to affect the face are scalp psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, and pustular psoriasis.

3. It Might Not Be Psoriasis at All

If you are living with psoriasis and notice symptoms in or near your nose, it’s easy to assume it’s a flare-up. However, psoriasis isn’t the only skin condition that can cause flaky skin in the sensitive areas on, in, or under the nose.

Eczema can also affect the face. Like psoriasis, eczema is a skin disease caused by issues within the immune system. If you have a dry, discolored, and itchy rash on your face, it’s possible that you could also have eczema. However, it’s not common for people to have both psoriasis and eczema.

Rosacea can affect the face, too. Instead of scaly or itchy lesions, however, rosacea generally causes visible blood vessels and small, swollen, discolored bumps.

Sebopsoriasis is like psoriasis, but not. It’s a cross between psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis and can also affect the face.

4. An Accurate Diagnosis Is Essential

Because multiple skin conditions can cause symptoms on the face, getting an accurate diagnosis is essential to ensure you receive appropriate care.

If you are already receiving psoriasis treatment from a dermatologist, ask them to examine the area in and around your nose. If you have yet to be diagnosed with psoriasis or another skin condition, ask your health care provider to refer you to a doctor specializing in dermatology. They may be able to do a visual diagnosis. Or, they may take a small sample of skin cells for a biopsy (study under a microscope).

5. Treatment Options Are Available

If your health care provider confirms that you are experiencing a psoriasis flare in your nose, treatment options are available. The topical treatments you use for other parts of your body may be too intense for the sensitive skin in and around your nose. Make sure to ask before using over-the-counter moisturizers or lotions since these may not be appropriate for use inside the nose.

For treatment of psoriasis in the nose, your health care provider might recommend:

• Low-strength topical steroid creams, like hydrocortisone
• Compounded creams with a coal tar solution, such as liquor carbonis detergens
• Topical immunosuppressants, including tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel)
• Topical corticosteroids combined with antifungal or antibacterial treatments
• Phototherapy (light therapy) using ultraviolet light

They might also recommend systemic treatments depending on your overall symptoms. While psoriasis in the nose is rare, if you are experiencing it, help is available.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyPsoriasisTeam — the social network for people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and their loved ones — more than 121,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Do you have psoriasis in your nose? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.