YOUR QUESTIONS:
(click on each link to see the FULL QUESTION \ ANSWER)

1. I've tried Nystatin, for fungal infectiions, which the Dr.(allergist) told me to put inside my nose! That's a steroid cream, and the thought of using steroids scares me. That membrane up there feels swollen all the time, and it makes me feel like I cant breathe!!! The itch is so awful, I wanna cut it open with a knife! I've used antibiotics in the past like amoxycillin, every kind of nasal spray known to man and Im just at the end of my wits with this itchy skin! I've gone for allergy shots in the past, but the next day (very co-incidentally) I feel like I cant breathe! so i stopped doing that. Do you think it's ok to put that cream I bought from you, in my nose?

   Yes , I am a Pharmacist, the Nystatin cream is an antifungal but not a cortisone so it is safe to use. Another cream that may be good if the problem is bacterial would be Bactroban Nasal ointment (prescription only item) which contains mupirocin, a safe antibiotic. The allergy shots often worsen the problem as they build up your tolerance to the substance causing the allergy. I am only able to make suggestions for you to try, not a diagnosis. That is not possible with a visual examination of your nose. However I would use our Sulphur Cream morning and night together with one claratin tablet a day if the doctor says no infection is present. The problem should improve within 2-3 weeks if the problem worsens obviously cease the treatment, ...MORE

2. I am simply at the end of my wits with the outside of my nose(just on the side) being so itchy! my problem is, tht the inside of my nose is itchy as well. I've been to the dermotolgist, the allergist, and have taken numerous meds. I did order your sulphur cream, but i obviously cant put it inside my nose! what on earth am i gonna do? please help! to look at the skin on the side of my nose doesnt look like much, but it's sooooo itchy and there are some wrinkles of the skin like scales! I cant stop scratching, cause it wont stop itching!!

   Our Sulphur Cream is safe to apply inside the nose, however I doubt that it will help, However try applying it 3 times a day with a cotton bud as suphur is mildly antiseptic and may help. It is a bit of a wild guess but it will do no harm to try. Did the cream help the outside of your nose? Did the dermatologist check the scaly skin on your nose to rule out any fungal problem or possible abnormality there? Stress and menopause do cause skin problems but that would be more widespread and not just located on one side of you nose. ...MORE

----- Original Message -----
From: MA, USA
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 11:06 PM
Subject: Re: Itchy Nose

Thanks for getting back to me David! I've tried Nystatin, for fungal infectiions, which the Dr.(allergist) told me to put inside my nose! That's a steroid cream, and the thought of using steroids scares me. I used it for awhile, but.....It's just the left side of my nose, inside as well as outside. Because the Dr. told me it is probably fungal, I removed my acrylic nails, because I cant seem to leave it alone, which only makes it worst!

That membrane up there feels swollen all the time, and it makes me feel like I cant breathe!!! The itch is so awful, I wanna cut it open with a knife! (I wouldnt but I'd like too!) I've used antibiotics in the past like amoxycillin, every kind of nasal spray known to man and Im just at the end of my wits with this itchy skin! The dermatologist put me on very expensive Elidel cream, which I dont feel comfortable taking, cause I read up on it (on the internet) and it's been known to cause cancer!

I've gone for allergy shots in the past, but the next day (very co-incidentally) I feel like I cant breathe! so i stopped doing that! What on earth am I gonna do? If this itch would stop, I would feel great! I dont have any other health problems that I know of! Any advice you can offer would be great! Do you think it's ok to put that cream I bought from you, in my nose?

Will it help? You are a pharmacist correct? Get back to me and hopefully, you will help me get some relief!

Sincerely MA, USA

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-----Original Message-----
From: David Hosking
Sent: Monday, 31 July 2006 9:41
Subject: Re: Itchy Nose (nasal itch)
Hi ,

Yes , I am a Pharmacist, the Nystatin cream is an antifungal but not a cortisone so it is safe to use.

Another cream that may be good if the problem is bacterial would be Bactroban Nasal ointment (prescription only item) which contains mupirocin, a safe antibiotic.

The allergy shots often worsen the problem as they build up your tolerance to the substance causing the allergy. From that I would say using Clarityn (Clarityne in Australia) daily would help too.

If you think your nose may be infected another course of antibiotics may be needed. Flucloxacillin is best for infection in soft tissue, Amoxycillin is ok too.

PLEASE get a DOCTOR to rule out infection first of all.

I am only able to make suggestions for you to try, not a diagnosis. That is not possible with a visual examination of your nose.

However I would use the sulphur cream morning and night together with one claratin tablet a day if the doctor says no infection is present. The problem should improve within 2-3 weeks if the problem worsens obviously cease the treatment, this is unlikely to happen.

Avoid ALL nose drops & spray unless advised by a doctor, the over the counter ones are especially likely to cause a problem like yours if used for some time.

As you were having allergy shots, what things did they find you were allergic too? I may be able to suggest extra things to help.
Kind Regards,
David Hosking.

----- Original Message -----
From: MA, USA
Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 1:46 AM

Dear David, I am simply at the end of my wits with the outside of my nose(just on the side) being so itchy! my problem is, tht the inside of my nose is itchy as well. I've been to the dermotolgist, the allergist, and have taken numerous meds. I did order your sulphur cream, but i obviously cant put it inside my nose! what on earth am i gonna do? please help! to look at the skin on the side of my nose doesnt look like much, but it's sooooo itchy and there are some wrinkles of the skin like scales! I cant stop scratching, cause it wont stop itching!! Any advice you can offer me would be a big help. I am going through menopause now, but could this be from stress? I've had bad allergies all my life, but i cant seem to get rid of this itch inside my nose either!
HELP!!! Thanks in advance!

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-----Original Message-----
From: David Hosking
Sent: Friday, 28 July 2006 10:25
To: MA, USA
Subject: Re: Itchy Nose
Hi ,

The sulphur cream is safe to apply inside the nose, however I doubt that it will help, However try applying it 3 times a day with a cotton bud as suphur is mildly antiseptic and may help. It is a bit of a wild guess but it will do no harm to try. Did the cream help the outside of your nose?

Did the dermatologist check the scaly skin on your nose to rule out any fungal problem or possible abnormality there? Stress and menopause do cause skin problems but that would be more widespread and not just located on one side of you nose.

If you can tell me all the meds you have tried that haven't helped and all the diagnoses your various doctors have made that information would narrow things down for me to be able to give you more suggestions.

I assume you have tried antihistamines, cortisones & antibiotic creams ? Knowing more about the condition means maybe I can suggest more avenues to explore. Looking forward to hearing from you,

Kind Regards, David Hosking.