Mircea Badea
Foot amputee
Search results
Feb 24, 2022 · The section of your face from the bridge of your nose to the corners of your mouth is sometimes known as the “danger triangle of the face,” or even the “triangle of death.” And it’s one place where you should never pop a pimple, as it can lead to an infection in your brain.
- Overview
- A deadly spot on the face
- A plea to not pop
- The treatment possibilities
New warnings are issued after a woman developed cellulitis after popping what she thought was a pimple on a sensitive part of her face.
You’ve likely been told since the first zit cropped up on your chin that you need to leave pimples alone.
Popping them can cause scarring and make the bump worse, you were warned.
But that didn’t stop you, right?
The guilty pleasure of popping is all too real for many people.
Now, a new tale just might make you think twice before putting a bump in the crosshairs of your tweezers or fingernails.
Last month, Katie Wright began picking at what she thought was a pimple under the skin of her eyebrow.
Within an hour, her face was swollen and painful.
She sought medical treatment and learned that what she believed was a bothersome pimple on her face was in fact a severe infection.
It was a type of infection that could have been deadly had she not received treatment quickly.
“I went to the emergency room and they said it was a very serious case of cellulitis, which is a version of a staph infection, but instead of having a head like staph, it effects the deep cellular tissues with no main source to attack,” she wrote in a social media post. “Since it was on my face, there was a huge risk of it spreading to my brain or my eyes, causing me to go blind.”
Wright’s infection, which was likely caused by a dirty makeup brush, was in an area of the face known as the “triangle of death.”
“The triangle of death is a colloquial term for an area of the face that includes the region of the nose and corners of the mouth,” Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a board certified infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Pennsylvania, told Healthline. “This area is connected via blood vessels to areas of the skull where infections can spread very rapidly and become more serious.”
If the skin inside this triangle is broken — from a cut or popped pimple, for example —bacteria can enter your body.
A staph infection is one of the most common types of infection on this area of the body.
These bacteria can quickly enter your body and cause an infection, and because of the proximity to critical portions of your brain, the infection can lead to serious complications quickly.
“While infections of this area are rare — due to antibiotics — the triangle of death is a particular area of the face that if the skin is broken and the inside of our body is exposed to bacteria, it can invade and have access to the body’s control center,” Heather Free, PharmD, a spokesperson for the American Pharmacist Association, told Healthline.
Directly beneath the nose and mouth are four major cranial nerves that control functions in and around the face.
“Like most skin infections, if a person sees a swollen patch of skin that has pus, it is likely a person has an infection,” Mohamed A. Jalloh, PharmD, an assistant professor of clinical sciences at Touro University California College of Pharmacy, told Healthline. “While a pimple and a sign of infection could physically look the same, a triangle of death patient may have more symptoms. For example, if a patient would have an infection in the nerves or brain, a patient may say they feel confused or have a stiff neck or feel unusual tingly or sharp pains on the body.”
A cellulitis or staph infection is treated with antibiotics, but it has to be caught early because of the risk of serious problems.
That’s why it’s important to seek out medical attention if you notice a deep bump or cyst under the skin in this area of the face.
The best-case scenario is that it’s a benign cyst that is easily drained. The worst-case scenario is that it’s a severe infection, which can lead to deadly complications if left untreated.
“The earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better,” Jalloh said.
This type of infection can also be prevented with better hygiene practices.
The danger triangle of the face consists of the area from the corners of the mouth to the bridge of the nose, including the nose and maxilla. [1] [2] : 345–346 Due to the special nature of the blood supply to the human nose and surrounding area, it is possible for retrograde infection from the nasal area to spread to the brain, causing ...
Dec 11, 2023 · The “triangle of death” refers to an area on the face extending from the nasal bridge to the corners of the mouth. It is extra sensitive, given its prominent retrograde vessels leading to the brain. Experts say the popping pimples in this area is risky and can lead to cavernous sinus thrombosis, meningitis, or even stroke.
The 'Triangle of Death' Is Where You Should Never, Ever Pop A Pimple. Seriously, though, you should keep your hands away from zits in this region. By. Maggie O'Neill. Updated on August 28,...
The danger triangle on the face, also known as the “triangle of death” or the “nasolabial triangle”, refers to the section of the face from the bridge of the nose to the corners of the mouth. The area is in the shape of a triangle, with the tip of the triangle in the medial position of the eye and the base covering the upper lip.
Nov 10, 2023 · The ‘triangle of death’ may increase the risk of rare but serious complications.To help protect against such serious problems, it is advised not to attempt to pop any pimples in this area—or anywhere else. Instead, use safe and effective topical treatments and preventative measures, such as a consistent skincare routine and lifestyle changes.
