Squeezing Pimples Around the Nose and Mouth Can Lead to Cellulitis
Medical Experts: "This Area Carries a Particularly High Risk of Bacterial Infection"
A case has been reported in which a seemingly ordinary pimple between the mouth and nose escalated into a serious bacterial infection, resulting in emergency room treatment. Medical professionals are warning that this area, known as the "triangle of death," can lead to dangerous complications such as cellulitis if pimples are squeezed.
According to the UK’s Daily Mail on the 25th (local time), Lindsay De Oliveira, a 32-year-old resident of Georgia, USA, recently squeezed a pimple that had appeared between her nose and upper lip. Afterwards, her face became severely swollen and she experienced symptoms of facial paralysis, leading her to seek hospital treatment.
According to De Oliveira, the pimple suddenly appeared on a Monday morning and did not look particularly unusual. However, the day after she squeezed it, the area began to swell rapidly, and one side of her face started to droop. When her symptoms did not improve with initial antibiotic treatment, she visited urgent care clinics multiple times over two days and was eventually transferred to the emergency room.
She later learned that this area is referred to in the medical community as the "triangle of death."
Medical staff diagnosed De Oliveira with cellulitis, an infection caused by bacteria penetrating the deeper layers of the skin. If not properly treated, this potentially dangerous condition can spread throughout the body via the bloodstream. De Oliveira even underwent an MRI to check whether the infection had spread to her sinuses or brain.
Pimples Around the Nose and Mouth: Squeezing Can Be Dangerous... Experts Warn
At the emergency room, her previous antibiotics were discontinued and she received a stronger antibiotic treatment. She reported that the swelling in her face began to subside rapidly within a few hours after the new medication. Although the infection itself improved relatively quickly, it took about six weeks for her body to fully recover due to side effects from the antibiotics. She has since returned to her daily life, with only a small scar remaining.
Specialists explain that the triangular area connecting the nose and mouth is directly linked to the brain via the venous structure, which means that if bacteria enter this area, the infection can spread rapidly. For this reason, dermatologists advise against squeezing or irritating pimples or wounds in this region on your own.
De Oliveira said, "It was just an ordinary pimple-I never imagined it could turn out like this," and urged others, "Please never squeeze pimples so that you don't go through the same experience."
Meanwhile, in August, a woman named Lissy Marie in the United States also shared her experience of receiving emergency room treatment after squeezing a pimple in the same area, which led to rapid swelling of her face, drawing public attention.
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