Doctor advises against plucking nose hair to avoid the ‘triangle of death’ risk

A doctor has warned that frequently plucking nose hairs could expose individuals to the potential dangers of the ‘triangle of death.’

Though the name might evoke images of a medieval horror film, the reality is far more frightening.

Dr Craig Maxwell, a physician from Ohio, US, has opened up on the dangers of plucking your nose.

In a 2013 post on his website AskDrMaxwell, the physician writes about the case of 12-year-old Kali Hardig who was in critical condition after contracting a brain-eating parasite at a local water park.

The young girl was diagnosed with primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is a ‘very rare form of meningitis caused by an amoeba associated with warm rivers, lakes and streams’.

Thankfully, after undergoing intensive cognitive and physical therapy, Kali was back swimming again in 2014.

“This brain-eating parasite, likely entered through her nostrils, entered her ‘triangle of death’ area and caused her to develop a rare but deadly form of parasitic meningitis,” the doctor claimed.

So, what is the ‘triangle of death’?

Dr Maxwell, who has worked in the field for over 40 years, said: “The triangle of death is the area from the bridge of your nose to the corners of your mouth.

“The blood vessels in this area are very important because they are a direct line to your brain.

“This means any infections that develop in this area may completely bypass other organ systems and go directly to the nerve centre.

“Although considered rare, if an infection develops in this area it can lead to headaches, vision loss, permanent paralysis, and even death.”

Why should you avoid tweezing nose hair?

“Tweezing hairs directly out of your nose is not only painful; it can leave you with an open wound that may lead to a deadly brain infection,” Dr Maxwell explains.

“Many are nasal carriers of staph bacteria (including MRSA), for example, and the bacteria is then able to enter the area from which the hair was just plucked.

“From there, entering the nearby brain is easy. Instead of plucking hairs with a sharp metal instrument, trim them back with clippers instead.”

Yikes.

Alternatives to waxing and plucking

An electric trimmer is probably the best method, as it doesn’t remove your nose hairs completely.

And if you want to use rounded scissors instead, that’s also a better method than waxing or plucking.

Personally, electric trimmers have been my go-to for many years and it requires very little effort or maintenance, a man’s number one priority for most things.