What Is the ‘Danger Triangle of the Face’?

When you think of things shaped like a triangle, what do you think of? You may begin imagining tortilla chips, yield signs and protractors… But probably not your face, right? When it comes to your health, though, there’s one triangle you shouldn’t be obtuse about.

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.

Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, explains why the danger triangle poses such risks and how to avoid complications.

What’s so dangerous about the danger triangle?

Think of this small segment of your face as a direct line to your brain. That’s thanks to your cavernous sinus, a network of large veins located behind your eye sockets. Through this sinus, blood drains from your brain.

An infection in the danger triangle — like from a picked pimple, or a nose piercing gone wrong — has a small but not impossible chance of traveling from your face right to your brain, without much distance to cover between them.

“There is the possibility for a facial infection to become an infection that impacts the rest of your body,” Dr. Vij says.

Can it really kill you?

Don’t panic: You’re probably not going to die from popping a pimple on your nose. But technically speaking, it’s possible.

“Thankfully, it’s relatively unlikely,” Dr. Vij says, “but whenever there’s a violation of the skin and interaction with bacteria, there’s always a possibility for infection, which can lead to greater health concerns.”

In very rare cases, an infection of the face can lead to septic cavernous sinus thrombosis, a blood clot in your cavernous sinus. This can then cause a variety of serious and potentially life-threatening health issues, including:

• Brain abscess (pus that causes swelling of your brain)
• Brain infection
• Damage to your facial nerves, including paralysis of your eye muscles
• Meningitis
• Pneumonia
• Septic emboli (infected blood clots that travel through your bloodstream)
• Stroke

Septic cavernous sinus thrombosis used to be an almost certain death sentence, but thanks to antibiotics, it’s now typically treatable as long as it’s caught in time.

Should you avoid popping a pimple there?

“Honestly, you should always avoid popping pimples,” Dr. Vij advises. “Doing so can lead to inflammation, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring — and, of course, infection.”

And you should especially avoid popping a pimple in the danger triangle, lessening your chances of an infection that spreads farther. It can be hard to resist the urge to pick, but it’s best to let zits run their course.

If you’re feeling antsy or have a big event coming up, though, try these no-pick tips for safely getting rid of pimples in the danger triangle:

• Apply a warm compress. Soak a washcloth in hot (not scalding) water, and apply it to the area for 10 to 15 minutes.This helps draw the pus to the surface and can speed up the healing process.
• Use a pimple patch. If your blemish has already opened up, you can try an overnight zit sticker to soak up some of that drainage.
• See a dermatologist. Your doctor may be able to help you with safe but speedier turnaround options, including cortisone and antibiotic injections.

When to see your doctor

If you have an infection on your face, monitor it closely and pay attention to your overall health for any significant changes in the way you feel, especially within five to 10 days of the start of the infection.

“The infection may start to get bigger, spreading to cover more of an area,” Dr. Vij says, “and you may start to feel more systemically ill — a fever, shaking, chills. If this starts to happen, see a doctor as soon as you can for diagnosis and treatment.”