# What do you call the area of the face where the nose connects with the face? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 22, 2013, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065 "2013-02-22T09:13:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teddybound](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@teddybound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teddybound)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/1 "2013-02-22T09:13:06Z")
What do you call the area of the face where the nose connects with the face? It’s something like 2 cracks or crevices next to the nostrils. Accordingly to this website, they called it ‘Nose Wings’, but it’s directly translated from Mandarin. > **[Acne and Health: What Your Body Is Trying To Tell You With Pimples! | B for...](https://bforbunbun.com/acne-and-health-what-your-body-is-trying-to-tell-you-with-pimples/)** > > Ever wondered why you always get pimples in the same spot or certain areas? This article explains the connection between acne and health. What’s the actual name for this area? The reason I’m asking is because I had always had acne in the cracks… it has become a routine to have to pop one on each side every day in the morning. I believe I might have too much bacteria there or so but that’s another story. Would like to look up on the internet to see if anyone has the same experience before I go to the doctor, hence would like to know what that area is called. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/2 "2013-02-22T09:48:05Z")
“Philtrum”? ETA: No, that’s the link in the middle, between the nose and the lips. Hmmm…dunno, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/3 "2013-02-22T09:51:39Z")
Philtrum was the first thing that occurred to me too, but if I’m understanding the OP correctly, it’s referring to the place where the nose meets the cheek at the side of the nostrils, not below and between the nose and lip. That area is apparently where the alar sidewall meets the cheek and is (according to the linked site) the “[alar-facial groove or junction](http://www.revisionrhinoplasty.com/anatomy.html).” ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/4 "2013-02-22T17:06:08Z")
That is the crease of your nose. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/5 "2013-02-22T17:10:42Z")
It’s also within the [DEATH TRIANGLE OF THE FACE](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danger_triangle_of_the_face), so you may want to reconsider popping 'em. On the other hand, you gotta do what you gotta do. And you didn’t ask, but… intergluteal cleft. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/6 "2013-02-22T18:24:53Z")
I call them nasolabial folds. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/7 "2013-02-22T18:27:47Z")
More accurately, that’s their name, I mean. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/8 "2013-02-22T18:28:47Z")
I’d say nasal labial folds. But apparently I’d be wrong – thanks, **Speaker for the Dead**. ---
**Author:** ![teddybound](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@teddybound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teddybound)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/9 "2013-02-22T19:47:05Z")
I guess nasolabial folds is the best answer. However, I googled it online and it seemed like ‘smile’ lines. Is there a distinction from the upper to lower part of the nasolabial folds? What I am looking for is the upper part - the part where the nose meets the face, forming a crevice/crack… ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/10 "2013-02-22T20:01:51Z")
I guess I’m speaking only medically. When I’m describing rashes on the face, I only mean that crack (where I also get annoying zits) when I write something like “rash spares nasolabial folds.” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/11 "2013-02-23T01:12:23Z")
> [@teddybound](#): > > However, I googled it online and it seemed like ‘smile’ lines. Did you Google “[alar facial groove](https://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&newwindow=1&site=&source=hp&q=alar+facial+groove&oq=ala&gs_l=hp.1.0.35i39j0l9.10267.10512.0.14389.3.3.0.0.0.0.84.230.3.3.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.4.hp.r-WHNYYhp2o)”? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/13 "2013-05-17T13:51:19Z")
Nose cone ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/14 "2013-05-17T14:59:56Z")
I was under the impression popping zits spreads infection and those little nostril grooves are suitably warm and cuddly for infections to set up shop, not leaving without a determined effort from an effective antibacterial combatant. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/15 "2013-05-17T15:01:39Z")
> [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](#): > > I guess I’m speaking only medically. When I’m describing rashes on the face, I only mean that crack (where I also get annoying zits) when I write something like “rash spares nasolabial folds.” Do you write headlines? ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/16 "2013-05-17T19:13:53Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Do you write headlines? Headlines about headlines! ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/17 "2013-05-17T20:56:37Z")
> [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](#): > > Headlines about headlines! 😃 took me a while to see the meta. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/18 "2013-05-17T23:36:51Z")
I think MALAR may be the word you’re looking for. The top picture [here](http://www.defyinglupus.com/malar-butterfly-rash/) illustrates the _malar_ rush of lupus. [Here](http://lupoid.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/malar-rash.jpg?w=614)’s a similar pic. ---
**Author:** ![Baxter\_s\_Dad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@Baxter\_s\_Dad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baxter_s_Dad)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-area-of-the-face-where-the-nose-connects-with-the-face/651065/19 "2013-05-18T05:08:40Z")
To answer the OP’s original question, your MD could care less if you call it the Proper Medical Term when you see him. Just show him the affected area and share your concerns. I agree with the post suggesting additional hygiene at night before you go to sleep. Apply a good astringent using a Q-tip. Scrub hard.