Although the nose is a small organ, it is centrally located and subject to scrutiny. A number of skin disorders primarily affect the nose, causing potentially embarrassing lesions. Some people have turned their nasal maladies to advantage, using them to make a statement about life.
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan was treated for a basal cell carcinoma on the nose. At a White House briefing, he pointed to a small Band-Aid on his nose and said: “This is just a small billboard that says…‘stay out of the sun.’”1 His remarks helped raise public awareness about the rising epidemic of skin cancer in the United States.