I used a soap that had Vaseline and then my nose reacted terribly. Why?

Doug, it may be the vaseline that your skin reacted to, as vaseline is comedogenic (pore-clogging). Another possibility is that the soap could have been too harsh or drying and irritated your skin, causing inflammation known as dermatitis. Or you could be allergic to an ingredient of the soap. Fragrance or perfume is the most common cause of skin allergies. It's present even in some skin care products labeled as unscented, which may contain  "masking fragrance" to hide the smell of the other ingredients without actually imparting a detectable scent to the product. If the rash on your nose persists despite stopping use of the soap, I recommend you consult a board certified dermatologist for the appropriate treatment. You might also consider having a patch test, a needle-free test to determine whether you are allergic to fragrance, preservatives (such as quaternium) or a number of other components of skin care products that your skin probably comes in contact with on a regular basis.

Hope this helps!

Dr. Hema