Okay this is rather a painful issue.

Literally.

I get painful spots and boils on the inside of my nostrils. They are very red and can make the whole side of my nose look swollen and infected. They throb and are extremely uncomfortable as well as ugly.

My friend suggested stabbing a pin into the inside of my nose but I think that's ridiculous, however when they really get bad I find myself considering it.

I dip a cotton bug in TCP and dab it up my nose onto the spots but to seemingly no affect.

What should I do? Has anyone else had this before?

It sounds like you have pimples in your nostrils. Please do not stab your nostrils with a pin. To treat pimples in your nostrils, clean your nose with warm water, and take a q-tip and dip into a toner designed for acne prone skin and apply it to the problem areas. If you don't see any improvement, please consult a dermatologist for treatment.

I agree with the above, ask about Benaclinze as well, it has worked well for me.