1. Underlying Skin Conditions
If the skin around your nose is consistently flaky, dry, and itchy, it is possible that you have an underlying skin condition like seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis can lead to white, powdery or yellow, greasy scaling, and redness on many facial sites, including the creases around the nose (1). This is one of the most common causes of localized dryness on the creases of the nose.
2. Environmental Factors
The environment you live in has a major impact on your skin health. Exposure to environmental pollutants like dust, debris, and chemicals, changing weather conditions, and, most commonly, UV rays can cause serious skin issues in people, especially those with fair and/or sensitive skin (2). A sunburn, or decades of sun exposure, on your nose may cause dry, flaky spots on the nose that just don’t go away, which can lead to more serious problems if untreated. These spots tend to be small and remain constant or always recur in the same location.
3. Allergies Or Colds
While allergies and colds can strike at any time of the year, they are more likely to flare up during the colder months. Constantly blowing your nose and wiping it with a tissue can leave the skin around it reddish and sore. Lots of nose blowing can irritate the delicate skin around the nose and make it more susceptible to drying and peeling.
4. Skin Care Products
The products you use on your skin can be detrimental to its health if not chosen carefully or used properly. Harsh ingredients in products like face washes, scrubs, and exfoliating creams can dry out your skin, leading to inflammation and irritation. Some anti-acne products, such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, retinol, adapalene, and tretinoin, can strip away the moisturizing oils from your skin leading to skin irritation. This leaves it dry and flaky, especially around the nose. Using products with ingredients that you may be allergic to can also lead to similar problems, although this tends to itch.
5. Dehydration
Not drinking enough water has an impact on your overall health, including your skin. If your water intake is low for a few days, it is less likely to affect your skin. However, remaining dehydrated for long periods of time can lead to dry, dull skin. For those prone to dry skin around the nose, general dehydration can cause the issue to flare up, but this is rarely the cause of localized skin dryness. Now that you know what can cause dry skin around the nose, let us look at a few remedies to heal the same.
10 Effective Tips And Remedies To Heal Dry Skin Around The Nose
Experiencing dry skin around the nose can be quite distressing, but this condition is usually treatable with some simple tips and remedies. Explore these easy and effective options to heal dry, peeling skin.
1. Stop Using Harsh Products
Develop a habit of reading the ingredient lists of all the skin care products you buy. Some beauty bloggers feel that products with irritating or exfoliating ingredients like scrubs, alpha hydroxy acids, retinol, or alcohol-based products can make the delicate skin around your nose dry and flaky. They also recommend ditching facial scrubs. Always do a small patch test while trying a new product and be extremely careful when it comes to the creams, lotions, and face washes you use. For those with normal or dry skin, avoid irritating or drying products.
2. Use Products With Glycerol
To soothe dry, flaky skin, use creams with nourishing ingredients like glycerol. It is a hydrating substance that forms a protective barrier on the skin and helps lock in the moisture. Glycerol also has antimicrobial properties and accelerates the process of wound healing, thus giving you relief from itchiness and redness (3). You can also buy pure glycerol and use it to make DIY moisturizers and serums. When the humidity levels drop in the air, the skin tends to get drier, and moisturizing becomes even more important.
3. Stay Hydrated
As stated earlier, general dehydration over a prolonged period can make your skin more prone to developing skin conditions. Ensure you drink adequate amounts of fluids, especially if you live in arid regions known for their harsh summers.
4. Use A Nasal Spray For Allergies And Colds
Constantly blowing your nose and wiping it with tissues can leave the skin on and around it tender and sore, making it dry and more prone to peeling. Use a suitable nasal spray to manage your allergies and decongest your nose so that you don’t have to blow your nose often. Always consult a doctor in case of severe allergies, and do not self-medicate.
5. Invest In A Humidifier
For those living in arid regions where the air is dry and the humidity is low, it is a good idea to invest in a humidifier. Harsh weather conditions in such regions can wreak havoc with your skin and lead to multiple skin issues, including dry skin around the nose. A humidifier will keep the air inside the house moist and help alleviate the symptoms of allergies. It will also help your skin stay hydrated and protect it from getting chapped due to the heat.
6. Use Products With Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
Chronically dry skin is damaged skin. To heal the dry, flaky skin around your nose, you need to pamper it with moisturizing and nourishing products. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one such ingredient known for its regenerative, wound healing, and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce dry skin (4). It pulls water from the air to hydrate the skin. Therefore, it should be used only when in humid environments. Gels, creams, lotions, and serums with HA are easily available in the market.
7. Use Sunscreen
The sun’s harmful UV rays and other environmental pollutants can be a major factor contributing to dry skin around the nose and mouth. Sunburns on the area near the nose can exacerbate into painful bumps and powdery scales if left untreated. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every time you step out to protect your skin against sunburns (5). Any existing damage, such as pre-cancerous growths or skin cancer, will not go away with sunscreen, but regular sunscreen use will reduce the risk of further damage.
8. Revamp Your Diet
What you eat has a direct impact on your skin health. To keep your skin supple and ward off dryness, consider consuming foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds are a few rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids that hydrate and soften your skin if consumed regularly. Flaxseed oil, especially, has been shown to reduce skin scaling, skin roughness, and dryness (6). Also, don’t forget to include loads of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.
9. Pamper Your Skin More In The Winters
During winters, your skin loses moisture easily and can become itchy and flaky if you do not protect it. If you have dry skin around the nose, your issue will likely become more severe in the winters. Ensure that you take good care of your skin and health in general when it is colder. Eat nourishing foods and drink lots of warm herbal teas to soothe your throat and keep allergies at bay. Pamper the skin around your nose with rich, moisturizing creams to prevent it from drying out.
10. Use Natural Remedies
Plant oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, olive oil, and sesame oil have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that are good for repairing the skin barrier and promoting healing (7). Wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser. Pat, it dry and massage a few drops of any of these oils on the skin around your nose to keep it soft and smooth. There are many remedies for treating dry skin around the nose. However, how long do you need to wait before seeing visible improvement? Find out below.
How Long Does Dry Skin Around The Nose Take To Heal?
Unless the dry skin and flaky scales on the skin around your nose are caused by an underlying medical issue, you can expect to see visible improvement within 8-10 days of using the right products. For sustained improvement in your skin condition, continue the treatment regularly for at least 3-4 months. Be sure to adopt a holistic, healthy lifestyle as well. In case your problem is chronic and/or recurs, it may be the result of an underlying medical condition, and only your doctor can advise you about the right treatment. In this case, it may take a few months to see visible results. There are a few things you can do to prevent dry skin around your nose. Check them out in the next section.
10 Easy Tips For Preventing Dry Skin Around Your Nose
Taking a few precautions can help you keep the skin around your nose from drying out and becoming itchy. Here is what you need to keep in mind.
Don’t use face powder if the skin around your nose is prone to drying out. Avoid taking showers that are longer than 15 minutes as it can dry out your skin. Use lukewarm water while showering as hot water can make your skin dry. Use sunscreen with a high SPF if you are spending time near reflective surfaces such as water, snow, or ice. Remember that some medications can make your skin more sensitive to sunburn, causing dry skin around the nose. Use a moisturizing facial mist regularly to keep your skin hydrated. Avoid frequent exfoliating or irritating products. Use gentle, pH-balanced skin care products. Adopt a healthy lifestyle for overall better skin health. Don’t forget to remove makeup with an oil-based makeup remover and thoroughly cleanse your face before sleeping.
Does Vaseline help dry skin? Yes, vaseline is a good moisturizer that can help dry skin lock in moisture. How do you fix the redness around your nose? This depends on the cause of the redness around your nose. If it is due to weather or sunburn, you can use gentle moisturizers around your nose. If the redness is due to a skin condition or infection, consult your doctor for further treatment. Can you put Vaseline on the outside of your nose? Yes, you can use Vaseline on the outside of your nose. Ensure that you do not use Vaseline inside your nose.
