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Dry Skin Around The Nose: Causes, Treatment, And Prevention
08/15/20238 min read
Dry skin around the nose can be one of the most frustrating skincare problems. You might also be confused about why your nose region is dry while the skin on the rest of your face is healthy-looking.
Today, we’ll try to clear up your confusion and help you clear up that problem area around your nose by explaining what might be causing the dry skin, steps you can take to correct it, and what you can do to prevent it from coming back.
Table Of Contents
- Understanding Your Skin
- Causes Of Dry Skin Around The Nose
- Treating Dry Skin Around The Nose
- Preventing Dry Skin Around Your Nose
Understanding Your Skin
The first step to addressing any skin issue is understanding your skin. The most important thing to know is that not all skin is the same. Skin varies from person to person, and even on individual people, skin has different qualities depending on the part of the body.
First, we should distinguish between dry skin, which is a skin type, and dehydrated skin, which is a skin condition. Some people have naturally drier skin than others because their skin produces less oil.
While people with a naturally drier skin type may not suffer any ill effects normally, they still might have patches of uncomfortably dry skin appear on certain parts of the body as a result of irritants or environmental triggers.
People with “combination” skin have some areas that are dry and some areas that are more oily. If you have this skin type, it’s entirely possible you may struggle with dry skin around your nose while trying to fix oily skin on another part of your body.
Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is the result of your skin not having enough moisture. Various causes might be to blame for leaching the moisture out of the skin around your nose, or it could be a symptom of your body being dehydrated overall.
One more thing we need to talk about is the “T-zone.” You might have heard that the skin on this area of your face — the forehead, nose, and chin — tends to be oily. Why, then, is the skin around your nose so dry?
In some people, the large number of oil-emitting pores on and around the nose produce so much oil that it triggers flare-ups of conditions like rosacea and dermatitis, making the area appear dry and reddish
Causes Of Dry Skin Around The Nose
Now that you understand skin types and why certain areas (like your nose) can have skin problems while the rest of your skin is healthy, we need to figure out what’s specifically causing your dry skin.
The causes of dry skin around the nose can vary, but they generally fall into one of three categories: skin conditions, environmental factors, and irritating substances coming in contact with your face.
Skin Conditions
If you find yourself in the frustrating position of having to deal with dry skin around your nose that keeps coming back again and again, the source of your problem might be an underlying skin condition.
One possibility is rosacea. This is a chronic, genetically caused condition that often results in redness or dryness of the nose and cheeks.
Another common skin condition that might cause dryness around your nose is seborrheic dermatitis. This is the adult version of the condition commonly referred to as “cradle cap” in babies and can cause scaly, irritated patches.
Lastly, eczema is one of the most common skin conditions. It weakens your skin’s natural barrier function, which is supposed to seal in moisture and keep irritants out, and can lead to dry, itchy, bumpy skin.
Environmental Factors
Even if you have perfectly healthy skin from a medical standpoint, the environment where you live, work, and play can still lead to problems. The skin on your face is especially susceptible to harsh environmental conditions because it’s almost always exposed.
In the winter, bitter cold and icy winds can dry out the skin around your nose. In the summer, ultraviolet rays from the sun can damage your skin and leave it dry and peeling even if you don’t notice the redness and soreness usually associated with a sunburn.
If you find that you usually experience dry skin around your nose during periods of extreme temperatures or when there’s been a radical change in temperature, it just might be the weather that’s to blame.
Irritants
The last category of dry nose skin culprits is irritants: things your face comes in direct contact with that have thrown off your skin’s natural balance.
Some irritants are fairly obvious. For example, if you’ve had a cold or flu and you’ve had to blow or wipe your nose a lot, your nose and the area around it can get rubbed raw, and the dryness can linger even after you’re feeling better.
Other sources of facial skin irritation aren’t so easy to figure out, though. In fact, they may be hiding in the very products you use to try to keep your face looking fresh and beautiful.
Artificial fragrances, colors, and preservatives used in many beauty products might trigger an allergic reaction that damages the delicate skin on your face.
Treating Dry Skin Around The Nose
See A Doctor
If you chronically struggle with dried-out, flaky, scaly skin around and on your nose, you consult with a medical professional to either diagnose or eliminate medical conditions as the cause of the issue.
Manage Skin Conditions
Taking care of any skin conditions you suffer from can help you get rid of dry skin on and around your nose.
For example, if you have eczema, our Eczema Daily Calming Cream is a great way to help relieve eczema itch and irritation and keep your skin hydrated to help prevent future flare-ups.
Care For Your Skin Regularly
If you aren’t already doing so, get into a regular routine of moisturizing and exfoliating. You can moisturize in the morning and evening.
Make sure you pick a moisturizer product that suits your skin type and is free from allergens and ingredients like dioxane and alcohol, which can make dry skin around your nose worse.
Exfoliating doesn’t need to be done as often. If you exfoliate too much, you may rub your skin raw. Once a week is enough to help clear out the old, dead skin cells that your body is regularly replacing with new ones.
Consider Your Shower Routine
You might be tempted to spend more time in the shower with your face under the water to treat dry skin around your nose, but be careful. Long, hot showers can actually irritate and dehydrate the skin on your face even more.
Preventing Dry Skin Around Your Nose
Choose Skincare Products Wisely
One of the best ways to help prevent recurring problems with dry skin around your nose or anywhere on your face is to pay more attention to what’s in the products you use on your face.
As we’ve mentioned, many cosmetics and cleansers contain harsh ingredients that can have a negative effect on your skin’s hydration, trigger allergic reactions, or cause flare-ups if you suffer from conditions like eczema.
If you think a particular product might be causing your dry facial skin issues, remove one product at a time from your routine and see if you notice a change. To be safe, stick to products with hydrating ingredients from trusted brands like Bodewell.
Be Weather-Aware
If you get dry skin because of the weather, take special care to protect yourself.
Don’t forget sunscreen during the summer, and cover your face as much as possible with a soft scarf if you have to go out in the bitter cold. A home humidifier can also help if you live in an arid climate.
Try Nasal Spray When You’re Sick
If you tend to get raw, irritated skin on and around your nose when you’re sick, consider trying a nasal spray. This can help you get relief from congestion without the skin irritation of repeatedly blowing and wiping your nose.
Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes
If the dry skin around your nose is being caused by general dehydration, simple lifestyle changes can make a difference.
Up your water intake, reduce diuretics like caffeine and alcohol, and try eating more foods rich in omega-3 and antioxidants, like fish and green tea.
Put Your Best Face Forward With Bodewell
Dealing with dry skin around the nose can be particularly tricky. The skin on this area of your face is especially susceptible to skin problems because it’s almost always exposed.
To manage the problem, you need to understand your skin and carefully consider the possible causes, from irritating beauty products to dehydration to underlying skin conditions.
If you suffer from eczema, you can count on Bodewell to help keep your skin hydrated to minimize the frequency and severity of flare-ups and dry skin.
Check back with us on the Bodewell blog regularly for more skincare tips!
Sources
The American Academy of Dermatology Association The Cleveland Clinic The Mayo Clinic
