Even after regularly following the skin cleansing routine, many people get dry skin on the nose and nasal passages. The area surrounding the nose does not necessarily respond to your skin hydration routine, and you feel your nose is dry for many reasons. So what is the cause behind and how to deal with nose dryness? Let’s find out!
What Makes the Skin Around the Nose Dry?
Your nose is the primary source for intaking the surrounding air into your body with its inhaling and exhaling mechanism. The mucous inside your nose remains moist during the summertime as there is a lot of moisture to absorb from the surrounding. However, the mucus tends to dry during winter with less humidity. This dryness leads to nose dryness.
Climatic change is not the only reason behind nose skin flakiness. There are various other non-apparent reasons involved behind. After following a stringent skincare routine, people still get a dry nose which significantly shows how differently the nose skin may work even after regular cleansing and moisturizing.
Let’s look into the various reasons for dry skin around the nose.
Environmental Conditions
The human skin can protect itself by secreting natural oils known as sebum that creates a protective layer against the penetration of harsh outside agents. When the environment gets harsh, the pollutants start affecting the skin barrier. While applying a moisturizer or cleanser on your skin to keep it hydrated and plump, the skin around your nose may not respond. The cold and harsh air conditions also result in a runny and dry nose, which is very much common among those living in cold regions.
Allergic Reaction
Since the nose directly absorbs and intakes the outside air into your body, if you have any specific allergy, nose blowing in such conditions may lead to skin flakiness around the nose. The nose skin gets chapped and irritates.
Using Too-Dry Skin Care Products
The skin around the nose is comparatively thin, so if you use any too-dry skincare product, your nose’s moisture barrier might be disturbed. Skincare products that have dry consistency often lead to the formation of tiny cracks. The moisture escapes out of these invisible cracks leaving skin excessively dry. The harsh cleaners and alcohol-based toners are not suitable for dry skin, and using any of these may result in chapped skin surrounding the nose.
Too Much Exfoliation
Exfoliation works great for the skin, but if you have a dry nose and you apply chemical or physical exfoliants to get rid of it, you might end up worsening your skin. Over-exfoliation causes damage to the skin and affects the skin cells, and even under harsh conditions, it may lead to destroying the skin moisture barrier.
Dehydration
The main cause of dry skin and nose is the lack of hydration. This is why during the winters, when a human body consumes less water, it causes visible skin dryness. If the dehydration continues, you will see flaky skin around the nose.
Using too Much Tissue Paper
When using a tissue or paper towel to blow your nose. There are some chances of your nose catching the tissue residues, which cause severe irritation. Using tissue more frequently can even affect the moisture inside of the nose, and if you have sensitive skin around your nose, frequent skin contact with the tissue will result in severe dryness.
Hot Showers
Hot showers can be really soothing and comforting for the body, but on the other side, they can cause extreme dryness to your skin, including the nose. If you are taking long hot showers, it might result in your nose starting to flake.
Aging
The oil glands start depleting when the human body ages, resulting in itchy skin. With aging, a person starts witnessing thinner skin with a delicate moisture barrier contributing to dry skin and nose.
How to Effectively Heal Dry Skin Around the Nose?
The dry skin around the nose can be frustrating, especially when you have to blow it frequently in public. However, you can treat a dry nose by following a few tips.
Use Products that Contain Glycerol
Glycerol is an amazing substance for locking the moisture inside the skin for long hours. It strengthens the moisture barrier, and with its antimicrobial properties, it helps in wound healing. During cold and harsh climatic conditions, when the skin lacks enough moisture level, applying glycerol can be really helpful in increasing the skin moisture. If you get a red nose, you may also apply glycerol in its pure form, as it helps you eliminate dry skin effectively.
Avoid Over-Exfoliation
Skin exfoliation has a lot of skin benefits; however, dermatologists may recommend not exfoliating the skin when it is dry. Since the skin around the nose is thin, harsh exfoliation may worsen the skin condition. Avoid exfoliation or scrubbing the dry skin until it gets repaired, as any chemical reaction may lead to skin and nose dryness.
Apply Sunscreen with SPF Above 30
Since the UV rays damage the skin enormously, it is recommended to apply a broad-based sunscreen as it contains emollients to protect and nourish your skin. While choosing your sunscreen, make sure that it contains SFP 30 or above and has peptides and ceramides to keep your skin supple. Applying a good SPF can greatly moisturize the area if you have dry skin around the nose.
Using a Humidifier
When the environment has less humidity level, it affects your sinuses, leading to nasal congestion. It causes dryness on the skin around the nose. To combat dryness, it is recommended to use a humidifier that keeps indoors moist and helps you breathe safely. Breathing in clean and humid air that results from a humidifier help to repair your nose from dryness and flakiness.
Take a Steamy Shower
A steamy shower is great for relaxing the body. Spending a few minutes in the sauna can be great for your nasal passage and helps you control skin dryness and clean your nasal passage from all the congestion.
Use Facial Tissues
The frequent rubbing and blowing of the nose using tissue or toilet paper contributes to skin dryness. Always use tissues that are made for the skin and have a lotion that fights skin dryness and does not cause the nose to get flaked. The tissues which are meant to be used on the face contain shea butter, Vitamin E, and aloe extracts, so your nose might not get dry while using these tissues.
Stop Nose Picking
Many people have the habit of picking their noses. Frequently doing it can disturb the nasal passage and the moisture barrier. By controlling yourself from nose picking, you can allow your nose to regain its moisture. Also, when a person puts his fingers into the nose without realizing it, it can even lead to bacterial invasion and irritation.
Using Natural Oils
Natural oils such as jojoba, coconut, olive, and almond oil have anti-inflammatory properties, which help the skin regain its natural moisture barrier. If you have a dry nose, you may apply any of these oils after washing and drying your face. The natural oil helps your skin stay softer and keep it hydrated.
When to See a Doctor?
A dry nose is not a serious health concern and there are various ways to tackle it. But if you feel that the skin around your nose is flaking all the time and causes you pain, you need to consult a doctor as this may relate to some underlying health issues. Consuming skin-friendly products and home remedies can be great to treat dry skin but under some conditions, nothing works effectively to heal the dry skin. The only solution left is the proper consultation from your health care expert.
Bottom line
Nose dryness may occur due to cold, viral infection, aging, or certain environmental factors. When you start feeling redness or dryness in your nose or on the skin surrounding it, its time to be careful about the reason behind it. If you follow a proper skincare routine, your skin remains moisturized, and you attain healthy-looking and youthful skin that stays for longer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is dry skin called in its clinical term?
The clinical name for dry skin is ‘xerosis.’
- Does Vaseline help dry skin on the nose?
Vaseline is a great product to moisturize the skin. Applying a thin layer of Vaseline on the skin around the nose can help to lock moisture for many hours.
- Seborrheic Dermatitis: What is it?
It is characterized by oily skin with dry patches around the nose, behind the ears, and sometimes around the eyebrows caused by seborrheic dermatitis.
- Why is my nose crusty?
The crusty nose is due to the abnormal mucus production that forms large crusts inside the nose. These crusts may interfere with the regular breathing routine till you pull these crusts out.
- How to control the redness around the nose?
The redness around the nose can be controlled by applying a good moisturizer and nourishing oils with organic extracts.
- How long does the skin redness last?
It depends upon the skin texture of each individual. However, if you are using the right products, the dry skin around the nose will be improved in 8 to 10 days.
- What is eczema?
Eczema, also termed as Atopic Dermatitis, is the condition that causes itchy, dry, and inflamed skin that can be long-lasting. It is non-contagious and can occur in people of any age.
- Which is the best food to improve overall skin health?
Food rich in omega-3 and antioxidants can improve the skin’s overall health.
John Davis is a passionate content writer with a knack for crafting engaging narratives across various subjects. With a keen eye for detail and a love for storytelling, John brings ideas to life through the power of words. His dedication to delivering high-quality and informative content has made him a trusted voice in the digital realm. When he’s not at his desk, you’ll find John exploring new hobbies and seeking inspiration in the world around him.
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