It is not uncommon for people to experience dry skin on or around their nose. This can be quite uncomfortable as it might be hard to conceal dry skin with makeup, and it might end up looking very unflattering. Additionally, if not treated, dry skin will flake off, and this will only make the situation worse. Dry and cold weather conditions only aggravate the condition of your skin and make it even more dehydrated and harder to manage. This article will help you to understand the reason you have to deal with dry skin on your nose, and gives some guidelines regarding how to go about getting rid of it.
Why do I experience dry skin on and around my nose?
Before you figure out what is the best way to treat the dry skin around your nose, it is essential first to understand what is the cause behind it in the first place. There might be a lot of factors or a combination of them which are responsible for causing the skin around your nose to become dry and flaky. Some of these reasons are as follows:
- If the weather around you is colder with less moisture content in the air, your skin is very likely to dry out. It is especially vulnerable to the weather if you fail to provide it with any form of protection against it.
- When the weather outside is colder, people often tend to take long, hot baths. Relief from stress, relaxation and rejuvenation might be some other reasons you choose to bathe with very hot water. But this can completely dry out your skin because it strips it of its natural oils and moisture.
- As much as external conditions in your environment can dry out your skin, intrinsic factors such as your water intake, also significantly affect the dryness of your skin. The more replenished the water content inside your body is, the more hydrated your skin will be.
- If you already have dry skin, then you are naturally more prone to have flaky skin on your nose due to the generally dry texture of your skin. Not picking the correct moisturizer suitable to your dry skin can worsen its condition.
- If you recently caught a cold and were consequently stuck with an excessively runny nose for a while, you might experience dry skin around your nose. And when you repeatedly rub a tissue around your nose to wipe it, the skin around it might end up becoming flaky and inflamed which causes discomfort.
- Dry skin around your nose might be a sign of you growing in age. As we become older, our skin ages and with time, it becomes thinner and also loses its capacity to maintain its water content, and this can cause it to become dry.
- If you use harsh cosmetic products that contain a lot of harmful chemicals, your skin might end up becoming quite dry. Additionally, washing your face too many times a day can irritate the skin on your nose and make it dry and flaky.
How do I treat and remove the dry skin around my nose?
Now that you have built a better understanding of what might be causing the dry skin around your nose, here are some tips on how to remove it and prevent such a condition in the future.
1. Exfoliate as necessary
The most important thing that you need to do, is to remove the dead and dry flakes of skin that have formed around your nose or they might clog up your pores and attract germs. For this, you can use a mild exfoliating treatment that gently removes the top layer of your skin and reveals the newer, healthier skin underneath. This will be the most effective way to prevent and deal with all of the dead skin that might have piled up on or around your nose. There are many ways using which you can exfoliate your skin, and some of them are given below:
Physical Exfoliators:
You can use tiny objects to scrub away the dead skin around your nose gently. There are many choices when it comes to physical scrubs which are available in the form of a variety of scrubs available as skincare products. You can use a scrub suitable to your skin type one time a week to obtain the best results in the removal of the dead skin.
Chemical Exfoliators:
Instead of microscopic objects, you may even choose to remove the dead skin using chemicals instead of microscopic scrubbing agents. Although you might feel that exposing your skin to chemicals might have some side-effects on it, remember that most chemical exfoliators from reliable brands are quite safe to use. Additionally, they can help you avoid the abrasive damage caused to your skin by rubbing tiny scrubbing agents against it.
If you are sceptical about using these products on your skin, you can always opt for a homemade exfoliating agent. Things that you can easily find around the house such as oatmeal, sugar and even salt, are good exfoliating agents and can help you get rid of the dead skin around your nose. Just mix them up in some honey or milk and apply the mixture on your nos. Gently massage your skin to scrub away the layer of dry cells on the surface of your skin. But over-exfoliating may also damage the skin and dehydrate it. So, always make are that you do not exfoliate your skin more than once in seven days and do not use any exfoliating treatment too roughly on your skin.
2. Stop using excessively hot water to wash your face
Long baths with hot water can really help you relax and calm your nerves but it takes a toll on your skin. If it is exposed to water at higher temperatures for too long, it can end up being dry, stripped of natural oils and itchy. Even when you are washing your face, the water that you are using must not be too hot so as to irritate it or too cold so as to be ineffective at removing the dirt. Use very slightly warm water to wash your face and do not wash your face for longer than a minute as this might remove the moisture content of the skin and aggravate the dryness. Make sure that your cleaner is very gentle and suits your skin type. Instead of directly applying the product to your face, it is always recommended first to take it in your hands, create some lather and then apply it to your face. After you are done rinsing the cleanser off, do not rub your faced dry with a washcloth but rather gently tap it dry with a soft towel.
3. Make sure that your skincare products do not accumulate near your nose
Sometimes, if a cosmetic or skincare product is applied or removed incorrectly, it can be the reason behind dry skin on your nose. If you use a heavy foundation liquid, a retinoid or an acne cream on your face, it is natural for a thicker layer to gather and accumulate in the folds of the unreachable corners of the nose. If the product being applied is quite strong, having an overly thick layer of it on a certain part of your skin might have adverse effects. Additionally, even when you are removing these products before sleeping, if you do not cleanse your skin properly and thoroughly, they are very likely to remain stuck in their crevices and show their effects on the skin of your nose for a longer, unwanted period of time as you sleep. Hence, be very careful while applying or removing skincare products and make sure that they do not accumulate around the sides of your nose to prevent it from getting dried and flaky.
4. Apply moisturizers as soon as you wash your face
Whenever you cleanse your face, the product removes all the natural oils and the moisture content of your skin. In fact, your skin loses its moisture content as soon as three minutes after having washed your face. To avoid this, you should apply moisturizer evenly on your skin, especially on the area near your nose each time you wash your face. If you already have dry or sensitive skin, try for going with a cream or an ointment based moisturizer instead of using a lotion-based one as the former is more effective are less likely to cause irritation.
5. Use coconut oil to hydrate
Coconut oil is a great moisturizing agent. It contains many saturated fatty acids that have emollient properties which can smoothen the rough surface of your dry skin by filling in the spaces caused by the flakes. It can be applied generously on your nose from time to time at several points in the day since it is completely natural and safe to use on sensitive skin too with no risk of side effects. You may add some other essential oils if you wish to add some fragrance, but the coconut oil can be very effective on its own too. Use it every day to get back hydrated, healthier and smoother skin in no time at all!
6. Use steam to fight dead skin cells
Using steam to treat dry skin on your nose and face can prove to be quite effective in removing it and being very relaxing, it can also relieve you of the stress that your dry skin might have caused you. Steam can gently unclog all the dead skin cells that might have accumulated on your face and can exfoliate them very gently without the need for any harsh scrubbing or chemical exposure. Additionally, it will open up your pores, hydrate your skin, and leave behind a beautiful glow after you use it. You can always use a steaming machine that is specially designed for skincare for this purpose, but even if you do not have one and are hesitating to invest in it, you need not worry. Here are two ways that you can use to steam your face without requiring any fancy equipment in the comfort of your homes.
Use a hot towel:
This is the easiest method to steam your face. Warm some water and place it in a wide container. Make sure that the water is not too hot, or you might end up with damage on your skin. Now soak a towel in hot water and let it sit on your face for ten minutes.
Use a bucket:
This method is a lot more effective than the hot towel method even though it might not be as convenient. In a shallow bucket or a big bowl, fill some hot water and place your face above it. Let the vapours coming from the liquid permeate your skin well for about five to ten minutes and relax while the steam gets to work on the dry skin on your nose.
7. Use unscented skin products
Sometimes a product’s natural aroma might not be very attractive or pleasant. Hence, cosmetic products often contained added chemicals such as aldehydes and benzene derivatives that induce fragrance and have an aromatic appeal. It is better to prefer unscented products over one with added fragrance as the latter can irritate people with sensitive skin. They might also have additional side effects, cause allergic reactions and may end up drying out your skin on your face with increased use over time.
8. Use face masks to soothe your skin
Once you have exfoliated all the dead skin on your face and cleansed it thoroughly, you can opt for a face mask to soothe and rejuvenate it. If you don’t feel like going to the spa to get the procedure professionally done, or even going to the store to pick up some face masks, you can always make yourself a face mask at home. This can prove to be more effective as you can customize the ingredients based on your skin problems and the type of kin that you have. Here are great ideas on ingredients to create DIY face masks right after you have removed the dead skin on your nose:
- Aloe Vera: It has great medicinal and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Cucumber: It replenishes vitamins and minerals in the skin and is great for the summers.
- Yoghurt: It is an excellent exfoliating and cleansing agent.
- Papaya: It can replenish your face with the lost moisture.
- Turmeric: It can even out the skin tone and leaves behind a beautiful afterglow.