Picture this: You’re dolled up for a Friday night, ready for that long-overdue night out with your besties. You look in the mirror one last time. Suddenly, there’s a pesky dry patch right smack dab on the middle of your face. It’s flaky and red, and it’s totally cramping your style.
But don’t worry you’re not alone. Dry, flaky skin around the nose is far more common than you think and it doesn’t just affect your appearance. It’s itchy, irritating, and even painful to an extent.
Here’s a guide to understanding the causes of this problem, its triggers, and some effective solutions to achieve a smoother, flake-free nose area.
What’s Causing The Dryness And Flakiness?
Before discussing the treatments, let’s first cover why the dryness tends to settle right around the nose area. Understanding the culprits can help you make smarter choices about your lifestyle habits and skincare routine:
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors play a huge role in causing dryness and flakiness around your nose. Cold, dry weather and harsh winds can strip your skin of its natural moisture barrier. This leaves the delicate section around your nose vulnerable to dehydration and consequently, peeling.
Similarly, low humidity in indoor spaces (often due to central heating or air conditioning) can further contribute to dryness.
Let’s also not forget the impact of seasonal allergies; the friction produced through frequent blowing and exposure to harsh tissues can irritate and dry out your skin.
Skin Conditions
Sometimes, the problem is due to an underlying and undiagnosed skin condition. Eczema, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis are common causes manifesting inflammation. They can disrupt your skin’s natural barrier function, leading to dryness, redness, itching, and even scaling around the entire face, not just your nose.
If you suspect a skin condition might be the reason for dryness and flakiness, it’s best to seek advice from a dermatologist who can diagnose the issue and recommend treatments to soothe and manage it.
Poor Skincare Habits
Is there such a thing as loving your skin too much? There is. Good skincare is essential, but admit it- sometimes you can get a little overboard with your cleansing and product choices. And you’re none the wiser when your nose starts drying and flaking off.
- Over-cleansing: Using facial cleansers too frequently, especially with hot water and harsh soaps strips the skin of its natural oils. This leaves it prone to flaking.
- Irritating Ingredients: Some skincare products that contain alcohol, fragrances, or harsh exfoliants can trigger dryness and irritation. We recommend switching to gentle, fragrance-free products formulated for sensitive skin, especially when dealing with the delicate nose area.
If your nose starts feeling the effects of a skincare routine gone overboard, don’t worry! It’s never too late to make gentle adjustments and give your skin the TLC it deserves.
Pro Tips To Help You Tackle Dry, Flaky Skin
Here are some practical solutions to bid farewell to that pesky dryness and flakiness around your nose
1. Cleanse With Kindness
The operative word is gentleness. Choose a mild, fragrance-free cleanser that won’t strip the natural oils of your skin. As much as possible, steer clear of harsh soaps or cleansers containing alcohol or other irritants to avoid worsening the dryness.
Another tip: when washing your face, use lukewarm water instead of hot water (which can also be drying). And instead of rubbing your face to dry, pat dry it with a soft towel.
2. Hydrate Your Skin
Hydration is your best friend when it comes to dry, flaky skin around your nose. Keep it well-moisturised and allow it to replenish its natural moisture barrier to prevent flakiness. Here are some tips to amp up your hydration game:
- Moisturise: Apply a rich emollient moisturiser several times daily after cleansing or showering. Look for products that contain hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or shea butter.
- Consider a Humidifier: If you live in a dry climate or spend a lot of time indoors with air conditioning or central heating, a humidifier helps add moisture to the area and prevent the skin from drying out.
- Humectant Serums: A hydrating serum can be a great addition to your skincare routine. Humectants refer to moisture-retaining substances great not only for drying but also for wrinkling and sagging skin. Most hydrating serums contain high concentrations of hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA which attract and hold water. This extra moisture boost can plump up the dry and flaky area around the nose, and restore a healthy, dewy glow.
- Facial Mists: A quick spritz of hydrating facial mist throughout the day refreshes and hydrates the skin, especially in dry or air-conditioned environments.
- Overnight Hydration: Consider putting on a hydrating overnight mask before you sleep to deliver intense hydration to the area around your nose.
3. Exfoliation
Exfoliating gently whisks away the dead cells that still cling to your skin’s surface and cause flakiness. But again, don’t over-exfoliate, as it could strip away your skin’s natural oils, making the dryness even worse.
We recommend our Cosmetic Grade Peels. These penetrate deeply into the skin’s layers and can treat common skin concerns, like dryness or flaking, sun damage, uneven skin tone and texture, redness and rosacea, and wrinkles.
For dry, flaky skin around your nose, try our AHA Enzymatic Micro Peel & LED which harnesses the benefits of fruit enzymes to remove dead skin cells.
Our Skin Therapists will recommend a plan that works best for your needs, but it’s generally recommended to space out our Cosmetic-Grade Peel treatments at monthly intervals.
4. Lifestyle Tweaks For A Healthy, Flake-Free Nose
Targeted skincare products and treatments are crucial, but lifestyle habits also play a role in keeping your skin healthy and hydrated.
Protecting your skin from harsh weather goes a long way in preventing dryness or flakiness.
When stepping outside in the cold, for example, try bundling up in a scarf to shield your delicate facial skin. You should also resist the urge to touch or pick around your nose area, to avoid irritating the skin.
Be consistent with gentle cleansing and moisturising techniques in your skincare routine to keep it healthy and flake-free.
When To See A Dermatologist
While the tips and remedies we’ve discussed can be effective for mild cases of flaking and dryness, sometimes professional help is necessary.
If your skin doesn’t seem to respond to at-home care despite consistency or other symptoms flare up (redness, itching, burning, and irritation), don’t hesitate to consult a dermatologist. They can properly diagnose an underlying skin condition and recommend treatments to mitigate your symptoms.
Remember, your skin is constantly communicating with you. If the area around your nose starts showing dryness, flakiness, or irritation, take this as a sign to give it the extra love and attention it deserves.
The key is to use gentle products and to understand when to seek professional advice from a dermatologist.
