What causes a dry skin around the nose? In the following discussion, you will learn the causes and how to get rid of this skin problem. This will cover various treatments and home remedies even for those who have very dry cases.
Causes
Table of content
There are many reasons or causes. Some of the common causes you should bear in mind include the following:
Why causes the dryness and flakiness
1. Seborrheic Dermatitis – Red Dry Flaky White Skin
One of the conditions responsible for this condition is seborrheic dermatitis.
Even though the exact cause is not well expounded, seborrhea, “often starts as dry white flakes in the eyebrows,” [www.drbaileyskincare.com] but can spread to the inside and around the nose. If you need to know it is the cause, you should be able to feel itchy red skin with greasy scales around the nose.
What are the symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis? At inception, common symptoms include, the formation of creases, red and itchy skin around your nose. These symptoms may be accompanied by a flaky white or yellowish brown skin.
Seborrheic Dermatitis treatment & Creams
Seborrhoeic dermatitis can be controlled depending on the specific area that has been affected. It could be done away with if early signs are noted and attended to in time.
1. Antifungal Creams
There are seborrhoeic dermatitis treatments for young babies below five years. Apply ketoconazole, or ciclopirox creams to fight fungal infections such as Malassezia yeast.
2. Topical corticosteroids
Avoid prolonged use of corticosteroids, and replace with non-corticosteroid topical creams or topical calcineurin inhibitors such as Protopic or Elidel which have fewer side effects.
3. Keratolytics
Apply Keratolytics for scale removal in the dark skin this area. Apply salicylic acid, lactic acid or propylene glycol daily.
4. Antibiotics
Try oral Itraconazole, tetracycline antibiotics if there are no changes in symptoms or if much resistance is offered. You may also consider taking (adults) phototherapy treatment after a consultation with a doctor.
2. Atopic dermatitis
Secondly, like seborrheic, atopic dermatitis is often very itchy and also forms a dry irritated skin on various parts of the body. What are the symptoms of atopic dermatitis? Unlike seborrheic, scratching as the initial sign leads to inflammation.
After the infection occurs, tiny bumps may appear over the dry red skin around nose. These tiny bumps may form small blister-like things from which fluids slowly come out. After the blisters dry out, crusts are formed over the nose skin where infection occurs. However, the atopic dermatitis symptoms come and go over time, leading to a rash that comes and goes.
How can you get rid of atopic dermatitis? When the initial symptoms of atopic dermatitis have not yet flared up, you can get rid of atopic dermatitis before the condition gets worse:
- You should bathe with lukewarm or warm water and medicated soap. After you have soaked your body for roughly 10 – 15 minutes, apply shampoo to soothe and remove soap residuals. (when taking bath avoid harsh chemical soaps which trigger rash or allergy)
- Apply moisturizers to prevent dryness.
- Do not scratch the area to prevent dry and itchy skin.
- Protect your baby’s tender skin from scrubbing by clothing him or her cotton socks or hand gloves to avoid scratching.
- You should also cover rashes with bandage in order to minimize chances of scratching.
Now, if you continue scratching, “The skin will thicken to protect itself, a process dermatologists refer to as lichenification.” [www.livestrong.com]. This condition normally affects young children by 5yrs, occurring in more than one family member affects 10 percent to 20 percent of the world’s population.
3. Contact Dermatitis
Another cause is contact dermatitis i.e. “contact dermatitis is a type of eczema that causes the skin to become red, blistered, dry, scaly and cracked” [nhs.uk].
If you have no idea what contact dermatitis is, it is simply the inflammation of the skin when it comes in contact with an allergen or an irritant that comes 2 hours after coming in contact with an irritant and it can affect various body parts including your nose, hands or face.
To treat it, avoid allergens or irritants that cause and use moisturizers (emollients) to keep your skin moist, use tropical corticosteroids to relieve symptoms caused by contact dermatitis and try oral corticosteroids if you have severe symptoms.
4. Dry skin around nose piercing
Having a piercing can result in this problem especially in the area around the piercing itself. This is common when the piercing is healing and exposing harsh weather conditions such as wind or cold, using harsh cleansers etc. can make it not only dry but also make it crack.
If ignored it can make your piercing on the nose to look ugly and increase chances of infection. Use moisturizers twice daily to reduce dryness, avoid harsh soaps and cleansers (go for milder or natural cleansers), and avoid touching it with dirty hands. Furthermore, follow the aftercare routing given by your piercing to avoid infection or scars.
At times, sea salt soaks might not end dryness or irritation around the piercing hole replace your soaks for bacitracin ointment.
5. Other Causes
Apart from the causes above there are also some human vices that may lead to you having this problem.
Alcoholism
The reason is that alcohol contains chemicals that dehydrate. Heavy alcohol takers are on the high risk of getting dry skin including in this area.
Smoking Cigarette/Tobacco
Besides alcohol, use of tobacco may lead to dryness. Tobacco contains inhibitors like tar and nicotine that denies your skin of sufficient moisture. That is how your skin dries prematurely.
Perioral Dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis is a rash that normally forms around the mouth. How can you identify it? These are small red or pink lumpy spots which may appear on the chin, cheeks, and under the nose. However, they are not acne.
How to get rid of a dry skin around your nose
The dry skin around your nose that maybe can be frustrating. Even though, there are some means you can use to relieve the pain that makes you suffer. These include creams, drugs, and various drugs which are mostly prescribed by a medical doctor.
Antihistamines
First of all, there is a group of creams known as Antihistamines. Most of these antihistamines help to bring down inflammation.
Topical Immunomodulators
If you have an immune system disorder do not panic. “The FDA has approved two drugs known as topical immunomodulators (TIMs) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate eczema.” The drugs, Elidel and Protopic, are skin creams that work by altering the immune system response.
Use Good Quality pierce & Jewelry tools
Some of the best-pierced nose pieces of jewelry include 20 Gauge Surgical Steel Nose Bone Stud with Star-shaped Jewel, 20 Gauge Heart 3mm Gem 316L Surgical Steel Nose Bone Stud and 20 Gauge Flower Surgical Steel Nose Bone Stud with 6 CZ Jewels. You may obtain them from a beauty shop at a relatively affordable price.
Home remedies
The best home remedy is keeping it always moisturized. Another important thing you must do is to stay away from triggering substances such as allergens, harsh chemicals, dry wind, high temperatures and try to eliminate stressful environments.
The following are some of the routines which can help you stay away from dryness, itchiness and reduce dryness.
Apply Almond oil and Aloe Vera
Almond oil has a good moisturizing quality of your dry skin. If you want better results it is worth to mix a small amount of Aloe Vera to remove itchy sensation and have a soothing effect.
Egg Yolk + Olive Oil Face Mask
This is another home trick that will solve this problem.
- Break an egg and take the yolk. Mix it with few drops of olive oil.
- Apply around your nose and leave it for 10 minutes.
- Wash off the ingredients and apply moisturizer e.g. fragrant-free body oil, afterward.
Think of making a home-made, yogurt and cucumber as an alternative. It will moisturize your skin well
Prevention tips
How to prevent dry nose problems is not equal to treating dry nose on your skin. Isn’t it easier and cheaper preventing? You can try the following procedures.
Protective Sunscreen
if it forces you to be out in the sun ensure that you apply an appropriate sunscreen. However, it is recommended that you select non-alcohol one. Therefore go for Aloe Vera or Olive based sunscreen for dry nose.
Medicated Shampoo Cleaning
If you need to prevent dermatitis spreading from the scalp, wash using the medicated shampoo in the normal procedure. Below is a sample list.
- Polytar,
- Selsun Blue,
- Exsel,
- Tegrin medicated,
- Denorex,
- Zincon,
- Neutrogena gel
What can I do for very dry cases?
Dry nose skin inflames easily if slightly disturbed. So taking care of your irritated nose skin is by applying a cold compress to help protect it and avoid touching.
Hauschka’s Soothing Mask
If cold compression cannot bring the wanted results for the constant flaky dry skin on nose, what next? One of the effective lotions is Dr. Hauschka’s Soothing Mask. With Hauschka’s Soothing Mask you can bring life and vitality to your dry skin nose and rejuvenate it.
Rejuvenating Mask
Two, Rejuvenating Mask is another body lotion that deems good especially for dry flaky skin around nose. Besides soothing it, Rejuvenating Mask lotion helps in removing dry patches therefore refines and enlivens your skin.
The wonderful thing about these body products will be about their sparing use. You only require a small bit of it while applying them. Always remember to read all the directions of use carefully for better results.
Dry itchy skin around nose and mouth
If you always have a dry itchy skin on the nose it is either due to seborrheic or atopic dermatitis conditions that are causing dryness on your nose. Perioral dermatitis may be responsible for dry itchy skin around nose and mouth.
Reference and Sources
- http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/atopic-dermatitis-eczema
- : http://www.livestrong.com/article/320710-red-itchy-skin-around-the-nose/.
- http://www.healthline.com/health/skin/eczema#Causes2.
- http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/what-is-your-beauty-secret-for-severly-dry-skin-around-nose/#ixzz3w6U1SunW
- http://ic.steadyhealth.com/dry-skin-on-your-nose.
- http://dermnetnz.org/dermatitis/seborrhoeic-dermatitis.html.
- http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Eczema-(contact-dermatitis)/Pages/Introduction.aspx