Why Is My Nose So Red?

Nose redness can occur for many reasons. Your nose and the skin right under it are sensitive and can temporarily become red when exposed to external factors such as wind, cold air, or allergens. But your nose might also be red because of a medical condition or infection.

If your nose reddens often or is red most of the time, you might be searching for the answer to why it’s happening or wondering if you should seek medical attention for it. Our team of dermatologists at Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street located in Washington, DC, wants to give you some common causes for nose redness to help you get to the bottom of it.

Causes and treatments for nose redness

During the cold winter months, windburn and cold air can chap your skin, leaving it red and irritated. For windburn, keep your nose moisturized with a non-scented, hypoallergenic moisturizer, and wear something to protect your face whenever you go outside in the cold.  

However, there are also other causes for nose redness, including:

Allergies

When you have an allergic reaction, you can develop a redness from constantly wiping your runny nose or from swollen blood vessels in your nose. You can reduce redness by either taking antihistamines to keep your nose from running or you can try to avoid things that bring on allergic reactions.

Acne

You can get acne anywhere, including your nose, and it can cause redness, pimples, and skin irritation. Take care when treating acne with products such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoids since they can dry out and further irritate your skin.

Emotions

Strong feelings of stress, anger, or embarrassment can cause your face to flush, giving it a red appearance. This redness should go away once the intensity of the emotion has subsided. However, if it’s something that bothers you, you can try practicing stress management techniques to combat those feelings effectively.

Rosacea

Rosacea is an inflammatory disease that causes rashes and redness to form on your face, including the area around your nose. To reduce redness, you may need prescription topical creams ointments, or laser treatments. You can also try to avoid certain triggers such as spicy food.

Nasal vestibulitis

This infection causes both redness and swelling inside and outside your nostrils. Since it’s a bacterial infection, it needs to be treated with antibiotics.

Lupus

Lupus occurs when your immune system attacks healthy cells thinking that they’re foreign invaders, and it commonly causes red rashes on the face. 

There is currently no cure for lupus, but you can manage symptoms with things such as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids, or other medications that can suppress your immune system. You should also always wear sunscreen and sun-protective clothing whenever you go outside.

Next steps

If you’re still unsure what’s causing your red nose or if you’d like some recommendations on what products will work best to reduce redness, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team with any questions you may have. You can contact us online or over the phone today.