Why your nose and lips need care too this winter
The focus on winter skincare routines tend to gear towards layering on serums, slugging creams and gels on the cheeks.
But one area is often overlooked: the delicate skin around the nose and lips.
The lips and nostrils are constantly exposed to winter's harsh air. Not to mention the friction from tissues and frequent nose blowing from the common colds and flus that winter brings.
Why do the nose and lips get dry so quickly?
Before we get into how to remedy dry skin around the nose and lips, let's explore why they get so dry compared to the rest of your face.
Dr Dilshaad Asmal, a Cape Town-based dermatologist, gives TRUELOVE a full breakdown into why our nose and lips suffer so much, especially in winter.
'Both the lips and nose protrude from the face thus they are more directly exposed to wind, low humidity and UV radiation. [Their] small size combined with exposure increases the rate of heat loss and can cool quickly and they [are] more exposed to dry air and cold winds, which strip the moisture from the surface. Also higher wind chill factors lead to faster cooling and dehydration.'
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Dr Dilshaad continues, 'The lips lack oil/sebaceous glands, this absence means that there is no natural lipid barrier to trap moisture or protect against cold dry air. The skin of the lips is thinner making it more prone to moisture loss and cracking. The nose has oily/sebaceous glands but it loses water in dry cold air.'
Cold air also causes the body to restrict blood flow to the nose and lips.
Skincare tips for the nose and lips
Are you struggling with cracked lips and a flaky nose? Look out for nose and lip balms with hydrating ingredients like cocoa butter, centella asiatica and vitamin E.
Dr Lauren Knight, dermatologist and founder of Derm Discovered, warns, 'If your lips stay dry despite regularly applying balm, it may be the balm. Many balms contain irritants that can trigger allergic contact dermatitis. Some patients develop a reaction; the more they use the balm, the worse it gets.'
Dr Dilshaad offers some tips on how to care for the skin around your nose and lips:
Use humectant-rich balms e.g. hyaluronic acid or glycerine. Use occlusive balms like petroleum jelly.
Apply fragrance free moisture around nose.
Use a humidifier indoors.
Avoid hot showers and an over exfoliation of your face.
Stop lip-licking.
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