Dry Skin Around the Nose: Causes and Gentle Care in Winter and Colds
Dry skin around the nose is usually caused by a cold, constant nose-blowing with rough tissues, and dry winter air, which together strip the thin skin at the sides of the nostrils. The simple fix is to blow gently with soft cloth or tissue, rinse with plain water instead of soap, and keep a thin layer of a plain, fragrance-free moisturiser or petroleum jelly on the area, especially at night.
In India this shows up most from November to February: colds and allergies, room heaters and smoggy air in the north, and hot baths with hard water. Below are the common causes, a step-by-step routine, and what to avoid putting on raw, flaky skin.
Why the skin around your nose gets dry and flaky
| Cause | What it looks like | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Cold, flu or allergy with a runny nose | Red, rough skin at the nostril edges, stinging when you wipe | Soft tissues, dab instead of rubbing, a barrier of balm or jelly |
| Dry winter air, heaters and car or office AC | Fine flakes in the creases beside the nose, tight cheeks | Moisturise on damp skin, keep vents and heaters away from the face |
| Hot water and soap on the face | Tight, flaky skin around the nose and on the chin after bathing | Lukewarm water, a gentle face wash or plain water for the nose area |
| Strong actives or scrubs | Stinging, peeling around the nose and mouth | Pause actives on that area until it feels comfortable again |
| Spectacles or masks rubbing | Dry, darker-looking patches on the bridge or sides | Clean pads, a thin moisturiser under the contact points |
Greasy yellow flakes in the folds beside the nose and on the eyebrows that keep coming back, with itching, are often a different condition (seborrhoeic dermatitis). That needs a dermatologist, not just more cream.
Step-by-step routine while you have a cold
- Blow gently, one nostril at a time. Use soft tissues or a soft, clean cotton hanky. Dab the area dry instead of wiping hard.
- Rinse with plain lukewarm water once or twice a day. Skip soap and face wash on the raw part around the nostrils until it settles.
- Pat dry and apply a barrier. A thin layer of plain petroleum jelly or a fragrance-free balm on the nostril edges protects the skin from repeated wiping.
- Moisturise the rest of the face on slightly damp skin with a plain, gentle cream.
- Repeat the barrier at night and after every few rounds of nose-blowing during the day.
Keep any menthol or eucalyptus balm you use for a blocked nose off the broken skin around the nostrils; it can sting. Follow the label for anything meant to go inside the nose, and ask a doctor or pharmacist if a cold lasts more than about 10 days or you have a high fever.
What to put on dry skin around the nose (and what not to)
| Use | Avoid for now |
|---|---|
| Plain petroleum jelly or a simple lip balm on the nostril edges | Kojic acid, glutathione, vitamin C, retinol or acid creams on the flaky area |
| A plain, fragrance-free moisturiser on the rest of the face | Scrubs, peel-off masks, pore strips |
| Lukewarm water | Hot water, soap, alcohol-based toners or wipes |
| Soft cloth or tissues | Rough paper napkins, picking the flakes |
A gentle cream without actives is the right choice here. Our Avocado Glow Cream 15 g (₹399) has avocado and aloe vera only, with no kojic acid, so it is easy to use around the nose and on the rest of a dry winter face. If you normally use a cream with kojic acid at night, such as Avocado Night Cream, apply it around the nose area but not on it until the skin there feels comfortable again.
Wondering whether gel or cream suits you better in winter? See gel vs cream moisturiser.
Dry nose skin in winter without a cold
If the area is flaky every winter even when you are not ill, look at the whole routine. Long hot baths, a heater running all night and a foaming face wash used twice a day are the usual culprits. Our guides on room heater skin care, hard water skin care and dry patches on the face cover each one. For a complete winter plan, read our winter skincare routine for India and browse our night creams for a richer cream at bedtime.
Spectacle wearers often get dry, rough skin on the sides of the nose from the pads; spectacle marks on the nose explains how to look after it.
Oily skin but dry around the nose?
This is common. The nose itself can be oily while the creases beside it flake, especially with a cold. Do not stop moisturising your whole face; just use a light layer on oily zones and a little more on the dry creases. Our guide to oily skin in winter explains how to balance the two.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor or dermatologist if the skin cracks and bleeds, crusts with yellow or honey-coloured scabs, becomes very painful or swollen, keeps flaking with greasy scales for weeks, or if nosebleeds are frequent. These need proper medical care, not a cosmetic cream. Patch test any new product before using it on irritated skin; our patch test guide shows how.
Short answers
Why is the skin around my nose dry and peeling? Usually a mix of nose-blowing during a cold, dry winter air and harsh washing. Gentle wiping, plain water and a barrier of jelly or balm help it feel comfortable again.
Can I put petroleum jelly around my nose? Yes, a thin layer of plain petroleum jelly on the skin around the nostrils is a common, simple barrier. Keep it on the outside skin.
Can I use my night cream on dry skin around the nose? A plain moisturiser is fine. Skip creams with kojic acid, glutathione, vitamin C or retinol on that flaky area until it settles.
Should I scrub off the flakes? No. Scrubbing raw skin makes it worse. Let a moisturiser soften the flakes and they will come away on their own.
How long does it take to feel better? It depends on how raw the skin is and how long the cold lasts. If it is not getting better after your cold has passed, see a dermatologist.
This is general skincare information, not medical advice. Patch test any new product, and see a dermatologist if you have a skin condition.