You wake up, look in the mirror, and there it is. Again. That stubborn, slightly angry-looking red marks around nose area that just won't quit. It’s frustrating. You’ve probably tried slathering on moisturizer thinking it’s dry skin, or maybe you’ve attacked it with acne cream, only to find the redness getting even more flared up and flaky. Honestly, most people treat this area completely wrong because they assume all redness is created equal. It isn't. The skin around your nostrils is unique—it’s thin, oily, and constantly exposed to friction from tissues or environmental irritants.
If you’re staring at a map of broken capillaries or weird, bumpy patches, you aren't alone. This is one of the most common complaints dermatologists hear. But here is the thing: what works for a zit on your chin might actually make the redness around your nose much, much worse. We need to talk about why this happens and why your "standard" skincare routine might be the culprit.
Is it Seborrheic Dermatitis or Just "Dryness"?
Most people see flakes and reach for the heaviest cream they own. Stop. If those red marks around nose are accompanied by yellowish, greasy-looking scales, you’re likely dealing with seborrheic dermatitis. It’s a mouthful, I know. Basically, it’s an overgrowth of a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia that lives on everyone's skin. When it gets out of hand, your immune system overreacts, leading to inflammation.
Dr. Shari Marchbein, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, often points out that this condition loves oily areas. The creases of the nose (the alar folds) are like a five-star resort for Malassezia. If you put heavy oils or occlusive balms on this, you’re basically feeding the fire. You’ll see the skin get redder, itchier, and more irritated. It’s a cycle that’s hard to break unless you use the right anti-fungal approach.
Sometimes it isn't fungus at all. It could be Perioral Dermatitis. This one is tricky. It usually looks like tiny red bumps or pustules. The hallmark sign? A clear "ring" of normal skin right around the edge of the lips, but the redness climbs right up into the folds of the nose. If you’ve been using topical steroid creams (even over-the-counter hydrocortisone) to try and "calm" the redness, you might have actually triggered this. Steroids provide a temporary fix but often cause a massive rebound flare-up. It’s a classic trap.
The Role of Rosacea and Broken Capillaries
Then there’s rosacea. This isn't just a "blushing" issue. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea—try saying that three times fast—specifically involves persistent redness and visible blood vessels. Those tiny, spider-web-looking lines are called telangiectasias.
They don't go away with cream.
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No amount of Vitamin C or niacinamide is going to "erase" a broken capillary. These happen because the blood vessel walls have lost their elasticity. Factors like spicy foods, alcohol, or even just years of sun damage can make them pop up. They are particularly common around the base of the nose where the skin is thin and the vascularity is high. If your red marks around nose look like distinct tiny wires under the skin, you’re looking at vascular damage rather than a surface rash.
Common Irritants You’re Probably Using
We live in an era of "more is more" skincare. Exfoliants. Retinoids. Vitamin C. Acids. While these are great for anti-aging, the skin around your nose is incredibly sensitive. If you’re applying a 2% salicylic acid or a high-strength retinol and rubbing it right into the creases of your nose, you’re likely causing contact dermatitis.
The "crevice" of the nose acts like a reservoir. Product gets trapped there. It sits. It migrates. It irritates.
Think about your cleanser, too. If you’re using something that leaves your skin feeling "squeaky clean," you’re stripping the acid mantle. When the barrier is compromised, moisture leaks out, and irritants leak in. This leads to chronic low-grade inflammation. You see it as redness; your skin sees it as a 24/7 emergency.
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Environmental and Lifestyle Triggers
Let's get real about allergies. If you’re a seasonal allergy sufferer, the constant friction from blowing your nose is a physical trauma. Every time you use a tissue, you’re micro-exfoliating that delicate skin. Over time, this leads to a "chapped" look that never seems to heal because you’re reapplying the friction every few hours.
Even your diet plays a role, though maybe not in the way you think. It’s not just "sugar is bad." For people with underlying rosacea, things like hot coffee or a glass of red wine cause vasodilation. The blood vessels expand, the face flushes, and the nose—the center of the face—takes the brunt of it.
Why Cold Weather Makes It Worse
Winter is brutal for red marks around nose. The air outside is dry. The air inside (thanks to heaters) is even drier. This sucks the water out of your skin via trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). When the skin dries out, it cracks on a microscopic level. These cracks allow bacteria in, leading to redness and sensitivity.
Real Solutions That Actually Work
First, you have to stop the "kitchen sink" approach. Throwing ten different serums at the problem will only make your dermatologist's job harder later.
If it’s seborrheic dermatitis, look for ingredients like Ketoconazole or Zinc Pyrithione. You can actually use a tiny bit of dandruff shampoo (like Head & Shoulders or Nizoral) as a face wash on that specific area. Let it sit for 30 seconds and rinse. It sounds weird, but it works by killing the yeast overgrowth.
For Perioral Dermatitis, the "zero therapy" approach is often best. This means stopping everything. No makeup, no fancy serums, no harsh cleansers. Just lukewarm water and maybe a very basic, bland moisturizer like Vanicream. It takes patience. Sometimes weeks. But your skin needs to reset its own microbiome.
If you’re dealing with broken capillaries, your only real fix is in-office treatments. Lasers like the V-Beam (Pulsed Dye Laser) or Excel V are the gold standard. They target the red pigment in the blood, collapsing the vessel so the body can reabsorb it. Creams can help soothe the surface, but they can't "fix" a physical vessel issue.
A Better Routine for Nasal Redness
Stop scrubbing. Use a soap-free, non-foaming cleanser. Look for ingredients like ceramides, which help rebuild the skin barrier, and centella asiatica (Cica), which is famous for its soothing properties.
When applying active ingredients like Retinol, protect the nose area first. Apply a thin layer of a petroleum-based ointment or a thick barrier cream to the folds of the nose before you apply your "strong" stuff. This creates a physical shield so the irritants can't migrate into the sensitive nooks and crannies.
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Managing the "Redness Diet"
- Watch the heat: If you’re prone to flushing, let your soup cool down a bit.
- Check your SPF: Physical blockers (Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide) are generally less irritating for red-prone skin than chemical filters like Oxybenzone.
- Hydrate from within: It’s a cliché, but dehydration shows up on your face.
- Cooling masks: Keeping a gel mask in the fridge can provide instant vasoconstriction, temporarily shrinking those vessels and calming the heat.
When to See a Doctor
If the redness is spreading, if it’s painful, or if you see yellow crusting, get to a professional. Impetigo (a bacterial infection) can sometimes look like a bad rash but requires antibiotics. Similarly, if the redness is accompanied by a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks, a doctor will want to rule out systemic issues like Lupus.
Most of the time, though, it’s just a matter of your skin being "loud." It's telling you it’s overwhelmed. Listen to it.
The goal isn't just to hide the red marks around nose with concealer. Concealer often gets cakey in those dry patches anyway, making the problem look even more obvious. The goal is to heal the underlying barrier so the skin can protect itself.
Start by simplifying. Strip back the routine. Identify if you’re dealing with a fungus, an allergy, or a vascular issue. Once you know the "why," the "how" becomes a lot easier. Skin takes about 28 days to cycle through new cells, so don't expect a miracle overnight. Give any new, gentle routine at least a month before you decide if it’s working.
- Switch to a fragrance-free, soap-free cleanser to protect the acid mantle.
- Apply a barrier balm (like CeraVe Healing Ointment or Aquaphor) to the nose folds before using active ingredients.
- If flaking persists, try a zinc-based wash or cream to address potential fungal overgrowth.
- Consult a dermatologist about V-Beam or Excel V lasers if visible "spider veins" are your primary concern.
- Ditch the topical steroids immediately if you suspect Perioral Dermatitis, as these cause long-term thinning and rebound flares.