Small, irritated patches pop up on everyone's face from time to time. However, if you've been having regular red patches appear around your nose, it could indicate that there's a problem. Red skin around the nose can indicate several skin problems, so check out this guide to narrow down a possible cause for your red skin.
Perioral Dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis is a type of skin irritation that can come and go on its own. Doctors and scientists believe that perioral dermatitis is initially triggered by the use of steroids. This includes topical steroids, like over the counter hydrocortisone cream, or nasal sprays that use steroids to help open the nasal passageways.
Once the steroid has come in contact with the skin, the skin can become irritated. This can happen on its own, or it may be due to secondary substances, like toothpaste or face wash. If you've noticed a correlation between caring for your skin or teeth and this problem flaring up or becoming worse, it could be perioral dermatitis. Thankfully, this condition is curable with the help of a dermatologist.
Rosacea
Rosacea is another skin condition that can cause red patches of skin to appear, including around the nose. Unlike perioral dermatitis, rosacea is a long-term condition that can last for years.
Rosacea tends to cause red and flushed patches of skin over the entirety of the face. However, the initial patches often start around the nose. Rosacea can cause thickened skin if left untreated, so it's important to seek help from a dermatologist as soon as possible for this condition.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Lastly, seborrheic dermatitis is another form of skin disorder that can cause red, dry, flaky patches to appear around the nose. Doctors and scientists aren't entirely sure what causes seborrheic dermatitis, but they believe that stress and certain conditions, like depression, can make it worse.
Seborrheic dermatitis is typically limited to the sebaceous glands of the body that are responsible for producing skin oils. This means that if you have an oily t-zone or an oily scalp, you will be likely to experience this disorder in those locations. Seborrheic dermatitis can spread to larger parts of the body without treatment, so like the other two disorders, it's important to get help as soon as possible.
These three conditions can all cause red skin patches to appear around the nose. The one thing they have in common is that with professional help, you can control the problem and recover your appearance. Talk to a dermatologist to get a professional opinion of your skin and to determine exactly what problem is triggering red skin patches around your nose.