Nose Redness

Nose Redness

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

* Your nose is persistently red.

* You also have acnelike bumps on your nose.

What Your Symptom Is Telling You

When you're skiing down a snowy slope, a red nose is as natural as windblown hair. It gives you that "I'm-having-healthy-fun" look.

A red nose can send a very different message when it suddenly appears after you simply enter a chilly room, drink hot coffee or give a speech in front of a crowd.

A red nose that seems to come out of nowhere can be explained in three words, according to Jonathan K. Wilkin, M.D., director of the Division of Dermatology at the Ohio State University Hospitals in Columbus: "oversensitive blood vessels."

Smokers and people with thyroid conditions often have oversensitive blood vessels. In those people, simply entering an air-conditioned room can make their blood vessels clamp down as tight as a vise, he says. This diverts blood away from the skin's surface. When their body warms up, however, the blood vessels open superwide. This brings a rush of blood to the nose, turning it rosy red.

A red nose can also be triggered by emotional stress. Stress causes a surge of adrenaline, which overdilates the blood vessels. In people who are prone to this kind of reaction, public speaking, a breakneck schedule or a fiery argument are all likely to result in a red nose.

But if your nose turns red frequently or the redness persists, you may have rosacea—a common skin disorder in which the blood vessels in the nose become enlarged. Five percent of the population has rosacea, which usually becomes noticeable around age 30 to 40. In this condition, the blood vessels leak, causing a low-grade inflammation that makes the nose (and also the chin, cheeks and forehead) look like you spent too much time in the sun.

The redness can come and go but may gradually become permanent and more noticeable. It is sometimes accompanied by pus-filled pimples. In advanced stages, the nose can take on a lumpy, swollen W. C. Fields appearance, as a result of tissue buildup.

Rosacea's exact cause remains a mystery, says Dr. Wilkin. "We do know that it targets fair-skinned people, particularly those who blush more easily and frequently," he says. Women are more likely than men to have rosacea, which may point to a hormonal link. "Many women first notice a red nose at menopause, when estrogen levels fluctuate and hot flashes begin," says Dr. Wilkin.

Sudden redness on the nose and face can also be caused by wind, high humidity and vigorous exercise as well as medications used to treat high blood pressure.

Scrubbing your face too hard and skin-care products to which you are sensitive can make the redness worse. So can alcohol, spicy foods and spending too much time in the sun.

Symptom Relief

Here's how to tone down a ruby nose.

Turn the tap to tepid. "Hot showers, saunas and steam rooms can force your blood vessels to overly dilate and stay that way all day," according to Robert A. Weiss, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Wash your face like it is fine silk. "Stay away from abrasive cleaners and washcloths," says Dr. Wilkin. Use only mild soap and water, and lather up with your fingertips. Blot dry and follow with a supergentle moisturizer, such as a baby lotion. Avoid products containing perfumes and alcohol.

Use leprechaun makeup. As eerie as it sounds, applying sheer green makeup to red skin produces a flesh tone that virtually erases the redness, according to Joseph Bark, M.D., chairman of the Department of Dermatology at St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, and author of Retin-A and Other Youth Miracles. The green "color correcting" makeup by Estée Lauder and other brands are sold at department stores.

Blow on your soup. Any hot liquid should be tepid before you drink it to avoid triggering a vessel response, says Dr. Wilkin.

Lay off the jalapeños and tequila. Spicy foods and alcohol cause blood vessels to dilate, which can make a red nose worse, says Dr. Weiss.

Suck on ice. "Holding ice in your mouth tricks your body's thermostat and keeps blood vessels from overdilating in heated conditions such as entering a hot car or exercising," says Dr. Wilkin.

Spritz your face with cool water. This also helps keep a red nose at bay during a workout.

Dress like a masked bandit. A scarf pulled up over your nose on wintry days protects against overchilling and tripping off a vessel reaction, says Dr. Wilkin. A thin shield of petroleum jelly smeared on your nose works well, too, adds Dr. Bark.

Take a deep breath. Stress relaxation may help counter the adrenaline hormones that dilate the blood vessels, says Dr. Wilkin. Before a speech, for example, take several slow, deep breaths and imagine your body floating on a calm sea.

Don't treat bumps with pimple creams. If your red nose is accompanied by acnelike bumps, your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic such as tetracycline together with a topical gel. This two-pronged treatment interrupts the inflammatory response and helps control eruptions. If necessary, laser treatment can remove persistently dilated blood vessels and improve your complexion.