This week I was going to write about Acne with co-writer Audra McMullen from Miami but I am lying in bed with a head cold. I have dosed myself up with Vitamin C, Garlic plus hot chicken soup.  Yet as I open up another box of tissues, I was wondering how could I reduce the problem of my growing sore nose???

Why does our nose turn into Rudolf the red nose reindeer when we have a cold?  Simply put, every time you blow your runny nose, you are aggravating the blood vessels around your nose and the tissues you are using will cause the skin to dry out. All this extra attention leads to the red and painful nose.

What can you do?  The nose needs a barrier plus extra moisturizer. Tissue companies add Aloe Vera to help with moisturizer your nose when you use the tissues but unfortunately after going through a box tissue, they feel more like sand paper rather than something soft and moisturizing. Petroleum jelly was used for many years as a protection barrier, but when it is used frequently on the skin right under your nose, even though it’s rare, could lead to lipid pneumonia if you inhale the jelly into your lungs [source: Gibson]. So why take the risk when there are better solutions!

Let’s be practical, when your eyes are weeping, nose is runny and your temperature is soaring, the last thing you want to do is duck down to your skin therapist and grab a moisturizer. Below are my top 3 solutions that you may have in your cupboard.

1. Aloe Vera – Aloe Vera contains over 200 active components including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, polysaccharides, and fatty acids.There is many benefits for using Aloe Vera on a sore nose. Aloe Vera acts as an analgesic, to help relieve pain of wounds.  It is a vulnerary, which means it helps to heal wounds.  It is an astringent: which causes the contraction of body tissues. Last reason to use Aloe Vera is its high in water content (over 99% water) a great way to hydrate, moisturize and rejuvenate the skin.

2. Coconut Oil – Like Aloe Vera is is full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, polysaccharides, and fatty acids and is reported to have many benefits of Aloe Vera as mention above.

2. Shea Butter – A great source of Vitamin A and E plus known as a super moisturizer that promotes and accelerates wound healing.

Many of these ingredients are found in natural lip balms so you can use the lip balm around your nose area. What if you don’t have any of the above ingredients or a natural lip balm to use? Then your night cream which is a heavier formulation will provide hydration and some barrier to your nose.

Don’t wait until your nose is complete rubbed raw before acting. Start using one of the above solutions as soon as you know you have a cold or flu.

Hoping you stay well and do not need the above advice.

debra spence

Debra Spence is a Qualified Medical Aesthetician, Cosmetic Scientist, Lecture and Author. Owned of an Australian National Award Winning Medi Spa. Now is concerntrating on Education of Skin and Skincare plus provideing advance treatments to her private patients. Plus developing Zen Dejour a Result Based Cosmeceutical Skincare Range and Dermal Solution Private Lable Professional Skincare.

QUESTION ABOUT YOUR SKIN? Make an Appointment Today or send me an email to debra@debraspence.com

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