The Causes and Quick Fixes of Nose Irritation Due to Glasses
Having just bought a new pair of glasses, you constantly glance at your reflection to see how cute they are, and suddenly you notice small red marks around your nose. We know how you feel. You must take action to alleviate the irritation caused by glasses on your nose before it ruins your appearance (not to mention, your day).
When the bridge of our nose becomes irritated, we are not going to be able to abandon our eyewear. Instead, we will need to take an extra measure to resolve the problem.
You will learn what causes skin irritation on your nose as a result of glasses, what can be done to alleviate it, and when you should seek medical attention.
Signs of Skin Irritation on the Nose From Glasses
Generally, skin irritation can be detected by the naked eye (or by a bespectacled eye, depending upon your vision level). However, sometimes skin irritation is felt before it is apparent. The following is an example of skin irritation that appears and feels on your nose due to your glasses:
Itchiness
Soreness
Redness
Indentations on the skin
Blisters on the skin
Raised bumps or cysts under the skin
New blackheads or whiteheads
It is most likely that these signs will appear anywhere that your glasses touch your skin, such as the bridge of your nose, behind your earlobes, or perhaps even on your cheeks if your glasses are oversized.
How do glasses cause skin irritation on the nose?
Seeing splotches of red, itchy skin can cause you to believe you have allergies, although that is the least likely cause of skin irritation on your nose caused by glasses. We will examine the three main causes of these skin symptoms, beginning with the two most likely (and less problematic) ones.
1. Friction
You may experience redness on the bridge of your nose if your glasses frames are not properly fitted or you may experience indentations on your skin if they squeeze too tightly. Individuals with sensitive skin and pre-existing skin conditions such as eczema may experience greater difficulties with this rubbing.
The friction from your glasses may cause more skin irritation if you have already been affected by something else. For example, if you wear tight goggles during a lap-swimming session, putting your glasses on afterwards can cause more irritation. In addition, if your skin suffers from harsh winters, it may become dry and chapped from the weather, which then makes it more likely for your glasses to rub against your skin.
As a result of friction, both long-term and new glasses wearers begin to experience symptoms of skin irritation on their noses.
2. Dirt and Oil
It is common for dirt and oil to get trapped on your nose bridge since you spend most of the day wearing your glasses on your face. It is common for these icky substances to accumulate between your eyeglass frames and your skin, especially if you do not properly clean your frames or skin.
When dirt and oil accumulate on your skin, they can form blackheads, whiteheads, or even painful cystic acne. If the irritation is caused by your glasses, then you may experience frequent breakouts around the area where the glasses contact your skin.
Dermatologists believe this condition is often caused by excessive dirt and oil buildup under the skin near where the lens touches the glasses. Although it occurs very rarely, acanthoma fissuratum can develop when the lens touches your glasses.
3. Allergies
In addition to materials used in the frame and nose pad of glasses, such as plastic, metal, and silicone, there are also chemicals used in the manufacturing process, including solvents, dyes, and stabilizers, which can trigger an allergic reaction. There are, however, very few cases of allergic reactions to these materials, except for nickel allergies.
There is some nickel in metal frames. The allergen causes red, itchy skin as well as hives or blisters in the places where your skin comes into contact with it — including across your nose bridge — and is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis in the UK.
What Can You Do About Skin Irritation on the Nose From Glasses?
The skin irritation on the nose caused by glasses can be annoying, but there are several easy things you can do at home to eliminate that itch (or redness).
1. Clean Your Glasses (and Skin) More Often
We should not allow a little dirt and oil to cause problems so let’s prevent them from occurring. Wash your glasses and your face regularly to prevent buildup. Use a gentle, oil-free cleanser twice a day so that your skin does not become irritated.
For sparkling glasses (like our favorite line of Sparkle Top Frames), use dish soap to clean them at least once a week. To clean your glasses, rub the soap over the lenses and frames with your fingers. Do not use a sponge, since it can scratch the lenses. You can then rinse your glasses with warm water and dry them with a microfiber cloth.
2. Add a Little Extra Skincare
In addition to taking care of our pretty faces, we should also use a little moisturizer each day. A face lotion can soothe dry skin or skin that has already been irritated by external factors. By doing this, you will be able to protect your skin from friction caused by your glasses. Additionally, you can apply lip balm where your glasses come into contact with your skin to provide a protective barrier.
3. Check Your Fit
Frames often rub against your face when they are too loose or too tight. An optometrist is not necessary if you are not due for an eye exam, but you may talk to the optician instead. It is important to get a better-fitting pair of eyeglasses if you are not due for an eye exam. Opticians are not eye doctors, but rather medical professionals who specialize in fitting glasses frames.
It is possible to have your current frames adjusted or you can find frames that are a better fit for your face through the help of an optician.
4. Choose a Lighter Pair
Overly heavy frames can put extra pressure on the bridge of your nose as well as anywhere else they touch. This can cause indentation on your skin as well as irritation caused by friction.
Consider acetate frames that weigh less. If you have thick, heavy lenses, you can upgrade to high-index lenses that provide the same level of vision correction as thinner lenses. This upgrade may cost more, but it can significantly decrease the weight of your glasses.
5. Consider trying a different material
In order to determine whether your symptoms are due to skin allergies, you may wish to consider switching to a different frame material for your glasses. Make sure that your existing metal frames are replaced with plastic frames that do not contain nickel, stainless steel, or other materials that may cause allergic contact dermatitis.
6. Consult a dermatologist
It may be necessary to see a dermatologist if you have tried all of these methods and your skin irritation has not resolved.
Say goodbye to skin irritation and hello to style!
It is never a good idea to let red, itchy skin cramp your style. If you have skin irritation on your nose caused by glasses, then it is time to find out why the irritation occurs.
There are two main causes of skin irritation caused by glasses: friction and the accumulation of dirt and oil. If you take a few extra precautions in your skincare routine, you will be able to prevent those irritations.
