A red nose is a clear sign of an intensification of blood circulation in the surface layers of the skin. Excessive blood flow to the arterioles, which permeate the dermis, leads to discoloration of the skin. Redness can be triggered by infection, allergies, exogenous factors, autoimmune and hormonal disorders.
Limited hyperemia (redness) can be temporary and appear in the event of a sharp change in temperature in the environment. Sometimes redness of the nose is observed with emotional outbursts, stress and severe fright. Intensive contraction of the heart muscle increases blood circulation in the tissues, as a result of which there is an excessive blood filling of the capillaries in the superficial layers of the dermis.
What is hyperemia?
Nasal congestion is an increase in blood flow to the capillaries in the skin. Temporary redness of the dermis, not accompanied by pathological symptoms, is not a deviation from the norm. Depending on what kind of blood flows to the soft tissues, two types of hyperemia are distinguished:
- active hyperemia - occurs in the case of an intensive supply of tissues with arterial blood, which contains a lot of oxygen; the nose turns red for two reasons:
- mechanical impact, which leads to an increase in the activity of the myocardium;
- neurological disorders - irritation and damage to the nerves that innervate the blood vessels.
- passive hyperemia - manifests itself in violation of the outflow of venous blood from the skin; the main provocateurs of the pathological process include:
- narrowing of the inner diameter of large veins;
- decrease in the pumping activity of the heart muscle;
- blockage of veins with cholesterol plaques.
Persistent manifestation of limited hyperemia in about half of the cases indicates violations in the work of the cardiovascular system.
Redness of the skin can be temporary or permanent. Temporary hyperemia occurs as a result of exposure to exogenous factors: sudden changes in temperature, UV radiation, stress, skin irritation with allergens, etc. A persistently red nose can be a consequence of the development of skin and infectious diseases, as well as neurological and autoimmune disorders.
Possible diseases
Temporary redness of the wings of the nose occurs due to the anatomical features of the structure of the dermis. The skin is permeated with a large number of vessels of the venous and arterial bed. When exposed to exogenous or endogenous factors, a reflex expansion of capillaries is observed, which entails abundant blood circulation in the skin and, accordingly, hyperemia.
It should be understood that a red nose can be a manifestation of a rather serious disease. Persistent skin discoloration is a cause for concern. If additional symptoms such as itching, swelling or burning are added to an unpleasant cosmetic defect, you should seek the help of a specialist.
Rosacea
Rosacea (acne rosacea) is a chronic disease in which redness and fluid-filled blisters (pustules) develop on the wings of the nose and cheeks. The cause of skin problems is a violation of the vascular tone in the superficial arterioles. A red nose can be the result of negative effects on the body of the following factors:
- solar insolation;
- endocrine disorders;
- alcohol abuse;
- chronic infections;
- violation of immunity.
The disease most often affects women who use low-quality cosmetics - foundation, powder, astringent masks, etc.
Telangiectasia (rosacea)
Couperosis is a pathology characterized by persistent vasodilation of a non-infectious nature. If the tip of the nose is red, and small vascular networks are formed on the wings, in most cases this indicates the development of telangiectasia. Often the disease acts as one of the main symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma.
Hyperemia of tissues can be caused by the following reasons:
- inappropriate use of corticosteroids;
- contraceptive abuse;
- chronic venous insufficiency;
- abnormal liver function;
- prolonged exposure to high or low temperatures.
With the development of the disease, red spider veins are most often formed on the wings of the nose, chin and legs. With an advanced form of rosacea, the affected areas may acquire a bluish tint.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is a whole group of dermatological diseases accompanied by skin inflammation. The provocateurs of pathological reactions are damaging factors of biological, chemical or physical origin. A red nose quite often becomes a manifestation of allergic dermatoses, developing under the influence of irritating substances (allergens).
The group of allergic skin diseases accompanied by dermal hyperemia includes:
- eczema is a non-infectious inflammatory disease in which itchy, weeping blisters form on the skin;
- urticaria - allergic dermatitis, accompanied by the formation of a red rash on the skin;
- allergic dermatitis - a dermatological disease that occurs when the dermis comes into contact with allergens (wool, fluff, pollen, cosmetics);
- atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease that is more common in people with a predisposition to atopy (a genetic predisposition to the production of "allergic" antibodies).
Dermatitis and nasal congestion are most often provoked by decorative cosmetics, sunscreens and plant allergens.
If the nose turns red due to the development of dermatitis, this will be evidenced by itching, swelling of tissues, a feeling of heat at the site of inflammation, small bubbles on the tip and wings of the nose.
Systemic lupus erythematosus
A reddened nose is one of the symptoms of the development of systemic lupus erythematosus. This is a very serious and dangerous disease that occurs due to disturbances in the functioning of the immune system. Autoimmune pathology develops as a result of damage to the DNA of healthy cells by specific antibodies. This leads to damage to small capillaries in the skin and, accordingly, tissue hyperemia. Cutaneous manifestations occur only in 65% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Typical manifestations of autoimmune disease include:
- an unreasonable rise in temperature;
- fast fatiguability;
- drowsiness;
- muscle pain;
- headache.
Untimely treatment of pathology leads to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Approximately 24% of patients are subsequently diagnosed with pericarditis, atherosclerosis, myocarditis, etc.
Nasal congestion in men
Why are the wings of the nose red? Skin hyperemia in men can be provoked by physiological reasons - excessive physical exertion, psycho-emotional overstrain, alcohol, work in hazardous enterprises, etc. If exogenous factors are excluded, the color of the skin is restored without any consequences.
In some cases, a red nose becomes the cause of the development of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Limited hyperemia of the skin in men can be the result of such pathologies:
- rhinophyma - localized inflammation of the skin, accompanied by hypertrophy (thickening) of tissues and a change in the shape of the nose;
- hypothyroidism - abnormal functioning of the thyroid gland, which can lead to discoloration of the skin on the face;
- diabetes mellitus - an endocrine disease in which the level of glucose in the blood increases; "High sugar" in the blood leads to dehydration and discoloration of the dermis;
- carcinoid syndrome - the reaction of the skin to the occurrence of a malignant tumor in the body; a neoplasm (carcinoid) releases a large amount of hormones into the bloodstream, as a result of which there is a change in the color of the skin on the nose, upper and lower extremities.
It is important to understand that persistent skin hyperemia in men after 40 years of age most often indicates the development of diseases of internal organs.
Conclusion
Hyperemia is a consequence of excessive filling of small capillaries with venous or arterial blood. A temporary change in the color of the skin is not considered a deviation from the norm, as it occurs due to the influence of exogenous factors - cold, active physical activity, alcohol, etc. Persistent redness of the nose may indicate the development of pathological processes in the body.
Arterial and venous hyperemia is a companion of many dermatological, allergic, infectious, oncological and endocrine diseases. Changes in skin color in limited areas of the face can be a consequence of the development of rosacea, dermatitis, rhinophyma, rosacea, diabetes mellitus, carcinoid syndrome, eczema, urticaria, etc.
