dry flaky skin in crese of noes

I am 33 years old male ,For about 5 years i have had this dry flaky skin just in the crese of my nose i have used everything and nothing works i rub it off then it turns red put all kinds of stuff on it and it drys back out .What is this and what should i use on  it to make it go away plz help Doc...THX

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

Two possibilities are coming to my mind.First is of eczema and the second one is of seborrheic dermatitis.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that causes flaky,dry, white to yellowish scales to form on oily areas esp under the nose or anywhere on face. You can treat flaking and dryness with over-the-counter dandruff or medicated shampoos. Shampoo the hair vigorously and frequently (preferably daily). Active ingredients in these shampoos include salicylic acid, coal tar, zinc, resorcin, ketoconazole, or selenium.

Eczema is a form of chronic dermatitis (rash).Allergic reaction is one of the important causes of eczema. Wash the areas several times with fresh water. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites. You can apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin. You can take some OTC oral antihistamine medications like Benadryl or Claritin and see if it helps.

For mild-moderate eczema a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone as dermacort), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide).

Eczema can be exacerbated by dryness of the skin. Use good quality moisturizers to prevent moisture loss from the skin.

If still the symptoms do not improve then pls get a clinical examination done by a dermatologist. Hope it helps.Take care and pls do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional doubts.