Sick Season Skin: Why Your Nose and Lips Need Extra Care This Winter

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The beauty issue nobody talks about during cold and flu season

Cold and flu season does more than leave you feeling exhausted. It also takes a visible toll on your skin – particularly around the nose and lips, where redness, cracking and irritation tend to appear first.

Between endless tissue use, dehydration, seasonal allergies and dry winter air, these delicate areas are often left sore, sensitised and visibly compromised. While most people focus on treating symptoms internally, skincare experts say barrier repair is just as important during sick season.

According to Cape Town dermatologist and Ivohealth spokesperson Dr Lauren Knight, the skin surrounding the nostrils and upper lip is naturally thinner and more reactive than the rest of the face.

“The skin of the upper lip and around the nostrils is more sensitive and easily irritated,” explains Dr Knight. “Even a short illness can quickly result in visible damage.”

Why your nose and lips suffer most during illness

Repeated nose blowing and wiping create constant friction against skin that is already inflamed and vulnerable. At the same time, congestion often leads to mouth breathing and dehydration, leaving lips dry, cracked and uncomfortable.

Unlike the rest of the face, lips contain no oil glands, making them particularly susceptible to moisture loss during illness.

Environmental stressors only intensify the issue. Winter’s cold air, low humidity and seasonal allergens place additional pressure on an already weakened skin barrier, preventing proper recovery.

“Add watery mucus and frequent nose blowing from a cold, flu or allergies, and the nose and lip area doesn’t stand a chance,” says Dr Knight. “Even once symptoms improve, the skin often remains sore and sensitised.”

Why barrier repair matters during sick season

At this stage, skincare becomes less about simple hydration and more about restoring and protecting the skin barrier.

While many people reach for standard lip balm, these formulas are not always designed to address the combined irritation affecting both the nose and lips during illness.

“Lips and nostrils are highly exposed to friction from tissues, windburn, dry air and barrier-stripping conditions,” says Dr Knight. “More targeted support is often needed.”

The skincare essential designed for sick season

One product gaining attention this winter is LETIbalm Nose & Lip Repair Balm, specifically formulated to soothe, protect and repair compromised skin during periods of illness and irritation.

Its formula combines occlusive ingredients such as lanolin and mineral oil to help prevent moisture loss, while cocoa seed butter and sunflower oil soften and condition dry skin. Vitamin E supports recovery, while centella asiatica helps calm visible redness and irritation.

Dr Knight recommends incorporating a targeted repair balm early during cold and allergy season to minimise long-term skin sensitivity.

“I recommend using a product like LETIbalm Nose & Lip Repair Balm to restore the skin barrier and help prevent irritation,” she says. “Its gentle formulation makes it suitable for the whole family.”

For younger children, LETIbalm Repair Balm Paediatric offers a fragrance-free, paediatric-tested alternative suitable for babies from three months old.

The winter beauty tip worth remembering

When it comes to sick season skincare, consistency matters more than complexity. Protecting delicate areas before irritation becomes severe can help skin recover faster and remain comfortable throughout winter.

As Dr Lauren Knight concludes: “The goal is to protect, soothe and restore the skin barrier so it can recover comfortably, even during periods of illness or irritation.”

Where to buy LETIbalm

LETIbalm Nose & Lip Repair Balm and LETIbalm Repair Balm Paediatric are available from Dis-Chem and selected independent pharmacies nationwide.

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