Do you ever wake up and see a lovely sheen-glazed nose? So, this makes you wonder why my nose is so oily. And what makes it so oily after giving it a good cleanse?
Statistics show that 6 out of 10 people, irrespective of gender, face this oily nose problem. Having oil on your face is not a bad thing. It protects your skin from water loss and helps it stay hydrated. Nevertheless, the surplus oil on your face is a problem that can lead to acne and clogged pores. There are a lot of factors that trigger oil production on the skin.

Oily skin can be a nuisance. To get rid of your oily nose, I know you have many remedies, desi totkas and a bunch of medicated cleansers to dry out the oil, washing your face frequently, skipping moisturisers and sunscreens, thus, making your skin even oilier and worse. Believe it or not, we have been making these mistakes out of desperation but trust me, none of them addresses the root problem.
Thus, this article will give insight into the oily skin type. Plus, it will explain the science behind the oily nose, help you to identify the root cause issues and help you to figure out how to maintain balance and achieve healthy skin.
Contents
Oily Skin Type
Before you get into why my nose is so oily, please know what challenges oily skin types people face. These are below
- Our makeup doesn’t stay for long; it slides off
- Pimples, blackheads and acne are on the oilier areas of our face
- Pores are large, clogged and visible, especially in our T-zone area
- Skin looks thick, greasy and rough.
Besides the above challenges faced by oil skin types, many misconceptions exist. You will be amazed to hear that oily skins need moisturisers because these skin types are dehydrated, and to compensate for that, their skin produces extra oil. Gel-based moisturisers are introduced to help them control sebum and strive for balance. Moreover, drying up your unprotected skin is the most dangerous thing. The sebaceous glands will be in motion to produce more oil to compensate for the lost one. In this way, you will have more sebum than before.

Like every cloud has a silver lining, oily skin types are less likely to produce wrinkles. You just need to strive for balance and not let the bacteria, dead skin, dirt and impurities gang up on you by giving you pustules, papules, whiteheads or blackheads.
6 Reasons Why My Nose Is So Oily.?
Having had an oily nose problem since my teenage years, I started thinking about why my nose is so oily. After doing scientific research, I concluded that my nose is oily because the sebaceous glands overproduce the oil on my skin.
The science behind these glands is that they produce sebum, also known as natural oils, on your skin. These oils construct a film on your face to trap hydration, maintain flexibility, prevent premature wrinkling and retain natural moisture.
However, there are a host of triggers to the overproduction of oil that makes you look greasy and welcome unwanted problems to your faces, such as acne, pimples, blackheads or whiteheads.
1. Genetics
Genetics plays a prominent role in determining the skin type of children. If one of your parents has an oily skin type, you probably will get one too. You can always strive for balance with suitable products to help you maintain a healthy skin balance. This was also the answer to why my skin is so oily because it was in my DNA, as both of my parents have it.
However, men tend to have oilier skin due to more androgens than women.
2. Hormones/Age
The sebaceous glands are minor at a younger age, but they enlarge and become visible as puberty hits. In tandem with dirt, dust and bacteria, sebum gets mixed with; as a result, it triggers inflammation and makes the skin prone to acne. That is also why my nose is so oily in my teenage era.
Hence, with the help of a proper skincare routine, we can minimise the pores by using chemicals like niacinamide and washing the face with a salicylic acid cleanser. In addition to this, twice-a-week exfoliation with glycolic acid may help in minimising pores and attaining balanced sebum production
3. Skin type
My life revolves around why my nose is so oily because I often witness a wellspring of oil sprouting in my T-zone area, especially on my nose. I quickly get pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and uncomfortably greasy skin.
This is because I have combination skin. So, knowing your skin type containing the springs of oil on your face is very important. Sometimes remedies we are following aren’t helping but stripping the necessary amount of sebum and causing the overproduction of sebum all over the face.
4. Improper Skincare routine
A flawed skincare routine can also be the reason for excess oil production. Lack of exfoliation, extended sun exposure in the attempt to dry the oil and mismatched skincare products that you may have thrifted are harmful to your skin barriers.
Wrong products can trigger the overproduction of sebum. That makes having product knowledge essential. Every skin type has its own set of products. One that works for others is not necessarily will work for you. Water-based hydrating products should be used, and avoid using oil-based products that feel heavy on the skin.
My nose was so oily because I used to pick a handful of hyped products without any prior research. After one and half years of oily days, I realise that I am using the wrong products that only supplement the oil excretion.
5. Dehydration
Most people skip moisturiser because they think it will make their face greasy. However, the reality is the opposite; this will worsen the skin’s overall condition.
The glands start to oversecrete sebum to overcome the lack of hydration, and in the long run, it will destroy the skin barrier by enlarging pores and accumulating dirt and dust in them.
Moreover, if you don’t take enough fluids or follow the drinking rule of 2 litres of water a day, it will contribute to dehydration which, thus, results in the overproduction of sebum.
I ruined my skin by not taking enough water intake. I was rarely thirsty because of the cold weather. This unhealthy practice dehydrated my skin and expedited the oil production resulting in an oily nose.
6. Environment
It is undeniable that the environment also affects the quality of the skin. The air quality may differ from place to place. Plus, humid and hot weather can also cause you to sweat, making your skin look oily because the glands produce an oily substance that prolongs your sweat’s evaporation and maximises the cooling effect.
Conversely, arid and cold weather may dry out your oil, and your skin will ramp up your oil production in defence.
My oils make me feel sufficient not to use moisturiser, and the cold atmosphere encourages me not to take enough fluids, drastically butchered my skin barrier. Hence, I invested in gel-based moisturiser and bought a water bottle to keep myself moisturised and hydrated.
Here Are Some Tips To Get Rid Of An Oily Nose
Managing oily skin is tricky, but you can do so with the right products. Many skincare brands make products catering to different skin types, even for an oily nose. Plus, many estheticians online help you select the right products. That means that you can have your hands off them without any doubt.
Starting your day and going to bed by washing with gentle foam cleansers and having salicylic acid is the best choice. A harsh cleanser will rip off the oil from your face and cause the sebum to oversecrete. However, studies have shown that salicylic acid not only targets acne-prone skin but also it helps to reduce the amount of sebum that your skin produces.
Make moisturisers your friend. Use them daily without fail. Hydrating water-based cleansers and gel-based cleansers are solid choices for your skin. These products will prevent your skin from dehydration and will help you to retain the hydration in your skin.
You can add exfoliators to your skincare routine. Exfoliators are mild cleansing agents that supplement the cleansers in cleansing the grimes and dirt from your face. It helps to minimise potential sheen on your face. Some exfoliators contain glycolic acid or lactic acid that helps to minimise pores and control sebum on your face. Try adding it before applying moisturisers.
Applying sunscreen is essential. Sunscreens are necessary because research shows that sun damage can make your pores appear more prominent. Exposure to UV rays can dry out your skin, thus, increasing sebum secretion. A generous dose of sunscreen with an SPF of more than 30 is an oily nose remedy that will protect your skin.

Though these measures would temporarily cater ‘why my nose is so oily’ problem by minimising the sebum secretion, none of them will guarantee you that you won’t have oily nose moments after washing your face. For this, you must carry blotted sheets to soak up the oil that builds up during the day.
Final Words
Sometimes managing oily skin or having proper skincare can be overwhelming. If you have recently shifted to oily skin, it is just a matter of correcting some factors that have caused this shift.
On the other hand, if you have oily skin from the start, you must invest your time in finding the right products and gird up your loins to find the product that brings a little matt to your mug.
Research your products before switching them. Try using organic products because they are less harsh than synthetic ones. More powerful products tend to strip off the oil that eventually tries to ramp the oil secretion on your face. So please don’t use them.
Drinking lots of water and having a healthy lifestyle can also treat your oily nose. Keeping yourself hydrated is the key, and avoiding junk and spicy foods can help.
Conclusively, every skin is personal to everyone. Identifying the individual triggers, getting a hold of them and letting them treated will regulate the oil production on your skin, and soon you will find yourself out from the ‘why my nose is so oily’ statement.
P.S. Every skin type has pros and cons, so don’t dread being oily skin-typed. Remember, this skin type can protect you from premature wrinkles right products, along with the proper routine and healthy habits, can make your skin gorgeously beautiful. Good luck!
Resources
https://skinkraft.com/blogs/articles/oily-nose
https://letsdisco.com/blogs/mens-skin-care-grooming/why-your-nose-is-oily-and-how-to-remedy-it
https://www.stryx.com/blogs/skincare/oily-nose-causes-treatments-prevention