Colds, flu and allergy season often start with familiar symptoms: sneezing, congestion and a constant runny nose. But while we focus on feeling better, one of the first visible signs of illness is often overlooked, the skin around the nose and lips.
Redness, soreness and cracking in these areas go beyond appearance, often the result of repeated irritation, moisture loss and environmental stress on some of the most delicate skin on the face.
When you have a cold, flu or allergies, your nose becomes the body’s frontline defence. Frequent wiping, blowing and constant contact with tissues create friction that the skin simply isn’t designed to handle. At the same time, inflammation weakens the skin barrier, leaving it more prone to dryness and sensitivity.
Lips are affected in a similar way. Unlike the rest of the face, they don’t contain oil glands, which makes them more vulnerable to dryness, especially when congestion leads to mouth breathing or dehydration during illness.
Many people instinctively reach for standard lip balms, which can provide short-term relief. However, during illness, both the nose and lips are affected at the same time, and general lip care is not always designed to manage this combination.
This is where a product like LETIbalm Nose & Lip Repair Balm plays a more targeted role. Its formulation is designed to support the skin under these conditions. Occlusive ingredients such as lanolin and mineral oil help reduce moisture loss by forming a protective layer, while emollients like cocoa seed butter and sunflower oil soften and condition the skin. Vitamin E supports recovery and centella asiatica helps calm visible irritation.
Available at Dis-Chem and independent pharmacies. More details on Ivohealth.co.za
