Nose warmers exist for anyone with a face that is always cold – but why does it happen?
Winter is coming and were ready for plunging temperatures.
Its time to pick up a winter coat, pull on your boots and find the perfect cosy scarf.
But have you noticed that no matter how many layers you put on, your nose is still ice-cold?
Apparently there are plenty of explanations.
And there might even be the perfect solution – this knitted nose warmer.
Why is my nose so cold?
When your temperature falls, the body directs blood away from extremities and towards your vital organs to keep them warm and functioning properly.
And the reduced blood flow makes them feel colder.
But your frozen nose could also be a sign you are working too hard.
A study by researchers at the University of Nottingham earlier this year revealed that the temperature of your face can be affected by your mental workload.
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According to the research, your nose gets colder as you get more focused on a task.
Using tiny non-invasive thermal camera, they were able to monitor the correlation.
The scientists say that your body diverts blood flow from your face to your brain to cope with the mental demand.
Dr Alastair Campbell Ritchie of the Bioengineering Research Group, said:We expected that mental demands on an operator would result in physiological changes, but the direct correlation between the workload and the skin temperature was very impressive, and counter-intuitive – we were not expecting to see the face getting colder. With this accurate way to estimate workload, we can develop methods that will assist the operator at times of maximum stress.
Should I be worried?
A cold nose could mean you are more likely to get ill. Another study in 2011 showed that germs are much happier in a cold nose.
The team at Yale university in the U.S. found that the cold virus reproduces faster when the temperature in the nose dipped below 37oC – core body temperature. At 33oC, key immune system proteins were impaired and the virus could spread much faster.
Sensitivity to the cold could also be a sign of an under active thyroid or Raynaulds disease – which is causes by excessive narrowing of blood vessels and results in little or no blood flow in the extremities.
If you display any of the other symptoms or if you have a constantly cold nose, you should speak to your doctor.
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What can I do about it?
If you cant bare your shivering snout any longer and you dont fancy a full balaclava, you can try picking up a nose warmer.
The tiny knitted squares with strings attached cover up your nose to keep it nice and cosy.
You can pick-up the winter accessory from this Sheffield-based company or from Etsy or Ebay.
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According to their website, the idea was born when their founder realised that she wasnt the only one with this problem.
Alternatively, you can try wrapping your scarf around your face.
Its also important to keep the rest of your body as warm as possible to stop blood being directed away from the extremities.
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