When you take your glasses off at the end of the day, do you often notice two dents on either side of your nose as you look in the mirror? Maybe they go away after a bit, or maybe they seem to stick around forever.
All glasses have the potential to leave pressure marks on your nose, but if you wear glasses every day, then this isn’t something you want to be dealing with all the time.
The good news is that while deep or lasting dents aren’t normal, you should be able to sort them out without too much trouble. Here’s how to deal with what looks like a permanent dent on your nose from glasses.
At a Glance:
- A permanent dent on the nose from glasses is very unlikely, but marks can last a while.
- Poorly fitted glasses or frames that are too heavy can leave dents that stick around for a long time.
- Take your glasses to an optician to see if the frames can be adjusted so they fit better.
- If your glasses are too heavy, you might be able to swap the lenses for high-index lenses, which are thinner and lighter than most other lens types.
- See a dermatologist if you have dents, bumps, sores, or marks that don’t seem to improve after you take your glasses off.
Can Glasses Actually Make Permanent Dents on Your Nose?
No. Ordinarily, permanent dents on your nose from glasses are unlikely. However, glasses that don’t fit well can result in stubborn skin irritation. In rare cases, people can develop skin lesions that stick around for long periods.
The nose pads or bridge of your glasses frame will always apply some pressure to your nose. This friction is what stops the glasses from slipping down your nose. But if your glasses fit poorly or are too heavy for you, this pressure can become uncomfortable or leave indents on your nose.
There’s also a rare condition called acanthoma fissuratum. This is caused by glasses repeatedly pressing or rubbing up against the skin. It creates a hard bump that sometimes has an indent running through the middle.
If you think you might have this condition, you need to make an appointment with your doctor. The condition often improves once the pressure is removed, but some lesions need treatment from a doctor.
Why Are My Glasses Leaving Dents on My Nose?
There are a few reasons it could seem like you might have a permanent dent on your nose from glasses, but most of them have solutions.
Your glasses are too heavy
It sounds obvious, but some people don’t realize their glasses are simply too heavy for them. A lot of the weight of a pair of glasses gets concentrated onto a very small area.
This is especially true if your frames use nose pads. Some bulky frames might look cool, but check the weight of the frame and read reviews before you buy to ensure they aren’t super heavy.
If your frames are too heavy, there’s not much you can do about it except switch to a lighter pair. You can browse eyeglass frames to compare styles, but the problem might be the way the nose pads are positioned or the weight of the lenses. An optician can change these things.
For example, if you have a strong prescription, check to see if you can switch to high-index lenses, which are thinner and lighter.
Your frames don’t fit properly
If you have glasses that pinch the sides of your nose, don’t sit evenly on your face, or always slide down, then your frame doesn’t fit properly. This can end up concentrating a lot of pressure onto very small areas.
An optician can adjust the arms, bridge, and alignment of the frame so your glasses fit your face the way they’re supposed to.
Your nose pads are too small or not positioned correctly
This is such a common problem. Some people think nose pads are supposed to leave marks on your nose, but they really shouldn’t if they’re fitted right and aren’t too small. Slight marks that disappear very soon after you remove your glasses might be acceptable, but don’t put up with deep, persistent marks.
Take your glasses to an optician to see if they can adjust the nose pads for a better fit. Alternatively, they might be able to switch the nose pads for bigger ones to relieve some of that pressure. If this still doesn’t work, you might have to switch to a lighter frame or try a different type of nose bridge instead of a frame with pads.
Your skin is getting irritated
Sometimes the issue isn’t just the pressure from the weight of the frame. Repeated rubbing against the skin can irritate it, and some people might even be getting an allergic reaction from the material of the glasses.
Glasses can cause something called contact dermatitis, which is when the skin reacts to certain plastics and metals. If you see redness, notice irritation, or get a rash around where your glasses make contact with your skin, then you might have contact dermatitis.
You can use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer to soothe the skin, but the problem may not go away until you remove the source of the irritation—which, in this case, might be your everyday glasses!
Seeing a dermatologist can help you figure out if you have a skin allergy or if it’s a different issue. If you find out you have an allergy, you can try swapping your nose pads with a different material.
When Do I Need to See a Doctor?
Start with an optician if the problem seems to be one of the issues we’ve discussed that can be resolved by changing the way your glasses fit on your face.
If the problem seems to be something else, or if your skin has changed in a way that’s worrying you, then you need to book an appointment with a dermatologist.
Signs you should see a doctor include:
- A firm/hard bump or raised patch where your glasses make contact
- A groove or indentation that doesn’t go away after you’ve seen an optician
- Pain, swelling, or redness that sticks around after you’ve taken your glasses off
- Itching or a rash that repeatedly appears around where your glasses touch your skin
- Broken skin, bleeding, or open sores
FAQs
Do glasses permanently change the shape of your nose?
No, a case of what looks like permanent dents on your nose from glasses is very unlikely. Pressure marks from glasses usually fade, even if they seem to linger for a long time.
Sometimes people can irritate their skin or have an allergic reaction to the materials in their glasses frame. Very rarely, people can develop a lesion called an acanthoma fissuratum. Even this often improves, but see a doctor, since it can look like other skin growths.
Which type of bridge is the best to prevent nose dents?
Glasses that fit well and aren’t too heavy are much less likely to leave dents, regardless of the type of bridge they have. Still, some people find certain types of bridges to be more comfortable. Saddle bridges are good for distributing pressure evenly. Nose pads are good because they can be custom-fitted to your individual face.
