This article explains how and why your nose changes as you get older. It also answers some common questions about nose growth.
How Your Nose Changes Over Time
In one study, researchers examined photos of 700 White faces from people age 20 to 80 years old. The purpose of the study was to make facial recognition software better at predicting how faces change over time so images of missing persons can be updated. Researchers looked at 36 different facial “landmarks,” measuring the distances between them.
They found that age-related changes cause the nose to slope downward with age. The distance from your nose to your mouth also decreases as you get older.
The researchers also noted that the outer part of the nostrils tended to widen. These changes don’t mean the nose is getting bigger, but that its changing shape could make it look bigger.
Nose Growth in Early Life
In childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, the nose is growing. Think of the nose you had as a baby, and what it looked like later as a teenager. Your nose obviously got bigger. It grew along with the rest of your face and body.
When exactly the nose stops growing is debated among experts. Some researchers report that the nose stops growing around age 12, while others say it stops at an older age, around 16 or 17, or even early adulthood. Gender and ethnicity may explain these differences.
Once you reach adulthood, the nose stops growing. Therefore, a “larger” nose isn’t because of growth, but because key structures within the nose change.
Structural Nasal Changes in Later Life
In adulthood, the nose undergoes many structural or anatomical changes, such as:
Nose skin thins and loses elasticity (the ability to stretch and “bounce back”). The tip of the nose droops. Cartilage inside your nose weakens and softens. Nasal cartilage sometimes becomes brittle like bone. Pieces of cartilage that attach the top and bottom parts of the sides of your nose can separate.
These changes can lengthen your nose, even though it isn’t actually growing.
Implications of a Larger Nose
Your nose serves two key purposes: bringing warm, humidified air into your lungs and providing the sense of smell. Age-related changes to the nose can impact how well it works. The changes can lead to an obstruction or blockage.
The nose also has aesthetic value for many people. Its age-related changes can mean you aren’t as happy with the way your face looks. Some people opt for surgery on their nose to improve their appearance and/or quality of life.
Summary
Your nose grows throughout childhood and your teen years. It may even grow a bit during early adulthood. But after that, any changes you notice are not related to nose growth. Instead, they’re the result of changes to your skin and cartilage that alter the shape of the nose. These changes are a natural part of aging.
