There are many home remedies for soothing dryness inside your nose. Inhaling steam, applying petroleum jelly, or gently wiping with a damp cloth are just a few.
Cold or allergy season leaves many of us with a trademark symptom, right in the middle of our faces: a dry nose.
While a dry nose is uncomfortable, many remedies for it can be purchased in stores or online or even used with things you already have in your home.
Here are six effective home remedies:
Use your fingers to apply a very small dab of petroleum jelly to the lining inside of your nose. Not only is it good for keeping your nose moisturized, but it’s also safely handled by your stomach in small amounts.
Do not use this method too frequently or for prolonged periods, and do not apply too much at a time.
Rarely, petroleum jelly can make its way into the trachea and lungs and lead to significant lung problems. If you have a preexisting chronic lung problem, you may want to speak to your doctor before trying this at-home treatment.
Sleeping with a dry mist humidifier in your bedroom can help increase the humidity in your room, which can provide relief to your nasal passages.
Place the humidifier in the center of the room. The EPA suggests cleaning your humidifier as the manufacturer suggests, and consider using distilled water to avoid mineral buildup on your humidifier.
Here’s a tip: Don’t point it at furniture. The excess moisture can promote mold growth and damage wooden surfaces.
Saline nasal sprays contain sodium chloride. They can moisturize your nose while cleaning out dust, dirt, and pollen. They may also help relieve nasal congestion.
Some people prefer a nasal saline gel and feel this stays better than the liquid form.
Avoid using other medicated sprays to treat nasal dryness.
You can use devices like a Neti pot or a squeeze bottle to let sterilized water gently flow into one side of your nose and out the other side. Never use water that is not sterile. Using unsterilized water can cause a serious infection.
Only use distilled water or water that has been boiled and fully cooled.
Moisten a facial tissue with water using a spray bottle, and wipe along the lining of your nostrils. This can help prevent drying and irritation.
You may want to avoid baby wipes, even though they are designed for cleaning sensitive areas without causing over-drying, the fragrances in many baby wipes may cause irritation or trigger allergies..
Besides using moisture in the air, make sure you help your body from the inside by staying hydrated.
Drinking plenty of fluids, such as water or tea, especially if you have a dry nose during a cold, can help moisturize your nose from the inside out.
There are a few home remedies you can try to ease the dryness in your nose. Inhaling steam may help, as may putting a bit of petroleum jelly in your nostrils. Another idea is to use a damp cloth to gently wipe down the inside of your nose. Staying hydrated can also help keep your nostrils moist.
A common cause of a dry nose is blowing your nose too often, whether that’s because of a cold or allergies. A dry nose is also common among people who live in areas with dry weather and who smoke tobacco or marijuana.
Chronic dry nose can also be caused by certain medical conditions, such as Sjögren’s disease.
Other causes of a dry nose include infection, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic atrophic rhinitis, a longstanding nasal inflammation due to an unknown cause.
Dry nose is also a common symptom of certain medications, such as antihistamines and decongestants, used for the common cold or allergies. Other nasal sprays, like Flonase, can also cause a dry nose.
Outside of being uncomfortable and painful, a case of dry nose is rarely serious. The linings of your nose and the crease underneath are sensitive. Excess dryness and irritation can cause the skin to crack and bleed.
However, if you have had a dry nose for more than 10 days or experience signs of infection — fever, discharge, bloody nose that won’t stop, and weakness — you should contact your doctor immediately.
In terms of natural remedies, inhaling steam, using a saline spray, or an over-the-counter gel that contains ectoine, a natural molecule, can help reduce nasal dryness. A 2021 review of clinical trials using nasal sprays containing ectoine found these sprays to be effective.
If you have Sjögren’s disease, you may need prescription medication such as Salagen (pilocarpine) and Evoxac (cevimeline).
If you are experiencing the discomfort of a dry nose, there are things you can do at home. From inhaling steam and taking a sauna to petroleum jelly and nasal spray, here are 5 remedies to try.
Speak with your doctor or healthcare professional if your dry nose persists.