Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHydrationHumidifiersSteam InhalationSaline Nasal SprayNeti PotPetroleum JellyNatural OilsAvoid PickingAvoid Triggers
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Hydration
Humidifiers
Steam Inhalation
Saline Nasal Spray
Neti Pot
Petroleum Jelly
Natural Oils
Avoid Picking
Avoid Triggers
Treating a dry nose means taking steps to moisturize the lining of the nasal passages and sinuses when they are not producing enough mucus. There are many reasons why this may be happening, including a drop in humidity,dehydration,allergy medications, and even medical conditions likeSjögren’s diseasethat affect moisture-producingmucus membranes.
While the treatment may be focused on resolving the underlying cause, there are steps you can take to manage the symptoms of a dry nose, including drinking plenty of water, using a humidifier, or applying Vaseline to your nostrils. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine may also help.
Verywell / Nez Riaz
Increase Your Fluid Intake
Drinking more fluids, specifically water, may help thinmucusand spread it over the lining of the sinuses and nasal passages. This can help ease the stuffed or clogged feeling in your nose.
It may also be helpful to limit your intake of alcohol andcaffeine. Both have adiureticeffect that can cause you to urinate more, leading to the loss of moisture in your nose and sinuses. Caffeine sources not only include coffee and black tea but also green tea, chocolate, colas, and energy drinks.
Make a point of drinking more water when you are out in the summer heat or whenever you engage in strenuous physical activity.
Use a Humidifier
Ahumidifieradds moisture to the air. There are severalkinds of humidifiers, including steam humidifiers that create steam with heat and cool-mist humidifiers that generate an ultra-fine mist without heat.
Here are some tips that may help:
Inhale Steam
You can also boil water andinhale its steam.
To do this safely:
To help clear sinus passages, you can add several drops ofeucalyptus oilor camphor oil available online and at many larger pharmacies. You can also try adding 1 teaspoon ofVicks VapoRub(which contains eucalyptus oil, camphor oil, and menthol) to hot water.
Use Saline Nasal Spray
Asaline nasal sprayis a saltwater liquid that is sprayed into your nostrils to reduce congestion and thin mucus. It also keeps your nasal passageways moist.
Saline nasal sprays are sold over-the-counter (OTC) at drug stores or pharmacies.
Try a Neti Pot
ANeti potlooks like a small teapot and it’s used to irrigate (flush) the nasal and sinus passages.Nasal irrigationhelps remove excess mucus and thins nasal discharge.
You can buy a Neti pot at your local drugstore along with asaline sinus rinsemade with distilled water. You can also make your own sinus rinse solution as follows:
How to Use a Neti PotTo use a Neti pot:Add the saline solution to a clean, dry neti pot.Bend over the sink, and turn your head at a 45-degree angle.Place the spout of the Neti pot into the nostril facing the ceiling, creating a seal.Tip the Neti pot, allowing the saline solution to run in one nostril and out the other.Continue pouring until the pot is empty.Remove the Neti pot and lift your head.Use a tissue to absorb any water or mucus that leaves your nostrils.
How to Use a Neti Pot
To use a Neti pot:Add the saline solution to a clean, dry neti pot.Bend over the sink, and turn your head at a 45-degree angle.Place the spout of the Neti pot into the nostril facing the ceiling, creating a seal.Tip the Neti pot, allowing the saline solution to run in one nostril and out the other.Continue pouring until the pot is empty.Remove the Neti pot and lift your head.Use a tissue to absorb any water or mucus that leaves your nostrils.
To use a Neti pot:
Use Petroleum Jelly
If the dryness is limited to your nostrils, you can apply a small dab ofpetroleum jellyinside of each. Petroleum jelly forms an occlusive (airtight) seal that traps moisture and keeps the nasal tissues moist.
Petroleum jelly, also calledpetrolatum, is a mixture of mineral oils and waxes that has been used for generations to treat skin conditions, includingnosebleeds. Vaseline is the best-known brand of petroleum jelly, sold in the United States since 1870.
Although generally regarded as safe, petroleum jelly can cause lung problems if overused in the nostrils. On rare occasions, thelipoids(fats) in petroleum jelly can find their way to the tiny air sacs of the lung (calledalveoli) and causepneumonia.
If you have a preexisting chronic lung condition, likeCOPD, speak to your healthcare provider before using this at-home treatment.
Try Natural Oils
You can also try applying neutral oils such ascoconut oiloralmond oilto your nostrils to treat nasal dryness. Use a cotton swab to apply a small amount inside of each nostril.
These natural oils are safe to use in your nostrils and should not be confused withessential oilsthat shouldneverbe applied directly to nasal tissues.
Essential oils are commonly inhaled. Some of these inhaled oils can open blocked nasal passages, including not only eucalyptus oil and camphor oil but also:
To inhale essential oils, add a few drops to a tissue or handkerchief and breathe in the aromatic fumes. Avoid getting essential oils on your skin as they can cause irritation.
Don’t Pick Your Nose
This isn’t a remedy, per se, but is an important habit to break if your nose is dry and irritated. Dry air can cause your nasal membranes to dry out, leading to cracking and scabs. If you pick at the dried tissues, bleeding can occur, leading to even more scabbing and dryness.
Nose-picking can also introduce viruses and bacteria to your nasal passages, which can cause a local infection or even respiratory infections likeStreptococcus pneumoniae(the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia).
Avoid Your Triggers
Certain things can trigger nasal dryness, some of the more common of which include:
By identifying your triggers, you can build strategies to avoid them. This may include increasing humidity in your house during dry weather, running an air purifier with aHEPA filterto pull irritants out of the air, and using non-drug treatments (like a Neti pot or steam inhalation) to treat colds and occasional allergies.
Summary
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Network.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Humidifiers and health.Chitsuthipakorn W, Kanjanawasee D, Hoang MP, Seresirikachorn K, Snidvongs K.Optimal device and regimen of nasal saline treatment for sinonasal diseases: Systematic review.OTO Open. 2022;6(2):2473974X221105277. doi:10.1177/2473974X221105277Piromchai P, Puvatanond C, Kirtsreesakul V, et al.A multicenter survey on the effectiveness of nasal irrigation devices in rhinosinusitis patients.Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2020;5(6):1003-1010. doi:10.1002/lio2.497American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.Czarnowicki T, Malajian D, Khattri S, et al.Petrolatum: barrier repair and antimicrobial responses underlying this “inert” moisturizer.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137(4):1091-1102.e7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2015.08.013Kilaru H, Prasad S, Radha S, Nallagonda R, Kilaru SC, Nandury EC.Nasal application of petrolatum ointment - a silent cause of exogenous lipoid pneumonia: successfully treated with prednisolone.Respir Med Case Rep. 2017 Jul 8;22:98–100. doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2017.07.003Farrar AJ, Farrar FC.Clinical aromatherapy.Nurs Clin North Am. 2020; 55(4):489–504. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2020.06.015Connor V, German E, Pojar S, et al.Hands are vehicles for transmission ofStreptococcus pneumoniaein novel controlled human infection study.Eur Respir J. 2018 Oct 10;52(4):1800599. doi:10.1183/13993003.00599-2018
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Asthma and Allergy Network.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Humidifiers and health.Chitsuthipakorn W, Kanjanawasee D, Hoang MP, Seresirikachorn K, Snidvongs K.Optimal device and regimen of nasal saline treatment for sinonasal diseases: Systematic review.OTO Open. 2022;6(2):2473974X221105277. doi:10.1177/2473974X221105277Piromchai P, Puvatanond C, Kirtsreesakul V, et al.A multicenter survey on the effectiveness of nasal irrigation devices in rhinosinusitis patients.Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2020;5(6):1003-1010. doi:10.1002/lio2.497American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.Czarnowicki T, Malajian D, Khattri S, et al.Petrolatum: barrier repair and antimicrobial responses underlying this “inert” moisturizer.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137(4):1091-1102.e7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2015.08.013Kilaru H, Prasad S, Radha S, Nallagonda R, Kilaru SC, Nandury EC.Nasal application of petrolatum ointment - a silent cause of exogenous lipoid pneumonia: successfully treated with prednisolone.Respir Med Case Rep. 2017 Jul 8;22:98–100. doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2017.07.003Farrar AJ, Farrar FC.Clinical aromatherapy.Nurs Clin North Am. 2020; 55(4):489–504. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2020.06.015Connor V, German E, Pojar S, et al.Hands are vehicles for transmission ofStreptococcus pneumoniaein novel controlled human infection study.Eur Respir J. 2018 Oct 10;52(4):1800599. doi:10.1183/13993003.00599-2018
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Asthma and Allergy Network.Sinusitis.MedlinePlus.Humidifiers and health.Chitsuthipakorn W, Kanjanawasee D, Hoang MP, Seresirikachorn K, Snidvongs K.Optimal device and regimen of nasal saline treatment for sinonasal diseases: Systematic review.OTO Open. 2022;6(2):2473974X221105277. doi:10.1177/2473974X221105277Piromchai P, Puvatanond C, Kirtsreesakul V, et al.A multicenter survey on the effectiveness of nasal irrigation devices in rhinosinusitis patients.Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2020;5(6):1003-1010. doi:10.1002/lio2.497American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.Czarnowicki T, Malajian D, Khattri S, et al.Petrolatum: barrier repair and antimicrobial responses underlying this “inert” moisturizer.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137(4):1091-1102.e7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2015.08.013Kilaru H, Prasad S, Radha S, Nallagonda R, Kilaru SC, Nandury EC.Nasal application of petrolatum ointment - a silent cause of exogenous lipoid pneumonia: successfully treated with prednisolone.Respir Med Case Rep. 2017 Jul 8;22:98–100. doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2017.07.003Farrar AJ, Farrar FC.Clinical aromatherapy.Nurs Clin North Am. 2020; 55(4):489–504. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2020.06.015Connor V, German E, Pojar S, et al.Hands are vehicles for transmission ofStreptococcus pneumoniaein novel controlled human infection study.Eur Respir J. 2018 Oct 10;52(4):1800599. doi:10.1183/13993003.00599-2018
Asthma and Allergy Network.Sinusitis.
MedlinePlus.Humidifiers and health.
Chitsuthipakorn W, Kanjanawasee D, Hoang MP, Seresirikachorn K, Snidvongs K.Optimal device and regimen of nasal saline treatment for sinonasal diseases: Systematic review.OTO Open. 2022;6(2):2473974X221105277. doi:10.1177/2473974X221105277
Piromchai P, Puvatanond C, Kirtsreesakul V, et al.A multicenter survey on the effectiveness of nasal irrigation devices in rhinosinusitis patients.Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2020;5(6):1003-1010. doi:10.1002/lio2.497
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Saline sinus rinse recipe.
Czarnowicki T, Malajian D, Khattri S, et al.Petrolatum: barrier repair and antimicrobial responses underlying this “inert” moisturizer.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016;137(4):1091-1102.e7. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2015.08.013
Kilaru H, Prasad S, Radha S, Nallagonda R, Kilaru SC, Nandury EC.Nasal application of petrolatum ointment - a silent cause of exogenous lipoid pneumonia: successfully treated with prednisolone.Respir Med Case Rep. 2017 Jul 8;22:98–100. doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2017.07.003
Farrar AJ, Farrar FC.Clinical aromatherapy.Nurs Clin North Am. 2020; 55(4):489–504. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2020.06.015
Connor V, German E, Pojar S, et al.Hands are vehicles for transmission ofStreptococcus pneumoniaein novel controlled human infection study.Eur Respir J. 2018 Oct 10;52(4):1800599. doi:10.1183/13993003.00599-2018
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