Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesHome RemediesMedicationsCopingFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Causes

Home Remedies

Medications

Coping

Frequently Asked Questions

To stop a runny nose, you need to know what’s causing it. A mild runny nose from a cold will usually get better on its own with rest and plenty of fluids, while a chronic runny nose from allergies might need to be treated with medication.

This article covers home remedies and medications that can help with a runny nose, as well as the possible complications that can come from letting a runny nose go untreated.

Home Remedies to Stop a Runny Nose, an illustration of a woman steaming her face

What Causes a Runny Nose?

Many things can cause a temporaryrunny nose(rhinorrhea) that comes on fast:

Long-lasting (chronic) or recurring causes of a runny nose include:

Home Remedies to Stop a Runny Nose

Often, at-home treatments are enough to help with a runny nose. Things like steam and warm drinks can clear your nasal passages, help them drain, and relieve pressure.

Warm Drinks

If you have a viral infection orpostnasal dripthat’s giving you a runny nose and other symptoms like a sore throat, having something warm to drink can be soothing.

Facial Steam

If you’re congested, leaning over a bowl or pot of hot water may help loosen nasal mucus and let it drain more effectively.

Touse steamfor a runny nose:

Since there is a risk of burns, you should not use facial steam to help with a child’s runny nose.

Steam with Essential OilsWhile some people recommend adding essential oils to steam to help with congestion, you should know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate these oils.

Steam with Essential Oils

While some people recommend adding essential oils to steam to help with congestion, you should know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate these oils.

Hot Shower

A hot shower works like steam inhalation. You can take a shower or sit on the floor in the bathroom and breathe in the mist around you.

A steamy bathroom is safer for children than other ways to breathe in steam. A shower is less likely to lead to accidental spills of very hot water that can burn. However, children should always be supervised when in a bathroom where there is running hot water.

Rest

A runny nose is often a sign that your body is fighting an infection. You need to get plenty of rest to help your immune system do its job. Try to get to bed on time or even earlier when you’re fighting a cold or other illness. You may even find a daytime nap helpful.

Warm Compress

Humidifier

Humidifiersadd moisture to the air. This can help loosen mucus and make it easier for the fluid to drain out of your nose.

Humidifiers are convenient because you can run them in your bedroom while you’re asleep. Just make sure to keep your humidifier clean, as moist places can be hotbeds for mold and bacteria to grow.

Neti Pot

Anetipotis a container that can be used to help clear nasal passages. It washes out (irrigates) mucus and flushes the sinuses.

You should only use distilled, sterile, or boiled and cooled water for a neti pot. Tap water may have organisms in it that could cause infections when they get into your nose.

To use a neti pot, follow these steps:

Neti pots need a saline (salt) solution rather than plain water. This helps the water pass through the delicate nasal tissues. Ask a pharmacist to help you find salt that can be used for this purpose.

Medications to Stop a Runny Nose

Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications can help with a runny nose. However, you’ll need to know what’s causing your runny nose before you’ll be able to choose the right kind of medicine for it. For example, allergy medicines won’t necessarily help if you have a viral infection.

Nasal Sprays

Nasal sprays may help with a runny nose. The type you choose will depend on the cause and your preference. You might need to try a few kinds before you find one that works.

OTC Medications

OTC medicinesthat may help your runny nose include:

Coping With a Runny Nose

There are a few other things you can do to make coping with a runny nose while you’re recovering a little easier and help avoid spreading your illness to others if you’re sick:

When to See a Healthcare ProviderA runny nose usually gets better within a week to 10 days.However, a runny nose that goes untreated could lead to a sinus infection if fluid builds up in the sinuses.Untreated allergies, colds, and sinus infections can also increase the risk of ear infections.Seek medical care if you have a runny nose and the following signs and symptoms:Facial swellingBlurred visionThroat pain that gets worseSpots on your throatNasal discharge that smells bad or is dark in colorSymptoms that last more than 10 daysIf nasal discharge occurs after a head injury

When to See a Healthcare Provider

A runny nose usually gets better within a week to 10 days.However, a runny nose that goes untreated could lead to a sinus infection if fluid builds up in the sinuses.Untreated allergies, colds, and sinus infections can also increase the risk of ear infections.Seek medical care if you have a runny nose and the following signs and symptoms:Facial swellingBlurred visionThroat pain that gets worseSpots on your throatNasal discharge that smells bad or is dark in colorSymptoms that last more than 10 daysIf nasal discharge occurs after a head injury

A runny nose usually gets better within a week to 10 days.However, a runny nose that goes untreated could lead to a sinus infection if fluid builds up in the sinuses.Untreated allergies, colds, and sinus infections can also increase the risk of ear infections.

Seek medical care if you have a runny nose and the following signs and symptoms:

Summary

Many things can cause a runny nose, including allergies, viruses, and cold weather. Often a runny nose doesn’t require treatment. However, you might find relief from some at-home measures like steam, warm compress, and warm drinks. Nasal sprays and OTC medications can also help.

If you frequently get a runny nose, it may be good to seek a medical opinion since chronic rhinitis can make life uncomfortable and lead to infections. You may have allergies that you could manage with a proper diagnosis.

Frequently Asked QuestionsUnfortunately, there is no single way to stop a runny nose completely. Blowing your nose, steam inhalation, or taking decongestants or antihistamines may help.Many things can cause a runny nose, including allergies, illness, cold weather, exercise, and some foods. Often runny noses are most profuse in the early stages of an illness. With unmanaged allergies, a runny nose may seem constant, too, especially if you have ongoing exposure to an allergen.Learn MoreUnderstanding Allergic RhinitisIf your runny nose lasts longer than 10 days, is getting worse, and your nasal discharge is thick and dark in color, you should see a healthcare provider.Learn MoreInfection Symptoms

Unfortunately, there is no single way to stop a runny nose completely. Blowing your nose, steam inhalation, or taking decongestants or antihistamines may help.

Many things can cause a runny nose, including allergies, illness, cold weather, exercise, and some foods. Often runny noses are most profuse in the early stages of an illness. With unmanaged allergies, a runny nose may seem constant, too, especially if you have ongoing exposure to an allergen.Learn MoreUnderstanding Allergic Rhinitis

Many things can cause a runny nose, including allergies, illness, cold weather, exercise, and some foods. Often runny noses are most profuse in the early stages of an illness. With unmanaged allergies, a runny nose may seem constant, too, especially if you have ongoing exposure to an allergen.

Learn MoreUnderstanding Allergic Rhinitis

If your runny nose lasts longer than 10 days, is getting worse, and your nasal discharge is thick and dark in color, you should see a healthcare provider.Learn MoreInfection Symptoms

If your runny nose lasts longer than 10 days, is getting worse, and your nasal discharge is thick and dark in color, you should see a healthcare provider.

Learn MoreInfection Symptoms

Nasal Congestion: Self-Care and Medicine for Stuffy Nose

10 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.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.University of Cincinnati Health.You are what you eat: Choose foods that boost immunity and fight infection.Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: More harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns. 2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010Michigan State University Center for Research on Ingredient Safety.Essential oils.Besedovsky L, Lange T, Haack M.The sleep-immune crosstalk in health and disease.Physiol Rev. 2019;99(3):1325-1380. doi:10.1152/physrev.00010.2018U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?Mount Sinai.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection.MedlinePlus.Ear infection - acute.MedlinePlus.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.

10 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.MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.University of Cincinnati Health.You are what you eat: Choose foods that boost immunity and fight infection.Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: More harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns. 2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010Michigan State University Center for Research on Ingredient Safety.Essential oils.Besedovsky L, Lange T, Haack M.The sleep-immune crosstalk in health and disease.Physiol Rev. 2019;99(3):1325-1380. doi:10.1152/physrev.00010.2018U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?Mount Sinai.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection.MedlinePlus.Ear infection - acute.MedlinePlus.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.

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.

MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.University of Cincinnati Health.You are what you eat: Choose foods that boost immunity and fight infection.Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: More harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns. 2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010Michigan State University Center for Research on Ingredient Safety.Essential oils.Besedovsky L, Lange T, Haack M.The sleep-immune crosstalk in health and disease.Physiol Rev. 2019;99(3):1325-1380. doi:10.1152/physrev.00010.2018U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?Mount Sinai.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection.MedlinePlus.Ear infection - acute.MedlinePlus.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.

MedlinePlus.Sinusitis.

University of Cincinnati Health.You are what you eat: Choose foods that boost immunity and fight infection.

Scarborough A, Scarborough O, Abdi H, Atkins J.Steam inhalation: More harm than good? Perspective from a UK burns centre.Burns. 2021;47(3):721-727. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2020.08.010

Michigan State University Center for Research on Ingredient Safety.Essential oils.

Besedovsky L, Lange T, Haack M.The sleep-immune crosstalk in health and disease.Physiol Rev. 2019;99(3):1325-1380. doi:10.1152/physrev.00010.2018

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?

Mount Sinai.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sinus infection.

MedlinePlus.Ear infection - acute.

MedlinePlus.Stuffy or runny nose - adult.

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