Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Causes Sinus Pain?Sinus Pain TreatmentsOver-the-Counter Sinus Pain ReliefSinus Pain Home RemediesNatural Sinus Pain ReliefSummaryFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Causes Sinus Pain?
Sinus Pain Treatments
Over-the-Counter Sinus Pain Relief
Sinus Pain Home Remedies
Natural Sinus Pain Relief
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Sinus pain relief can often start at home. However, you may need to see your healthcare provider for sinus pain treatment depending on the cause.
Sinus pain can range in severity from a mildheadacheto excruciating head and face pain,toothaches, andearaches. Regardless of the underlying cause, sinus pain usually develops as the result of inflammation and congestion in the sinus cavities.
Sincecongestionis a big factor in causing sinus discomfort, many sinus pain treatments are aimed at reducing congestion.
This article will go over how to get relief from sinus pain. You’ll learn about over-the-counter (OTC) sinus pain relief medications, home remedies, and lifestyle modifications that help prevent or reduce sinus pressure. You’ll also find out when to call your provider for sinus pain treatment.
SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
Is Your Sinus Pain From an Infection?
Sinus pain happens when there is inflammation or irritation in your sinus cavities.
Your sinuses are hollow spaces in your facial bones that are lined with membranes that secrete mucus. Sinus pain is often a result of inflammation that blocks mucus from draining and leads to pain.
Sinus swelling can follow viral illnesses, including thecommon cold, or it can be due to mucus production fromallergiesor breathing in polluted air that leads to irritation. It can also happen if there are nasal blockages due to abnormal growths callednasal polypsor structural abnormalities, such as adeviated septum, that make you prone to congestion.
Sinus Headache or Migraine?About 80% of “sinus headaches” are actuallymigraineswith nasal symptoms. If you get frequent headaches, consult your healthcare provider or a headache specialist, since there are medications and prevention strategies specifically for migraines.
Sinus Headache or Migraine?
About 80% of “sinus headaches” are actuallymigraineswith nasal symptoms. If you get frequent headaches, consult your healthcare provider or a headache specialist, since there are medications and prevention strategies specifically for migraines.
How to Tell the Difference Between a Sinus Headache and Migraine
Other Causes of Sinus Pain
If you have intense sinus pain and pressure that gets worse when you are diving, flying in an airplane, driving up a steep mountain, or participating in other activities that involve steep altitude changes, it could be a condition called sinus barotrauma.
In rare cases, sinus pain that doesn’t respond to treatment could be a sign of a serious condition such asnasal cavity or paranasal sinus cancer.
Everything You Need to Know About Sinus Barotrauma
If you experience sinus pain, there are over-the-counter (OTC) medications, home remedies, and lifestyle strategies that may be helpful.
If your sinus pain symptoms last more than a week or keep coming back, see a healthcare provider. It could be a bacterialsinus infection, also called sinusitis,that requires a course ofantibioticsor it might be migraines or another condition that requires medical intervention.
Fungal sinus infections can also occur and require surgery and/or antifungal medications.
What Is Fungal Sinusitis?
Pain Relievers
Common pain relievers that may be effective for treating sinus pain and sinus headaches include:
Aspirin can be used in adults but should not be given to children due to the risk ofReye’s syndrome.
Some of these pain medications can be combined if one of them is not effective for sinus pain when used alone. You should talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before trying this, however, and let them know of any other medications you are taking.
How Is a Sinus Infection Treated?
Decongestants
How to Avoid Rebound Congestion
Antihistamines
If allergies are causing your congestion and leading to sinus pain, OTCantihistaminesmay be helpful.
Common OTC antihistamines include:
Benadryl (diphenhydramine)is another OTC option, but it is an older, first-generation antihistamine that has a higher risk of side effects, especially drowsiness, compared to the second-generation antihistamines listed above.
What Causes Sinus Infections?
There are a variety of home remedies that can help with the congestion to relieve sinus pain and pressure. Home remedies that you can try include:
The Best Neti Pots for Fast Sinus Pain Relief
In addition to remedies and medications, practices that promote relaxation may help you to manage and prevent sinus pain. This can include:
You may want to enroll in a local mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training program to learn techniques commonly used in studies on meditation and head pain.
Using Pressure Points to Relieve Your Sinuses
How to Give Yourself a Sinus Massage
If you have sinus pain, doing a sinus massage may help. Massaging your sinuses can help drain them and relieve pressure and pain.
Here’s how to do a general sinus massage:
You have different sinuses located in different parts of your face and neck: frontal sinuses,maxillarysinuses, andethmoid/sphenoid sinuses. Each sinus can be targeted with these techniques.
How to Prevent Sinus Pain
There are also steps you can take to prevent sinus pain. Pay attention to triggers for allergies and nasal irritation and try to reduce or prevent those exposures whenever possible. Common irritants that can cause sinus pain include:
Cigarette smoke:Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are common triggers for sinus pain and sinusitis.Quitting or reducing exposure can alleviate symptoms.
Allergens:Allergies are a major culprit of sinusitis and sinus pain.Common allergens include pollen, mold, pets, and dust mites. An allergist can give you anallergy testto help identify what’s causing your symptoms so that you can take steps to reduce exposure.
What Are the Complications of a Sinus Infection?
There are some over-the-counter products and home remedies that can give you fast sinus pain relief. Most of the common causes of sinus pain, like congestion from colds or seasonal allergies, don’t last long and are easy to treat at home.
However, if your sinus pain worsens, continues more than a week, or keeps recurring, contact a healthcare provider or allergist. They can help identify exposures and/or evaluate if there are other medical conditions that may be causing your sinus pain.
Sinus Infection or COVID?
Frequently Asked QuestionsOTC pain relievers or decongestants are often helpful for sinus pain. That said, if you have sinus headaches often or at-home sinus pain treatment isn’t helping, talk to your provider. You could have migraines rather than sinus headaches.Learn MoreSinus Headache Without CongestionSinus pain from viral infections will typically go away within about a week. If it lasts longer, see your healthcare provider. You may have a bacterial or fungal infection or another condition that requires medical treatment.Some research has suggested that foods like dairy and sweets, as well as foods high in histamines (like processed meat) and salicylates (like legumes), can make sinus symptoms worse. You might want to avoid these foods if you have sinus pain.Symptoms like sinus pain and pressure may get better on their own or with at-home remedies. However, if you have sinus pain that lasts longer than a week, gets worse, or keeps coming back, you should see your healthcare provider.Learn MoreSinus Infection vs. a Cold
OTC pain relievers or decongestants are often helpful for sinus pain. That said, if you have sinus headaches often or at-home sinus pain treatment isn’t helping, talk to your provider. You could have migraines rather than sinus headaches.Learn MoreSinus Headache Without Congestion
OTC pain relievers or decongestants are often helpful for sinus pain. That said, if you have sinus headaches often or at-home sinus pain treatment isn’t helping, talk to your provider. You could have migraines rather than sinus headaches.
Learn MoreSinus Headache Without Congestion
Sinus pain from viral infections will typically go away within about a week. If it lasts longer, see your healthcare provider. You may have a bacterial or fungal infection or another condition that requires medical treatment.
Some research has suggested that foods like dairy and sweets, as well as foods high in histamines (like processed meat) and salicylates (like legumes), can make sinus symptoms worse. You might want to avoid these foods if you have sinus pain.
Symptoms like sinus pain and pressure may get better on their own or with at-home remedies. However, if you have sinus pain that lasts longer than a week, gets worse, or keeps coming back, you should see your healthcare provider.Learn MoreSinus Infection vs. a Cold
Symptoms like sinus pain and pressure may get better on their own or with at-home remedies. However, if you have sinus pain that lasts longer than a week, gets worse, or keeps coming back, you should see your healthcare provider.
Learn MoreSinus Infection vs. a Cold
Do You Always Need Antibiotics for a Sinus Infection?
20 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.Harvard Health Publishing.Sinusitis.de Camargo RA, Nicodemo AC, Sumi DV, et al.Facial structure alterations and abnormalities of the paranasal sinuses on multidetector computed tomography scans of patients with treated mucosal leishmaniasis. Ghedin E, ed.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(7):e3001. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003001Cleveland Clinic.Sinus headaches.Vandenbulcke R, van Holsbeeck B, Crevits I, Marrannes J.Frontal sinus barotrauma.J Belg Soc Radiol. 2016;100(1):60. doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.908Ah-See K.Sinusitis (acute rhinosinusitis).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:0511.Chapman J, Arnold JK.Reye syndrome. In:StatPearls[Internet].Dokuyucu R, Gokce H, Sahan M, et al.Systemic side effects of locally used oxymetazoline.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(2):2674–2678.Sinus infections (sinusitis).AFP. 2011;83(9):1064.Food and Drug Administration.Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Do nasal saline washes prevent sinusitis flare-ups?Cleveland Clinic.How you can tell if you need a humidifier.Columbia University Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.Sinusitis.Gu Q, Hou J-C, Fang X-M.Mindfulness meditation for primary headache pain: a meta-analysis.Chinese Medical Journal. 2018;131(7):829-838. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.228242Intergis Health.Sinus massage techniques that reduce congestion.Reh DD, Higgins TS, Smith TL.Impact of tobacco smoke on chronic rhinosinusitis: a review of the literature.International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. 2012;2(5):362-369. doi:10.1002/alr.21054Cedars-Sinai.Allergic sinusitis.Sawani A, Farhangi M, N CA, et al.Limiting dietary sugar improves pediatric sinonasal symptoms and reduces inflammation.J Med Food. 2018;21(6):527-534. doi:10.1089/jmf.2017.0126Kęszycka PK, Lange E, Gajewska D.Effectiveness of personalized low salicylate diet in the management of salicylates hypersensitive patients: interventional study.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):991. Published 2021 Mar 19. doi:10.3390/nu13030991Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food intolerances.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1684. Published 2019 Jul 22. doi:10.3390/nu11071684Frosh A, Cruz C, Wellsted D, Stephens J.Effect of a dairy diet on nasopharyngeal mucus secretion.Laryngoscope. 2019;129(1):13-17. doi:10.1002/lary.27287
20 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.Harvard Health Publishing.Sinusitis.de Camargo RA, Nicodemo AC, Sumi DV, et al.Facial structure alterations and abnormalities of the paranasal sinuses on multidetector computed tomography scans of patients with treated mucosal leishmaniasis. Ghedin E, ed.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(7):e3001. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003001Cleveland Clinic.Sinus headaches.Vandenbulcke R, van Holsbeeck B, Crevits I, Marrannes J.Frontal sinus barotrauma.J Belg Soc Radiol. 2016;100(1):60. doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.908Ah-See K.Sinusitis (acute rhinosinusitis).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:0511.Chapman J, Arnold JK.Reye syndrome. In:StatPearls[Internet].Dokuyucu R, Gokce H, Sahan M, et al.Systemic side effects of locally used oxymetazoline.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(2):2674–2678.Sinus infections (sinusitis).AFP. 2011;83(9):1064.Food and Drug Administration.Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Do nasal saline washes prevent sinusitis flare-ups?Cleveland Clinic.How you can tell if you need a humidifier.Columbia University Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.Sinusitis.Gu Q, Hou J-C, Fang X-M.Mindfulness meditation for primary headache pain: a meta-analysis.Chinese Medical Journal. 2018;131(7):829-838. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.228242Intergis Health.Sinus massage techniques that reduce congestion.Reh DD, Higgins TS, Smith TL.Impact of tobacco smoke on chronic rhinosinusitis: a review of the literature.International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. 2012;2(5):362-369. doi:10.1002/alr.21054Cedars-Sinai.Allergic sinusitis.Sawani A, Farhangi M, N CA, et al.Limiting dietary sugar improves pediatric sinonasal symptoms and reduces inflammation.J Med Food. 2018;21(6):527-534. doi:10.1089/jmf.2017.0126Kęszycka PK, Lange E, Gajewska D.Effectiveness of personalized low salicylate diet in the management of salicylates hypersensitive patients: interventional study.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):991. Published 2021 Mar 19. doi:10.3390/nu13030991Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food intolerances.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1684. Published 2019 Jul 22. doi:10.3390/nu11071684Frosh A, Cruz C, Wellsted D, Stephens J.Effect of a dairy diet on nasopharyngeal mucus secretion.Laryngoscope. 2019;129(1):13-17. doi:10.1002/lary.27287
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.
Harvard Health Publishing.Sinusitis.de Camargo RA, Nicodemo AC, Sumi DV, et al.Facial structure alterations and abnormalities of the paranasal sinuses on multidetector computed tomography scans of patients with treated mucosal leishmaniasis. Ghedin E, ed.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(7):e3001. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003001Cleveland Clinic.Sinus headaches.Vandenbulcke R, van Holsbeeck B, Crevits I, Marrannes J.Frontal sinus barotrauma.J Belg Soc Radiol. 2016;100(1):60. doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.908Ah-See K.Sinusitis (acute rhinosinusitis).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:0511.Chapman J, Arnold JK.Reye syndrome. In:StatPearls[Internet].Dokuyucu R, Gokce H, Sahan M, et al.Systemic side effects of locally used oxymetazoline.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(2):2674–2678.Sinus infections (sinusitis).AFP. 2011;83(9):1064.Food and Drug Administration.Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Do nasal saline washes prevent sinusitis flare-ups?Cleveland Clinic.How you can tell if you need a humidifier.Columbia University Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.Sinusitis.Gu Q, Hou J-C, Fang X-M.Mindfulness meditation for primary headache pain: a meta-analysis.Chinese Medical Journal. 2018;131(7):829-838. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.228242Intergis Health.Sinus massage techniques that reduce congestion.Reh DD, Higgins TS, Smith TL.Impact of tobacco smoke on chronic rhinosinusitis: a review of the literature.International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. 2012;2(5):362-369. doi:10.1002/alr.21054Cedars-Sinai.Allergic sinusitis.Sawani A, Farhangi M, N CA, et al.Limiting dietary sugar improves pediatric sinonasal symptoms and reduces inflammation.J Med Food. 2018;21(6):527-534. doi:10.1089/jmf.2017.0126Kęszycka PK, Lange E, Gajewska D.Effectiveness of personalized low salicylate diet in the management of salicylates hypersensitive patients: interventional study.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):991. Published 2021 Mar 19. doi:10.3390/nu13030991Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food intolerances.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1684. Published 2019 Jul 22. doi:10.3390/nu11071684Frosh A, Cruz C, Wellsted D, Stephens J.Effect of a dairy diet on nasopharyngeal mucus secretion.Laryngoscope. 2019;129(1):13-17. doi:10.1002/lary.27287
Harvard Health Publishing.Sinusitis.
de Camargo RA, Nicodemo AC, Sumi DV, et al.Facial structure alterations and abnormalities of the paranasal sinuses on multidetector computed tomography scans of patients with treated mucosal leishmaniasis. Ghedin E, ed.PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(7):e3001. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003001
Cleveland Clinic.Sinus headaches.
Vandenbulcke R, van Holsbeeck B, Crevits I, Marrannes J.Frontal sinus barotrauma.J Belg Soc Radiol. 2016;100(1):60. doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.908
Ah-See K.Sinusitis (acute rhinosinusitis).BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:0511.
Chapman J, Arnold JK.Reye syndrome. In:StatPearls[Internet].
Dokuyucu R, Gokce H, Sahan M, et al.Systemic side effects of locally used oxymetazoline.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(2):2674–2678.
Sinus infections (sinusitis).AFP. 2011;83(9):1064.
Food and Drug Administration.Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?
Harvard Health Publishing.Ask the doctor: Do nasal saline washes prevent sinusitis flare-ups?
Cleveland Clinic.How you can tell if you need a humidifier.
Columbia University Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.Sinusitis.
Gu Q, Hou J-C, Fang X-M.Mindfulness meditation for primary headache pain: a meta-analysis.Chinese Medical Journal. 2018;131(7):829-838. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.228242
Intergis Health.Sinus massage techniques that reduce congestion.
Reh DD, Higgins TS, Smith TL.Impact of tobacco smoke on chronic rhinosinusitis: a review of the literature.International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. 2012;2(5):362-369. doi:10.1002/alr.21054
Cedars-Sinai.Allergic sinusitis.
Sawani A, Farhangi M, N CA, et al.Limiting dietary sugar improves pediatric sinonasal symptoms and reduces inflammation.J Med Food. 2018;21(6):527-534. doi:10.1089/jmf.2017.0126
Kęszycka PK, Lange E, Gajewska D.Effectiveness of personalized low salicylate diet in the management of salicylates hypersensitive patients: interventional study.Nutrients. 2021;13(3):991. Published 2021 Mar 19. doi:10.3390/nu13030991
Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Pohl D.Food intolerances.Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1684. Published 2019 Jul 22. doi:10.3390/nu11071684
Frosh A, Cruz C, Wellsted D, Stephens J.Effect of a dairy diet on nasopharyngeal mucus secretion.Laryngoscope. 2019;129(1):13-17. doi:10.1002/lary.27287
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