What Causes a Deviated Septum and How Do You Fix It?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGenetic or Inherited CausesAging-Related CausesInfection-Related CausesCan a Deviated Septum Heal On Its Own?Deviated Septum TreatmentsDeviated Septum SurgeryWhen To See a Healthcare ProviderSummary

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Genetic or Inherited Causes

Aging-Related Causes

Infection-Related Causes

Can a Deviated Septum Heal On Its Own?

Deviated Septum Treatments

Deviated Septum Surgery

When To See a Healthcare Provider

Summary

Adeviated septumis when your septum is in an abnormal or crooked position. This wall ofcartilageand bone divides your nose into its left and right chambers.

There is a wide range of possible causes for a deviated septum. The problem can be present at birth. It can also occur due totrauma, certain diseases, or as a result of aging.

When your septum has moved to one side, it can cause nasal discharge,congestion, or problems with normal breathing. You may have a feeling that you can’t breathe through your nose or can only breathe through one nostril. Treatment can relieve severe symptoms and restore your septum to its normal place.

This article describes the causes of deviated septum and methods for treating it.

Deviated Septum

Genetic or inherited causes can result in a deviated septum that is present at birth. Neonatal (newborn) septal deviation can occur during fetal development or as a result of nasal injury in the womb.

Less commonly, nasal deviated septum has been linked with a wide range ofautoimmune disorders. The condition can occur as a result of the destruction of nasal cartilage that occurs in the following autoimmune disorders, among others:

Because your nose is the most projected part of your face, it is vulnerable to trauma during intrauterine life and the childbirth process. Compressional and rotational forces can work to move the septum into an S or C shape or a position that does not always show an external deformity.

The incidence of neonatal septal deviation increases with the following conditions:

Among adults, nasal fractures account for more than 50% of all facial fractures in adults.A deviated septum that happens after the newborn period usually occurs from a sudden blow to one side of your nose that knocks your nasal septum out of position. This typically occurs during contact sports, rough play, playground games, or a traffic accident.

You can have a deviated septum and not know it until you get older. It is estimated that up to 100% of the population has some degree of septal deviation, though not every case is visible or causes deviated septum symptoms that require treatment.

With thenatural process of aging, the cartilage in your nose can weaken and change shape, bending and deforming with age. This can lead to a deviated septum. If you have an existing deviated septum, the aging process can make an existing deviated septum more significant, causing symptoms for the first time or making existing symptoms worse.

Why Do You Age?

You may have a deviated septum as a result ofinfection-related causes, such as the following:

Syphilis:Late-stagesyphilisis asystemic disease(meaning it spreads throughout your body). It can show severe manifestations in your nose causing both superficial and deep ulcerations as well as gumma (a soft, tumor-like growth of the tissues, orgranuloma), which occurs in people with syphilis. These formations can attack the cartilage in your septum, causing a deviated septum or other nose malformation.

Leprosy:Advanced cases ofleprosymay lead to permanent damage to the cartilage or tissue in your septum, weakening your nasal bridge and surrounding areas. This can lead to a deviated septum.

Inflammatory disorders:Certaininflammatory disorders, such asallergiesorchronic sinusitis(long-lasting swelling or infection in your sinuses), can cause your nasal passages to swell. When left untreated over time, these disorders can lead to a septal deviation.

What Are the Symptoms of an Infection?

No, a deviated septum cannot heal on its own over time. Though a deviated septum may remain asymptomatic, it may worsen over time. If your deviated septum worsens, it can increase your risk of the following conditions, all of which can impact your quality of life:

You may find temporary relief with one or more of the following deviated septum treatments:

What Are Decongestants?

Aseptoplastyis the preferred surgery to correct a deviated septum. For most people, this surgery is performed through your nostrils to avoid bruises or external signs of surgery. In children and teens, a septoplasty is usually reserved for after facial growth and development are complete.

If a patient so chooses, a septoplasty may be combined with arhinoplasty(also known as a “nose job”). This surgery changes the external shape of your nose.

Before and After Septoplasty

A deviated septum is a fairly common, often asymptomatic condition. When symptoms occur, any of the following conditions may indicate that your condition is worsening or that another medical condition may be present.

Consult your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms:

The problem will not improve over time. For some people, it can worsen with age. Nonsurgical treatments can improve symptoms during use. This treatment may be sufficient for some cases. Long-term relief can sometimes be achieved through surgery to correct the placement of a deviated septum to its original shape.

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.Harugop AS, Mudhol RS, Hajare PS, et al.Prevalence of nasal septal deviation in newborns and its precipitating factors: a cross-sectional study.Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;64(3):248-251. doi:10.1007/s12070-011-0247-1Guntupalli L, Patel K, Faraji F, Brunworth JD.Autoimmune-related nasal septum perforation: a case report and systematic review.Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2017;8(1):e40-e44. doi:10.2500/ar.2017.8.0191Abdulwahid S ALQ, Ahmed Y Al Q, Abdullah H A, et al.The incidence of traumatic versus nontraumatic deviated nasal septum, a comparative analysis of clinical presentation and post-septoplasty complications rate.Glob J Oto, 2020; 23 (4): 556116 doi: 10.19080/GJO.2020.23.556116Harvard Health Publishing.Deviated septum.Penn Medicine.Breathe easy: how to fix your deviated septum once and for all.Prasad BK, Mokamati S.Tertiary nasal syphilis: rare but still a reality.Arch Otolaryngol Rhinold. Published online March 25, 2016:013-015.Sambangi J, Prabhakaran N, Annam CS, et al.Nasal septal perforation in advanced lepromatous leprosy: a report of two cases with endoscopic findings.Trop Doct. 2022;52(4):576-580.doi:10.1177/004947552211116Mount Sinai.Severe nosebleed (epistaxis).American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated septum.Keck Medicine of USC.4 signs you should see a doctor for your deviated septum.

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.Harugop AS, Mudhol RS, Hajare PS, et al.Prevalence of nasal septal deviation in newborns and its precipitating factors: a cross-sectional study.Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;64(3):248-251. doi:10.1007/s12070-011-0247-1Guntupalli L, Patel K, Faraji F, Brunworth JD.Autoimmune-related nasal septum perforation: a case report and systematic review.Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2017;8(1):e40-e44. doi:10.2500/ar.2017.8.0191Abdulwahid S ALQ, Ahmed Y Al Q, Abdullah H A, et al.The incidence of traumatic versus nontraumatic deviated nasal septum, a comparative analysis of clinical presentation and post-septoplasty complications rate.Glob J Oto, 2020; 23 (4): 556116 doi: 10.19080/GJO.2020.23.556116Harvard Health Publishing.Deviated septum.Penn Medicine.Breathe easy: how to fix your deviated septum once and for all.Prasad BK, Mokamati S.Tertiary nasal syphilis: rare but still a reality.Arch Otolaryngol Rhinold. Published online March 25, 2016:013-015.Sambangi J, Prabhakaran N, Annam CS, et al.Nasal septal perforation in advanced lepromatous leprosy: a report of two cases with endoscopic findings.Trop Doct. 2022;52(4):576-580.doi:10.1177/004947552211116Mount Sinai.Severe nosebleed (epistaxis).American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated septum.Keck Medicine of USC.4 signs you should see a doctor for your deviated septum.

Harugop AS, Mudhol RS, Hajare PS, et al.Prevalence of nasal septal deviation in newborns and its precipitating factors: a cross-sectional study.Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;64(3):248-251. doi:10.1007/s12070-011-0247-1Guntupalli L, Patel K, Faraji F, Brunworth JD.Autoimmune-related nasal septum perforation: a case report and systematic review.Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2017;8(1):e40-e44. doi:10.2500/ar.2017.8.0191Abdulwahid S ALQ, Ahmed Y Al Q, Abdullah H A, et al.The incidence of traumatic versus nontraumatic deviated nasal septum, a comparative analysis of clinical presentation and post-septoplasty complications rate.Glob J Oto, 2020; 23 (4): 556116 doi: 10.19080/GJO.2020.23.556116Harvard Health Publishing.Deviated septum.Penn Medicine.Breathe easy: how to fix your deviated septum once and for all.Prasad BK, Mokamati S.Tertiary nasal syphilis: rare but still a reality.Arch Otolaryngol Rhinold. Published online March 25, 2016:013-015.Sambangi J, Prabhakaran N, Annam CS, et al.Nasal septal perforation in advanced lepromatous leprosy: a report of two cases with endoscopic findings.Trop Doct. 2022;52(4):576-580.doi:10.1177/004947552211116Mount Sinai.Severe nosebleed (epistaxis).American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated septum.Keck Medicine of USC.4 signs you should see a doctor for your deviated septum.

Guntupalli L, Patel K, Faraji F, Brunworth JD.Autoimmune-related nasal septum perforation: a case report and systematic review.Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2017;8(1):e40-e44. doi:10.2500/ar.2017.8.0191

Abdulwahid S ALQ, Ahmed Y Al Q, Abdullah H A, et al.The incidence of traumatic versus nontraumatic deviated nasal septum, a comparative analysis of clinical presentation and post-septoplasty complications rate.Glob J Oto, 2020; 23 (4): 556116 doi: 10.19080/GJO.2020.23.556116

Harvard Health Publishing.Deviated septum.

Penn Medicine.Breathe easy: how to fix your deviated septum once and for all.

Prasad BK, Mokamati S.Tertiary nasal syphilis: rare but still a reality.Arch Otolaryngol Rhinold. Published online March 25, 2016:013-015.

Sambangi J, Prabhakaran N, Annam CS, et al.Nasal septal perforation in advanced lepromatous leprosy: a report of two cases with endoscopic findings.Trop Doct. 2022;52(4):576-580.doi:10.1177/004947552211116

Mount Sinai.Severe nosebleed (epistaxis).

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Deviated septum.

Keck Medicine of USC.4 signs you should see a doctor for your deviated septum.

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