A dry nose is discomforting, painful, and at times may pose potential health risks if not attended on time. It is often accompanied by a mild headache.
Your nose becomes dry when there is a lack of moisture inside the nasal passages. This can occur due to environmental conditions, or due to certain medications.
You can get rid of the dry nose with certain home remedies but, try consulting a doctor if the dryness becomes unbearable and painful.
Nose is the first line of defence and is absolutely necessary to take care of your nose.
Down below, are a few quick home remedies and a list of information regarding dry nose.
Table of Contents
Causes Of Dry Nose
Your nose becomes dry when the internal pathway of the nose becomes dry. Dryness can crust the inner lining of the mucous membrane.
In normal conditions, when you inhale via the nose, it warms up and humidifies the air you breathe in.
Your nasal lining is vascularized and is capable of filtering the inhaled air too. Your nose fine cilias which clean the inhaled air and ensure few amounts of dust particles, bacteria, and viruses to go inside the humid nose. To enjoy all these functioning your nose should be moist.
In normal conditions, your nose is always moist but with cold and dry air it becomes dry. Especially in winters, with the inhaled air the dryness in the nose increases.
You will feel dry nose problem, especially in the winters. However, there are few more factors that may dry up your nose.
They are as follows
- Seasonal allergies and hay fever
- A runny nose
- Changes in the hormones of the body
- New medications
- Sitting indoor with low air humidity air conditioner or central heating system
- The dry air outside
- A few diseases like Sjögren syndrome
Symptoms Of Dry Nose
The symptoms of a dry nasal membrane are discomforting and irritating at the same time.
A few prime signs that you will notice with a dry nose are as follows:
- Thinning and drying of the inner lining of the nose.
- Crusts and wounds in and on the nose.
- Pain in the nose.
- Nasal irritation and itching
- A few times your nose might even bleed.
- Wheezing in severe cases.
Home Remedies For Dry Nose
Dry nose can be effectively treated with home remedies. The remedies provide relief in a day or two. Down below are some of the powerful remedies that will help you to get rid of dry nose symptoms.
1.Coconut Oil
This one is a great remedy for your dry nose. Coconut oil can treat a lot of conditions that require moisturization of the body tissues and lining.
It can prevent the dryness of the nose and lessens the pain as it can fill the gap between the dry cells. With this remedy, the mucous membrane inside the nose moistens and thereby reduces symptoms like irritation, pain, and feeling of a blocked nose.
How To Use?
- For the remedy, you need 1 teaspoon of virgin coconut oil and a dropper.
- Take few amounts of oil in the dropper and put two drops of oil in both the nostrils.
- Repeat the remedy twice a day until you get maximum relief from your symptoms.
2. Almond Oil
This oil that can help you treat nasal dryness during the winter season. However, choosing the pure almond oil is very important.
Almond oil has excellent moisturizing properties and is capable of hydrating the mucosal lining of the nose from inside. It has lots of minerals, fatty acids, Vitamin E, etc. which can treat a dry nose. It works like a natural emollient.
How To Use?
- For the remedy, you need a dropper and a teaspoon of pure almond oil.
- Take few amounts of oil in the dropper and put two drops of oil in both the nostrils. Repeat the remedy twice a day until you get maximum relief from your symptoms.
- Alternatively, you can even mix almond oil and aloe vera gel. Rub the mixture all over the nose. let it sit for few minutes and then wash it off with water.
- Aloe vera gel has a cooling effect and almond oil has a moisturizing effect. So, both together will show significant improvement in the symptoms of a dry nose.
3. Sesame Oil
This oil is a crucial ingredient in Chinese cooking. It can effectively treat your dry nose. Sesame oil is very powerful to treat the tingling and itchy feeling accompanied by the dry nose. Studies suggest sesame oil is capable of soothing the disturbances and moistening the dry passage.
How To Use?
- For the remedy, you need to mix sesame oil and chamomile oil in equal proportions. Go for the pure forms of oil.
- Both of these oils form an effective mixture for diminishing the tingling sensation of the nose.
- Apply the mixture, on your nose before going to sleep preferably. Carry out this remedy daily for the best results.
4. Inhale Steam
Steam is any time good for dry nose, runny nose, and blocked nose. It is the most effective treatment for your dry irritating nose.
The process works when the hot steam penetrates into your dry skin which in turn open the pores. Further, the open pores start secreting, giving you optimum relief from the symptoms.
How To Use?
- For the remedy, boil water in a big open mouth pan. You can add few drops of mint oil to the boiled water to get the extra relief.
- Once the water is boiled, place the pan on a table. sit on a chair and cover your head with a towel. When covering the pan should come inside the towel.
- This will allow the steam to go inside your nose instead of escaping out.
- Inhale steam for good 10 minutes to get maximum relief from the symptoms. Carry out the remedy twice a day to get maximum benefits.
5. Use Humidifier
A humidifier is a device to maintain the humidity level of the room, it helps to keep the surrounding air in the room moist.
If you suffer from dry nose, lack of humidity in your room might be a reason for it. Keep a dry mist humidifier in your bedroom to help increase the humidity level in the room.
Moisture in the air prevents your nasal passages from becoming too dry.
How To Use?
- You can opt for bigger humidifiers or small bedside table size humidifiers.
- You can place the humidifier anywhere close to you.
- Be careful, don’t point the humidifier’s nozzle towards any furniture as it might cause an excess of moisture build up in the wood which might further damage your furniture.
6. Saline Spray
Saline water is an effective home remedy carried out since ages to treat a dry nose. For making a saline spray, you need salt.
It’s the salt in saline water that acts as a humidifier and keeps the nasal lining hydrated. This remedy works like an emollient to soften and moisten the nasal lining.
How To Use?
- For the remedy, mix half a teaspoon of salt in water. Pour the prepared solution in a spray bottle.
- Lie down or bend your head down and spray the salt water into the nasal cavity.
- Alternatively, you can take the salt water in your palm and inhale it.
- Inhaling the water will help the essence of the water to reach your nasal cavity.
- Carry out the remedy two to three times a day for maximum benefits.
7. Glycerin
This one is yet another treatment for your dry itchy nose. Glycerin is emollient which will soften and moisten the nasal lining. However, it will cause a slight burning sensation inside your nose as the membrane are clogged.
How To Use?
- For the remedy apply few drops of glycerin with the help of a cotton on the inside of your nose.
- Be cautious, don’t apply too much of glycerine, only a few drops are good to do the work.
- Carry this out before going to bed for maximum results.
8. Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E oil is extremely beneficial for the skin. It is used in various body lotions, creams, and moisturizers. It has skin repairing, moistening, and softening properties.
You can use it for your dry nose as well. It will hydrate your nasal mucosa and relieve the dryness quickly. More of, it also has anti-inflammatory properties that will calm down your sinuses.
How To Use?
- For the remedy, you need Vitamin E capsules. Pierce the capsule.
- Take a dropper, fill the dropper with the oil.
- Tilt your head and pour two to three drops of oil in each of the nostrils.
- For the best results, carry out the remedy thrice a day.
9. Olive Oil
Like any other oil olive oil to is a good moisturizing and skin hydrating agent. You can use this oil to hydrate your nasal lining. More off, it can also help you to relieve irritation and swelling inside the nose.
How To Use?
- For the remedy, you need a olive oil and a dropper.
- Put the olive oil in the dropper.
- Lie down and pour few drops of olive oil in both the nostrils.
- Try the remedy twice a day to get maximum benefits.
10.Petroleum Jelly
Vaseline or other petroleum jelly is safe to use for a dry nose. The petroleum jelly has a smooth hydrating texture. It is efficient to remove the extra dryness from your nose. The jelly can also stop bleeding as it ha shealing properties.
For the remedy, you need a Q-tip and a small amount of petroleum jelly. With the Q-tip apply the jelly inside the nasal lining. Don’t apply too much of jelly. For best results carry out the remedy three to four times a day.
Tips To Keep Dry Nose At Bay
1) Cleaning your nose is desired whether you have a dry nose or not. It is because it keeps any bacterial infections from going inside the nose. The best time is to clean your nose with warm water from inside just before you go to bed. This will maintain the moisture inside the nose.
2) Don’t pick your nose. Most of the time, the problem of dry nose increases as people keep picking their nose due to irritation. Avoiding this is recommended as it stops aggravating the condition.
3) Opt for a face mask. When going in a place with allergens, pollutants, toxic gases and temperature that can lead to a dry nose, wear a face mask. It will prevent the unwanted allergens and pollutants to go inside your nose and cause dryness.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. Is A Dry Nose A Serious Symptom?
A dry nose cause nasal irritating, swelling, and bleeding from the nose. Dry nose is not a very serious condition.
However, if this dryness lasts for more than 12 days, it is better to consult a doctor and rule out the underlying cause of the conditions.
Prolonged dry nose responds to diseases like Sjogren’s syndrome. More off, if you suffer from signs like non-stop nose bleeding, high fever, and extreme weakness, consult a doctor immediately.
Q.What Are The Potential Complications Of A Dry Nose?
The potential complications of a dry nose arise when there is a serious underlying cause. A few potential complications are dry skin, blurred vision, non-stop bleeding, difficulty to breathe, skin rashes, and wheezing.
Q.What Foods To Eat And Avoid To Relieve A Dry Nose?
There are such no superfoods that can instantly relieve your dry nose. Nevertheless, there are few foods that you should avoid to increase its progression and few foods that you should take to relieve the signs.
All of these foods are listed below:
- Consume lots of warm fluids. Drink warm water and other fluids to let go the dryness of the body tissues. Try consuming 3-4 liters of water daily to keep your nasal tissues work effectively. More off, you can opt for herbal teas too as they have healing properties.
- Choose hot spicy food items like chicken soup, hot and sour soup to moisten the nostrils.
- Cut down the caffeine, alcohol, and salt intake as all of them dehydrate your body.
- Don’t consume medications that increase the dryness of your nose. A few medications tend to dehydrate your body and nose so, consult a doctor if you are on any regular medications. However, if you need to take medicine due to an existing illness, try intaking a lot of fluid to keep your body well hydrated.
- Have a healthy protein rich diet. A protein-rich diet can fight infection.
Final Talk
A dry nose is a common symptom faced by almost all of us in some or the other time of life. It’s a mild condition that can be cured with home remedies and a healthy diet.
In case, the condition progresses and you start suffering from more serious symptoms like nose bleeding, wheezing, high fever, etc. consult a doctor immediately.
