12 Strategies to Provide Relief

Dry nose treatments should help moisturize the lining of the nasal passages and sinuses when they are not producing enough mucus. Lifestyle modifications like using a humidifier, increasing your fluid intake, and avoiding irritants (like smoke) are all strategies to try. Topical treatments and nasal sprays may also be helpful.

If you try several dry nose treatments and don’t find relief, reach out to your healthcare provider. You may be referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist to get personalized advice and to learn more about the underlying cause and best treatments for your dry nose.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking more fluids, specifically water, may help thin mucus and 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 and caffeine. Both have a diuretic effect 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.

Increase Humidity

A humidifier adds moisture to the air. There are several kinds of humidifiers, including steam humidifiers that create steam with heat and cool-mist humidifiers that generate an ultra-fine mist without heat.

Humidifiers can help treat nasal dryness by increasing the environmental humidity. They are especially useful in arid climates that can rob the body of moisture.

Here are some tips that may help:

• Place the humidifier several feet away from the bed.
• Do not run a humidifier for a long time. Set the unit to 30% to 50% humidity. If room surfaces are constantly damp, mold and mildew can grow and trigger allergies.
• Humidifiers must be drained and cleaned daily to prevent bacterial growth in the standing water. There are also more expensive self-cleaning units available.
• Use distilled water instead of tap water to fill the machine. Tap water has minerals that can be released into the air by a humidifier and cause breathing problems.
• Always use a cool-mist humidifier for children. Steam humidifiers can cause burns if a person gets too close.

Inhale Steam

In place of a humidifier, you can generate warm, moist air by taking a warm shower or bath or sitting in the bathroom with the door closed and the shower running.

You can also boil water and inhale its steam.

To do this safely:

1. Boil water in a large pot on the stove.
2. Transfer the water to a heat-resistant bowl. This will help avoid burning yourself on a pot.
3. Cover your head with a towel.
4. Put your face directly over the bowl and breathe slowly through your nose.
5. When the steam has subsided, add some more hot water to the bowl.

To help clear sinus passages, you can add several drops of eucalyptus oil or camphor oil available online and at many larger pharmacies. You can also try adding 1 teaspoon of Vicks VapoRub (which contains eucalyptus oil, camphor oil, and menthol) to hot water.

Use Saline Nasal Spray

A saline nasal spray is a saltwater liquid that is sprayed into your nostrils to reduce congestion and thin mucus. It also keeps your nasal passageways moist.

Saline sprays work by altering the osmotic pressure of mucosal tissues. When salt (sodium) comes into contact with nasal tissues, it draws water into the nasal passages.

Saline nasal sprays are sold over-the-counter (OTC) at drug stores or pharmacies.

Try a Neti Pot

A Neti pot looks like a small teapot and it’s used to irrigate (flush) the nasal and sinus passages. Nasal irrigation helps remove excess mucus and thins nasal discharge.

You can buy a Neti pot at your local drugstore along with a saline sinus rinse made with distilled water. You can also make your own sinus rinse solution as follows:

• In a clean container, mix 3 teaspoons of iodine-free salt with 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
• Add 1 teaspoon of the mixture to 8 ounces (1 cup) of distilled water or water that has been boiled for five minutes and cooled. For children, use a 1/2 teaspoon with 4 ounces of water.

Use Petroleum Jelly

If the dryness is limited to your nostrils, you can apply a small dab of petroleum jelly inside of each. Petroleum jelly forms an occlusive (airtight) seal that traps moisture and keeps the nasal tissues moist.

Petroleum jelly, also called petrolatum, is a mixture of mineral oils and waxes that has been used for generations to treat skin conditions, including nosebleeds. 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, the lipoids (fats) in petroleum jelly can find their way to the tiny air sacs of the lung (called alveoli) and cause pneumonia.

Try Natural Nasal Oils

You can also try applying neutral oils such as coconut oil or almond oil to 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 with essential oils that should never be 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.

Use Soft Tissues

Use soft facial tissues to wipe or blow your nose and consider tissues with lotion in them. There are several brands available with a variety of lotions such as coconut oil or aloe to help soothe the skin in an around your nose.

Avoid using harsh wipes such as paper towels around the nasal area. These can increase irritation and cause more discomfort.

Consider Medications

Using or avoiding certain medications can help address your dry nose issues. Some people use corticosteroid sprays or antihistamines for dry nose or other nasal conditions, but it is important to understand that they can have a drying effect.

Some people try corticosteroids to relieve dryness in the nose. Nasal corticosteroid sprays can help reduce inflammation and irritation in the nose and are often recommended for conditions like allergic rhinitis. But they may also make dryness worse.

If you do try using a corticosteroid spray, you can reduce the drying side effects by using it after taking a shower or after inhaling steam for five to 10 minutes.

Also, medications like antihistamines and decongestants usually dry nasal passages in order to relieve other nasal conditions, like allergies or a stuffy nose. If you are taking any of these medications, easing off of them may help relieve dry nose symptoms.

Don’t Pick Your Nose

This isn’t a remedy, per se, but it 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 like Streptococcus pneumoniae (the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia).

Avoid Irritants and Triggers

Certain environmental conditions can trigger nasal dryness, some of the more common of which include:

• Dry, arid climates
• Changes in weather and low humidity
• Higher elevations
• Air conditioning, which draws moisture out of the air
• Poor air quality, such as smoke or smog

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 a HEPA filter to pull irritants out of the air, and using non-drug treatments (like a Neti pot or steam inhalation) to treat colds and occasional allergies.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If your dry nose symptoms do not go away after trying home remedies and avoiding triggers, you may want to reach out to your healthcare provider. There are some conditions, such as Sjogren’s syndrome or atrophic rhinitis, that can cause a dry nose. Your healthcare provider can help determine if an underlying cause needs to be addressed.

Summary

Dry nasal and sinus passages may be caused by low humidity, allergies, dehydration, or medications like antihistamines and decongestants. The treatment may include drinking more water and using a saline nasal spray, Neti pot, or humidifier. You can also try applying Vaseline or a neutral oil like coconut or almond oil to lock moisture inside your nostrils.

If your symptoms persist after trying home remedies and avoiding triggers, or if you notice other signs such as bleeding or facial pain, reach out to your healthcare provider to rule out other underlying causes and get personalized treatment.