Nose Dryness
How to Treat Nose Dryness
While you might not think that nose dryness is a serious problem, it is one that deserves your attention. It’s not just that a dry, hard nose is uncomfortable, it can also affect your breathing. It is always best for the lungs not to have to work too hard to do their job. You want them to be as healthy as possible in case you are ever in a situation where they are compromised.
Nose dryness means that there is lung dryness as well. The nose is supposed to warm up the air and moisturize it before it gets to the lungs. If that’s not happening, you need to find the problem and treat it. Often, it only takes a simple action to stop your nose from being dry.
The primary causes of nose dryness are medications and weather. Dry weather can greatly affect the nose as can over-the-counter and prescription medications. If you live in a location with cold, snowy winters, running your indoor heat causes a dry house and dry nose very quickly. The solution to this problem is to use a humidifier to return moisture to the air. Keep your humidifier very clean so that no bacteria grows inside.
If you are using over-the-counter drugs, such as decongestants and antihistamines, and are suffering from nose dryness, stopping their use should solve the problem. Talk to your doctor about other drugs or methods which might work better. One thing that always works is to drink a lot of water. Coffee, tea and juice are good choices. The goal is to drink 40 to 60 ounces every day.
People who have to use oxygen because of breathing problems have a constant problem with nose dryness. In these types of situations, the dry nose can even become easily cracked and bleeding. It is necessary to take extra care to keep the inside of the nose moist.
Another solution for nose dryness is to purchase some moisturizing cream and just use a little on the bottom edges of your nose openings. Don’t inhale it into the nose. Also do not use any type of moisturizer that is not water-based. For example, a petroleum-based product could make you very ill if it were inhaled.
A saline spray can help with nose dryness. Saline is simply salty water and it is used in all types of medical situations, including washing out wounds. It’s very low cost to buy saline at the drugstore. You can use a saline spray anytime to clean and moisture your nose.
One of the solutions which is becoming more and more popular is a neti pot. This has been used in Asia for thousands of years but it just now becoming popular in the United States. You can obtain a neti pot in drugstores and health food stores. They started out being used by people who practice natural and alternative treatments and now neti pots are almost becoming a fad.
The neti pot treatment works well for people who have allergies or sinus problems. It is a way to help clear the nasal passages without using medications. You just need to fill your neti pot with warm salt water (not hot or cold) or a purchased saline product. Next you stand over your sink and tilt your head back.
The neti pot has a spout you place in your upper nostril. You then pour the salt water so it goes through the nasal cavity and out the lower nostril. You repeat this on both sides of your nose.
If you don’t have a neti pot, you can dip a cotton swab in warm salt water and clean your nose with it. This is a similar technique to that used when cleaning your ears with a cotton swab.
You can use a neti pot as often or as infrequently as you wish. People who use them regularly do it at morning and night at the same time they brush your teeth.