Many people experience occasional bouts of dryness in the nostrils and sinus cavities. While nasal dryness may pose nothing more than a minor annoyance to some, others develop chronic symptoms that require treatment. Keeping the inside of your nose moist can help reduce complications and may help restore breathing comfort. Contact your doctor for chronic or recurring dryness that does not respond to home treatments.
Symptoms
Dry nasal passages may make breathing feel slightly uncomfortable or even painful. You may experience itching and burning inside your nose, often accompanied by frequent nosebleeds. Liquid solutions, as well as medical procedures, may help minimize your symptoms.
Causes
Dry air can decrease the amount of moisture in the mucous membranes that line your nostrils and sinus cavities. Artificial heat during the winter months can pull the moisture out of the air inside your home, office and automobile. Medications, especially those used to treat allergies and colds, may lead to excessive dryness of your nasal passages. Smoking cigarettes, as well as using decongestant nasal sprays, also dry out the lining of your nose.
Home Treatments
You can mist the inside of your nostrils with a moisturizing nasal spray made of saline solution. Nasal washes also help to introduce moisture into your sinuses. To make a useful solution for rinsing your sinuses, combine a teaspoon of salt with 2 cups of warm water. Sniffing the mixture from the palm of your hand can help relive dry membranes. Neti pots, small pots created to irrigate sinus cavities, are a method of flushing the sinuses with saline solution.
Prevention
Eliminating the cause of your dry sinus passages may help resolve your nasal problems. Use a humidifier during the winter months, or make steam by simmering a pot of water on the stove. Drink plenty of fluids to help hydrate cells and tissues. Stopping smoking will decrease dryness and sinus irritation. Stay away from any known allergens, such as dust, mold and pollen, that may irritate your nasal passages. Avoid prolonged use of decongestants.
Medical Treatments
Your doctor may examine your nostrils and review your medical history to help determine the underlying cause of your dry nasal membranes. If allergy medications or other drugs are causing your symptoms, your doctor may consider changing your prescription. If you experience accompanying symptoms, such as chronic infections or frequent nosebleeds, you may require antibiotic treatment or surgery to eliminate structural problems within your nasal passages.
