A dry nose is a condition whose causes are usually not a cause for concern. Dry nasal mucosa is most often the result of staying in an air-conditioned room or overusing nasal drops. However, in some cases, a dry nose may be a symptom of an illness. Find out what a dry nose means.

Dry noseis a condition that causes significant discomfort, especially sincedry nasal mucosais often accompanied by other symptoms, such as stuffy nose (especially in the morning when you wake up) and the associated difficulty in breathing, itching and scratching in the nose, swelling of the lining of the nose, dry secretions that cover the lining, sneezing fits and sometimes even nosebleeds. In extreme cases, inflammation of the sinuses and pharynx may even occur, because the mucus-free nasal cavity is not a sufficiently good protective barrier against bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.

Dry nose vs dry air

Dry nose syndromecan be caused by staying in rooms with high air temperature (e.g. heated by a radiator) or in places where air conditioning or fans are used. In such places the air is dry and the humidity does not exceed 30 percent, and properly it should be 40-60 percent. This increases the demand for water - the body uses more of it, among others to moisturize the inhaled air, hence a dry nose.

Therefore, care should be taken to maintain an appropriate level of humidity in the rooms. For this purpose, you can get an air humidity meter (hygrometer) and a humidifier. You can also hang wet towels on the radiator. It is also useful to regularly ventilate the rooms and measure the temperature. For example, the temperature in the bedroom should be 18-20 degrees Celsius - not more.

Dry nose and dust, cigarette smoke, chemicals

A dry nose can be caused by airborne dust, pollen and cigarette smoke which paralyze the cilia inside the nasal cavity.Dry nose syndromecan also be caused by chemicals, dusts and irritating vapors that cause inflammation in the upper respiratory tract mucosa, immobilizing cilia and the process of nasal cleansing. Industry workers are at risk of thisand even shop assistants working in perfumery.

Dryness of the nasal mucosa can also be caused by the use of certain medications, e.g. allergy drops (especially if they contain nasal steroids or xylometazoline and use them for more than a few days).

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Dry nose - how to moisturize the dry nasal mucosa?

People with dry nose are advised to inhale their nose with water and s alt or with the addition of thyme, pine, eucalyptus or camphor oil from time to time. It is also worth trying over-the-counter pharmaceutical preparations that help to keep the nose moist. We can choose moisturizers in the form of aerosols and gels, which contain sodium chloride, sea water, hyaluronic acid, glycerol, D-panthenol (provitamin B5), a mixture of natural essential oils and vitamins, as well aspharmaceutical-based preparations purified olive oil , which not only moisturize, but also promote the regeneration of the nasal mucosa. In the pharmacy you can also findmoisturizing nasal ointments , which soothe irritation of the mucosa (abrasions, redness) and the burning sensation.

Before using them, read the leaflets carefully. Contraindication to the use of some preparations is not only hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients, but also epistaxis. Women who are pregnant (or suspect they may be), breastfeeding women, and people who use other nasal preparations (e.g. antiallergic, vasoconstrictors) should consult a doctor.

Dry nose and some medications

A frequent cause of nasal mucosa dryness is long-term (over 7-10 days) use of nasal drops containing imidazole derivatives (oxymetazoline, xylometazoline). This is called drug-induced atrophic rhinitis. A dry nose can also be a side effect of certain antiallergic drugs for high blood pressure and ulcers.

Dry nose and heat and frost

Bitter frosts and winds dry the nasal mucosa, just like dry air in hot weather. However, in summer it is much easier to ensure adequate hydration of the body, because the characteristic sign of water escaping from the body reminds us of it - profuse sweating. Therefore, also in winter you should remember to drink at least 2-2.5 liters of fluids a day.

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Liquid paraffin for oiling the nose

One of the ways to lubricate dry nasal mucosa is liquid paraffin. However, some argue that it should not be used because, due to its high viscosity, it inhibits the movement of the cilia and makes it difficult to accessnasal mucosa.

Dry nose - what he alth problems can it indicate?

  • Sjögren's syndrome (dryness syndrome) - in the course of the disease, the secretion of tears and saliva is impaired, which results in dryness of the cornea and mucous membranes and dry mouth;
  • hormonal disorders - dry nose may appear, for example, in women during the menopause, in which the level of estrogen in the body drops;
  • infections of the upper respiratory tract - multiplying microorganisms damage the ciliated epithelium in the nose and paranasal sinuses;
  • "empty nose syndrome" - iatrogenic atrophic rhinitis is a disease that develops in some patients after the removal of the lower turbinate. Symptoms include a feeling of obstruction on both sides of the nose, the presence of scabs and a dry nose;
  • allergy;

Other, rarer causes of a dry nose are:

  • syphilis;
  • Wegener's granulomatosis;
  • rheumatoid arthritis;
  • hypothyroidism;
  • mycosis;
  • vitamin A, group B and iron deficiencies;
  • diet low in protein;
  • abnormally healing wounds after rhinological surgery;

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