A dry, bloody nose can be quite uncomfortable, not to mention aggravating. While there are things you can do on your own to initiate a bloody nose, dry air is one of the biggest culprits to watch out for that’s not in your control. If there is dry air in your home or you frequently suffer from a dry nose, it’s important to take the proper steps to combat it.

Not sure where to start? No problem. In this guide, you will learn how to effectively treat a dry and bloody nose. But first, check out some of the main causes of nosebleeds so you can make the necessary adjustments to try and prevent them.

Why is My Nose Bleeding?

There are actually several reasons why your nose might be bleeding. As mentioned, dry air ranks up there as one of the most common. Oftentimes, dry air in your home is caused by running the heat during the winter months. However, some climates are naturally dry, which can lead to frequent nosebleeds. What’s more, picking your nose can also cause it to bleed. This is because noses are made up of tiny blood vessels. These vessels are incredibly sensitive, with the lightest trauma capable of causing nosebleeds. So if you’re one who scratches or picks at your nose often, there’s a good chance that you’ll get frequent nosebleeds. Likewise, blowing your nose with too much force can lead to bleeding, as can direct injury or impact.

If you travel to high altitudes and your body and nose aren’t used to the thin air, you might get a nosebleed. Allergies are also sometimes responsible for making your nose bleed.

And lastly, certain medications, such as blood thinners, can make it easy for nosebleeds to occur. With so many potential causes of nosebleeds, it’s important to know how to combat them if you get one.

Stopping Nosebleeds

So, your nose is bleeding. Now what? The first thing you need to do is stay calm. Getting worked up will only serve to make your nose bleed worse than it already is. This is because your heart rate is increasing, thereby making your blood pump faster.

There’s really nothing to get worried about anyway. Nosebleeds typically aren’t serious, and you can often treat them at home on your own.

After calming yourself, be sure not to lie down. Stay in an upright sitting position to ensure that your head is above your heart, which is key in getting your nosebleed to stop.

Next, while still sitting, you want to lean forward slightly. Doing this is an effective way of preventing blood from draining back down into your throat.

Now, pinch your nostrils together so that they remain closed. Hold this position for between five and 10 minutes, all the while breathing in and out of your mouth. If your nose continues bleeding after trying this step, you may just need to locate the bleeding point and try again.

As such, adjust the position of your pinch and repeat the above steps. Hold your nostrils closed for another five to 10 minutes to see if that makes a difference and stops the bleeding.

When you finally get the bleeding to stop, be sure not to blow or touch your nose, as this can start your nosebleed back up again. That said, this may happen regardless of whether you touch your nose. In any event, if your nosebleed returns, perform the same steps outlined above until you get it to stop.

But before you do, gently blow your nose first in order to help remove any blood clots. Your nose is already bleeding, so it’s OK to blow it in this case. Just remember to use caution in how much force you use. Too much of it can exacerbate the bleeding and make it even worse.

Now that you know how to stop nosebleeds, it’s time to look at preventing them.

Preventing Nosebleeds

If you recall, there are several reasons why you might be getting nosebleeds. And sometimes, prevention is key. Check out these helpful tips below to improve your chances of keeping nosebleeds at bay.

A Moist Nose is a Happy Nose

As already mentioned, a dry nose is likely to cause nosebleeds. To combat this problem, try using a cotton swab, nasal spray or a Q-Tip with some petroleum jelly and apply it to your nostrils. If you’re looking for a more wholistic option, consider coconut oil as an alternative to petroleum jelly to keep your nose moist. Do this three times a day and right before bedtime. In doing so, you will keep the blood vessels in your nose moist while reducing the likelihood of drying and cracking.

You may use this method with your children, as well. It’s completely safe and is an excellent way to prevent nosebleeds.

Moisten Your Air

Breathing in dry air in your home will irritate your nose in no time. To combat this issue, opt for a humidifier. This unit will effectively add moisture to the air you breathe, thereby helping to keep your nose from getting dry and cracking.

If your baby is the only one dealing with this issue, consider placing a humidifier in their bedroom. This will ensure that your little one is breathing moist air when they sleep while preventing nosebleeds from springing up.

Avoid Smoke

If you’re a smoker, the best thing you can do for yourself and those around you is to just stop. Understandably, this is easier said than done. So, if you must continue smoking, do so outside only. What fresh air you do breathe in while you’re smoking outside will likely not be as dry as what is in your home.

And you will be sparing your loved ones from breathing in second-hand smoke, which can cause dry noses and nosebleeds over time at the very minimum.

As a smoker, your nose could use some TLC. Consider trying a humidifier even if the air in your home seems to feel OK.

Don’t Pick

It’s easy to get into the habit of picking your nose. That said, doing so is one of the fastest ways to irritate the blood vessels in your nose and cause them to bleed.

Understandably, there might be times when it can’t be avoided. But if at all possible, stick with gently blowing your nose rather than picking it.

If you have a child who tends to pick their nose, they can easily cause the inside of their nostrils to become raw, thus leading to nosebleeds. As such, it’s important to work with them on breaking this bad habit.

Blow With Care

Blowing your nose is favored over picking. However, you need to use caution in the amount of force you use. Blowing too hard can result in bleeding, so make sure that you employ gentle bursts. And when teaching your little one how to blow their nose, you can discourage picking by keeping their fingernails trimmed.

This should make them more likely to use a tissue. If their fingernails are longer than they should be, children are more apt to dig. And when they dig with long fingernails, nosebleeds are likely to occur.

Summary

Now that you know how to best approach a dry, bloody nose, you can keep nosebleeds at bay while improving your overall health. Just remember to choose your medications carefully. In addition, if you find yourself experiencing heavy nosebleeds that will not stop or recurring nosebleeds, seek medical attention immediately.