If you have ever had a dry nose, then you know it is inconvenient, painful, and can get in the way of your day-to-day activities. Luckily, you can easily treat a dry nose with a nasal spray. That being said, it is important to use the best nasal spray available. This article will cover the symptoms and causes of a dry nose, as well as important information you need to choose the best nasal spray.

What Exactly Does It Mean To Have a Dry Nose?

Dry nose is often characterized by discomfort and irritation, as well as nosebleeds or difficulty breathing in severe cases. Although dry nose is not usually a symptom of a more serious issue, it can be frustrating and painful.

Usually, dry nose is a result of environmental conditions or a side effect of medication. The nose needs a specific level of humidity to function properly, so environments that are extremely hot or cold can often result in a dry nose.

Symptoms

The most obvious symptom of a dry nose is dryness in the nasal passages. Depending on the cause of your dry nose, you might also experience other symptoms alongside the dryness in your nose. Oftentimes, if a condition affects the nose, it can also affect other bodily systems.

Dry nose might be accompanied by bleeding in the nose, changes in smell, nasal congestion, or general redness, warmth, and swelling in the nose.

Along with these nasal symptoms, it is possible that you might also experience symptoms elsewhere in your body such as:

• Drowsiness
• Dry eyes, mouth, or skin
• Fatigue
• Swollen salivary glands
• Rashes on the skin

Although a dry nose on its own is not usually a symptom of a more serious issue, if you experience a dry nose alongside any of the following symptoms, call your doctor and seek medical attention as soon as possible:

• Blurred vision
• Irregular heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit

Causes of Dry Nose

There are several reasons you may experience a dry nose. This section will cover the three most common causes of a dry nose: environmental conditions, medications, and Sjogren’s syndrome.

Environmental Conditions

As previously mentioned, environmental conditions can lead to dry nose if they disrupt the humidity needed to keep your nose moisturized and functioning properly. Extremely hot and arid climates often cause a dry nose because the air has no moisture, so your nose becomes dry as you inhale the dry air.

Although you might only feel the effects of hot, dry heat in your nose, it can be harmful to your entire respiratory system. Your nose is responsible for humidifying the air that enters your lungs. Additionally, the mucous membranes in your respiratory system and the saliva in your mouth also rely on humidity to function properly.

It is common to find this kind of dry heat in desert climates. You might also experience a dry nose in rooms with high air conditioning or heat. Another environment that may cause a dry nose is a sauna without steam. If you smoke, you might also be at a higher risk of experiencing dry nose.

Medications

Medications can often produce side effects. Unfortunately, one common side effect of medications is dry nose, especially if you overuse certain over-the-counter medications.

The following medications can all cause dry nose:

• Antibiotics: Medications that destroy or stop the growth of harmful bacteria that causes illness and infections such as strep throat, whooping cough, or a urinary tract infection.
• Antihistamines: Medications that reduce or block histamines, the chemicals your body produces when it comes into contact with allergens.
• Decongestants: Medications that shrink swollen blood vessels and tissues in your nose that cause congestion.
  

Sjogren’s Syndrome

Sjogren’s syndrome is an immune disorder that usually causes dry eyes and a dry mouth. Oftentimes, people who have Sjogren’s syndrome have other immune system disorders, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. This syndrome targets the mucous membranes and moisture-secreting glands in your eyes and mouth. It can also target your nose and cause dryness in the nasal passages.

Treatment Options

Although a dry nose is uncomfortable, there are several ways you can treat a dry nose at home.

Steam

Inhaling steam can be a helpful way to moisturize your nasal passages. If you have access to a sauna, you can try sitting in the sauna and inhaling steam for 15 to 20 minutes. If you do not have access to a sauna, you can simply run a hot shower and inhale the steam from the shower or hold your head over a bowl of boiling water.

Humidifier

If you feel that your dry nose is the worst when you wake up, a humidifier may help ease the dryness. A warm- or cool-mist humidifier can increase the amount of humidity in your room. To get the most benefit from the humidifier, place it in the middle of your room and turn it on before you go to sleep so that there is moisture in the air as you are falling asleep.

Nasal Spray

Nasal sprays are another easy, over-the-counter way to relieve the symptoms of dry nose. Another benefit of nasal sprays is that they remove any dirt, dust, or pollen from the inside of your nose and can help relieve congestion. For this reason, saline nasal sprays can be a good treatment option if your dry nose is caused by allergies.

What Is the Best Nasal Spray for a Dry Nose?

There are several different types of nasal spray available, so it is important to know how each one works. Then, you can choose the best nasal spray for you, especially since some nasal sprays can actually dry out your nose further.

Keep in mind that there is a difference between nasal sprays for children and adults, so if you are treating your child’s dry nose it is important to read the packaging carefully.

The Best Nasal Spray for a Dry Nose: Saline Nasal Sprays

Saline nasal sprays are the most useful type of nasal spray for treating a dry nose. They can help with nasal congestion, sinus congestion, and dry nose, and they do not contain an active ingredient like steroid and decongestant nasal sprays.

The benefit of saline nasal sprays is that they are the safest nasal spray available for long-term use and for children.

If you want to use a saline nasal spray to treat a dry nose in yourself or your child, make sure to choose a nasal spray that is free of parabens and artificial fillers. Parabens are chemicals that are used as artificial preservatives in cosmetic, beauty, and health care products. Many parabens are banned for use in cosmetics in Europe.

The Worst Nasal Sprays for a Dry Nose: Steroid and Decongestant Nasal Sprays

Steroid nasal sprays work by reducing inflammation in the nasal passages. They have been shown to be very effective for treating allergy symptoms in the nasal passages, such as nasal congestion and a runny nose. Since they are used to treat a runny nose, they can actually cause dryness in the nose as a side effect. Therefore, steroid nasal sprays may not be the best option for a dry nose.

The most common active ingredients in decongestant nasal sprays are oxymetazoline and phenylephrine. These sprays shrink blood vessels in the nasal area which allows fluid to drain from your nasal passages. Decongestant sprays are typically used to treat nasal symptoms such as a runny nose or congestion. Therefore, they may also cause dryness in the nose as a side effect and are unlikely to be a useful option for treating a dry nose.

Conclusion

Dry nose is characterized by dryness in the nasal passages and can occur as a result of allergies, environmental conditions, or Sjogren’s syndrome. Although a dry nose is uncomfortable, it is usually not a sign of a serious illness.

However, it is important to treat the symptoms of dry nose so that you can breathe easily, clearly, and without pain. There are a few different ways to treat a dry nose at home. You can try inhaling steam or putting a humidifier in your room.

Another effective way to treat dry nose at home is with a nasal spray. Saline nasal sprays are the best option to moisturize a dry nose. Other nasal sprays, such as decongestant and steroid nasal sprays, can cause dryness in the nose as a side effect.

Oftentimes, the safest nasal spray for children or for long-term use is a saline nasal spray because there is no active drug. It is important to seek out a saline nasal spray without parabens or artificial fillers.