We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
You can use a variety of home remedies to help soothe uncomfortable dryness inside your nose. You might try inhaling steam, applying a bit of petroleum jelly to the lining of your nose, or gently wiping with a damp cloth. Staying hydrated can also help.
Cold or allergy season leaves many of us with a trademark symptom, right in the middle of our faces: dry nose.
While a dry nose is uncomfortable, many remedies for treating a dry nose can be purchased in store or online, or even treated with things you already have in your home.
Here are five effective home remedies:
Use your fingers to apply a very small dab of petroleum jelly to the lining inside of your nose. Not only is it good for keeping your nose moisturized, it’s also safely handled by your stomach in small amounts. Lip balm works too.
Try not to use this method too frequently or for prolonged periods, and avoid applying too much at a time.
In rare cases it can make its way into the trachea and lungs and lead to significant lung problems. If you have a preexisting chronic lung problem, you may want to speak to your doctor before trying this at-home treatment.
Sleeping with a dry mist humidifier in your bedroom can help increase the humidity in your room, which can provide relief to your nasal passages. Place the humidifier in the center of the room.
Here’s a tip: Don’t point it at furniture because the excess moisture can promote mold growth and damage wooden surfaces.
Nasal sprays can be used to wet the nasal passages.
Saline nasal sprays can help moisturize your nose while also cleaning out any dust, dirt, and pollen. They may also help to relieve congestion.
Moisten a facial tissue with water using a spray bottle, and wipe along the lining of your nostrils. This can help prevent drying and irritation.
You can also use baby wipes, which are designed for cleaning sensitive areas without causing over-drying.
A common home facial treatment, steam, can also help relieve a dry nose. You can even hang your head over a sink of hot water, but the effects of the steam won’t last for long.
Besides using moisture in the air, make sure you help your body from the inside by staying hydrated.
Drinking plenty of fluids like water or tea — especially if you have a dry nose during a cold — can help moisturize your nose from the inside out.
A common cause of dry nose is blowing your nose too often, whether that’s because of a cold or allergies. Dry nose is also common among people who live in areas with dry weather and who smoke tobacco or marijuana.
Chronic dry nose can also be caused by certain medical conditions, such as Sjogren syndrome.
Other causes of dry nose include infection, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic atrophic rhinitis, a longstanding nasal inflammation due to an unknown cause.
Dry nose is also a common symptom of certain medications, like antihistamines and decongestants used for common colds or allergies.
Outside of being uncomfortable and painful, a case of dry nose is rarely serious. The linings of your nose and the crease underneath are sensitive. Excess dryness and irritation can cause the skin to crack and bleed.
However, if you have dry nose for more than 10 days or experience signs of infection — fever, discharge, bloody noses that won’t stop, and weakness — you should contact your doctor immediately.