Fewer things make cold season more miserable than a nose that’s red, raw and sore. Between dry indoor heat, chilly outdoor air and constant nose blowing, the delicate skin around your nostrils and the inside of your nose, including the septum, can quickly become dry, cracked and irritated. For some people that means flaking and tenderness. For others it means painful sores or even nosebleeds.
To find out why this happens and what you can do about it, I spoke with two ear, nose and throat doctors (ENTs). Below, they explain what causes nasal irritation during colder months, the simple habits that can help prevent it and the products for soothing and healing your nose if irritation has already set in, especially when you’re sick.
The best products to soothe irritation inside your nose
I rounded up products that can help soothe existing irritation or prevent it from starting, both inside and around the nose. All of them fall into product categories the ENT doctors I spoke with recommended, so you can feel confident adding them to your cold-season routine.
Vaseline’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic jelly forms a protective barrier that seals in moisture, making it an easy fix for skin rubbed raw by constant nose blowing. “For the skin around the nose and philtrum (the indented area between your nose and top lip), a simple moisturizer or protective ointment can help,” says Dr. Madeleine Herman, an ENT physician and president of the Sinus Center and ENT Specialists of Houston. One tub should last you all season.
“Nasal emollient sprays can provide much-needed moisture to the nasal cavity during a cold,” says Dr. Ryan Salvador, an ENT surgeon at Sinus and Snoring Specialists in Austin —he recommends this emollient. It contains a blend of botanical oils, including pine, eucalyptus, peppermint and cottonseed, that moisturizes dry, inflamed nasal passages. It comes with a dropper, so you can apply it directly inside your nostrils where irritation tends to start. Fair warning: It has a strong, menthol-like scent.
Unlike thicker ointments, this water-based saline gel is designed to go inside your nostrils as well as around them, making it a handy pick if the irritation is on your septum. Its formula combines saline and aloe to moisturize dry nasal passages and calm tenderness from colds, allergies and winter air. The brand recommends applying it during the day and at bedtime to prevent drying and crusting, and the small tube easily fits in a pocket or bag.
This saline spray blends propolis, eucalyptus, oregano oil and xylitol to clear congestion while moisturizing irritated nasal passages. “Using nasal saline to clean the nose is very helpful,” says Salvador. “They usually come in two concentrations — 0.9 percent and three percent. The former can moisturize the nose and thin excess mucus. The latter can cause decongestion, but tends to have mild irritation.” This one falls into the former category and shoppers say they love how easy it is to use the point-and-pump bottle.
“Gentle nose-blowing with soft and fragrance-free tissues can also help clear excess mucus,” says Salvador. “This helps to reduce nasal drainage, which can irritate the skin outside the nose.” These tissues are thick, three-ply and fragrance-free, so they’re gentle enough for a nose that’s already raw from constant blowing. They’re also sturdy enough to hold up to a big sneeze without tearing.
This cool mist humidifier can help keep your nose hydrated as you sleep. It is designed to automatically shut off when the device detects it has run out of water and the essential oil tray also lets the machine double as a diffuser to add a pleasant scent throughout your home. Also nice: It is slim and tall, which means it doesn’t take up too much surface area on a counter or side table.
Why does the inside of your nose get irritated when you have a cold?
Catching a cold doesn’t just leave you congested. It can set off a chain reaction inside your nose that can leave the tissue there swollen, tender and raw. Much of that discomfort comes from your body’s own defenses working overtime.
“During a cold, any of the 200 viruses that can cause such an infection enter the nose. This results in the white blood cells in the area causing swelling and inflammation to the nasal tissues,” says Salvador. “These then release specific cell messengers that dilate blood vessels (so more immune cells can reach the infected site) and increase mucus production (to trap virus particles). However, the swelling and mucus production can cause the nasal tissues to feel irritated.”
All that extra mucus creates a second problem: constant wiping and blowing. “When you create more snot or mucus, it causes you to blow, wipe, rub the nose more, which can irritate the delicate skin and lining of the nose, including the septum,” says Herman. “Then, dry indoor air can make the problem even worse.”
How can you stop the inside of your nose from getting irritated when you have a cold?
The good news is that a few small habits can go a long way toward keeping your nose comfortable while you recover. “The best way to avoid an irritated nose is moisture and treating your delicate nasal tissue with care,” says Herman. “Try gently blowing your nose, rather than repeatedly wiping or aggressively blowing. Saline nasal spray can help keep the nasal lining moist and loosen mucus so you don’t have to work as hard to clear your nose.”
Adding moisture to your environment, and to your body, helps too. “A humidifier, especially while you sleep, and keeping yourself hydrated can also help,” says Herman. Running one overnight can counteract the dry indoor heat that tends to make irritation worse during colder months.
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Meet our ear, nose and throat doctors
At NBC Selected, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Madeleine Herman is an ENT physician and president of the Sinus Center and ENT Specialists of Houston
- Dr. Ryan Salvador is an ENT Surgeon at Sinus and Snoring Specialists in Austin
Why trust NBC Selected?
I am a commerce editor at NBC Selected and a journalist who regularly covers wellness, beauty, home and lifestyle. I have written about whether hot showers are bad for your skin, how to clean your glasses and more. For this story, I interviewed two ENTs about how to avoid an irritated nose during cold and flu season.
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