Manifestations of rhinitis can be unsettling. Surely everyone came across them - nasal congestion, swelling, constant mucus secretion, sneezing. But sometimes the problem is exactly the opposite. It is a condition when the nasal mucosa dries. What to do when these uncomfortable sensations appear?
First you need to deal with the causes of this unpleasant violation. Does the patient suffer from chronic ENT diseases, allergies? How often does it catch a cold? Is there enough humid air in his apartment? You will have to answer these and other questions to determine the factor that causes the nasal mucosa to dry. What to do to make you feel better and start breathing fully again?
Reason to see a doctor
The nose in humans is an important element of the respiratory system and performs the function of filtering the air passing through the nasal passages. The mucus, which becomes too much with a cold, is normally responsible for transporting and binding dust, protecting the nasal passages from foreign particles and pathogenic microflora. Inside the cavity, the epithelium is lined with small pimples that promote fluid. But if this process is disrupted, what should I do? The nasal mucosa dries due to the fact that the epithelium ceases to hold and remove foreign particles. Therefore, moisturizing will help to solve the problem.
Is it worth it to worry, if the nasal mucosa often dries, what should I do? Dryness in the nasal cavity can occur for a number of reasons. It can be one of the symptoms of colds, a sign of relapse of spring allergies, and also indicate low humidity in the winter or summer.
Some patients by all means try to get rid of unpleasant sensations, while others do not pay much attention to such a violation and do not even think about how to deal with it, what to do. Does the nasal mucosa dry? This can be a symptom of a serious illness. If such a manifestation does not go away for a long time, and moisturizing sprays and drops for washing the nose turn out to be ineffective, it is necessary to approach the issue more thoroughly and consult a doctor.
Most common causes
Most often, there is no reason to worry. The cause of dry nose (what to do with such a problem, we will tell a bit later) in most cases are natural factors. The problem of constant drying of the mucosa is faced by residents of the area with not the most comfortable climatic and environmental conditions.
Dry air during heating in apartments, industrial premises, buildings where air conditioning works inevitably affects the condition of the nasal mucosa. Sometimes the epithelium dries out in travelers during flights or climbing to mountain peaks. In such situations, usually instructors tell what to do. Dries up the nasal mucosa? In camping conditions, a fairly simple method is used: you need to cover your nose with a damp cloth and breathe through it.
The reason for the insufficient natural hydration of the nasal cavity may be taking certain medications. For example, vasoconstrictor drugs, means for washing the nose. Excessive use of such drugs can lead to drying out of the surface of the epithelium.
Typically, smokers have very dry nasal mucosa. What to do? The answer is obvious: quit smoking or at least do it less often. Otherwise, dryness will lead to a partial loss of smell. The same goes for alcohol abusers. The thing is that the decay products of ethyl alcohol inhibit the work of the glands.
Allergic reaction
Dry nose is often accompanied by lacrimation, stuffiness and itching, swelling, sore throat. This is how allergic reactions manifest themselves in the warm season, when the main provoking factor is the widespread flowering of plants. What to do if the nasal mucosa dries? The best way to deal with allergies is to get rid of the irritant, which can be anything:
- plant pollen;
- household dust;
- chemical fumes of detergents;
- pet hair;
- synthetic clothing;
- perfumery;
- medicines
- food allergens.
If a person does not know what exactly causes dryness in his nose, an allergy test should be taken. To alleviate the condition, it is recommended to take antihistamines and use moisturizing drops, sprays.
Hormonal changes
If none of the above factors is the true reason why the nose dries and crusts form, you should think about hormones. Throughout life, both men and women face the processes of body restructuring, which affects the work of the salivary and mucous glands. Most often, on a hormonal background, the nose dries up in older people and in women during pregnancy, menopause.
Changes occur in the body of adolescents. If the dry mucosa is the result of hormonal changes, special treatment is not required. Moisturizing and emollient preparations are prescribed to patients to maintain the normal state of the epithelium.
Pathological factors
Why does the nasal mucosa dry and what to do? If the reason lies in the inflammatory process, it is important to understand that dry nose is not an independent disease, but one of the symptoms of a specific ailment, which may be, for example, Sjogren's syndrome. This is an autoimmune pathology, which is characterized by damage to the glands of the nasopharynx. The disease leads to impaired production of saliva and nasal mucus.
The widest group of pathological factors are upper respiratory tract infections. Respiratory viral diseases, bacterial tonsillitis, pharyngitis, otitis media cause inflammation of the nasopharynx. During the period of the disease, the mucous membrane becomes thinner, since abundant mucus is secreted first, and with increasing irritation the epithelium is dried out, which provokes the formation of painful crusts. Adenoiditis is common in children, in which all mucous secretions flow down the back wall of the larynx, while the nasal mucosa remains dry.
High blood pressure, which is accompanied by a strong narrowing of blood vessels, diabetes can also be causes of dry nose. Treatment of the underlying disease usually leads to an improvement in the state of the epithelium.
Quite often, vasomotor or hypertrophic rhinitis occurs. People call this pathology “naphthyzine addiction”, since anatomical changes in the walls of the nose (their thinning or thickening) are often provoked by the prolonged use of vasoconstrictors. Rhinoscleroma is a cause of dryness in the nose - a disease in which, in some areas, healthy tissue is replaced by scar tissue. The cartilaginous tissue becomes larger, and the epithelium loses its functions, which leads to a violation of nasal breathing.
Complications of Dry Nose
Without the necessary measures and effective treatment, dry nasal mucosa can lead to more serious problems (for example, loss of severity of smell or permanent nasal congestion). The dried epithelium begins to crack, blood vessels are damaged and bleeding occurs. In this case, painful crusts form on the surface, headache and weakness due to shortness of breath are possible.
An overdried mucosal surface is an ideal medium for the propagation of pathogenic microflora, which leads to a weakening of local immunity, the attachment of a secondary infection and the development of inflammation. Otolaryngologists consider the formation of crusts on the epithelium in diabetes mellitus as an alarming symptom. The effects of dry nose can be very serious. If you do not start treatment on time, the process of atrophic changes in the mucosa may begin, which in severe cases can lead to damage to the cartilage and bone structures.
Before prescribing therapy, the doctor should examine the patient with a nasal endoscope, which will allow you to see the mucous layer and find out the cause of the pathological changes. If the examination is not enough, the specialist will give a referral for an additional examination.
Diagnostics
Get the exact answer to the question about the causes of dryness of the epithelium of the nasal cavity will help the following laboratory tests:
- general blood test - the results may indicate the course of inflammation in the body, allergies;
- bacterial culture of nasal discharge;
- microscopic examination of nasal mucus;
- X-ray of the maxillary sinuses.
If an allergic reaction is suspected, the patient is advised to undergo a complex laboratory test that will help determine the type of irritant.
Where to start treatment?
No doctor will prescribe medication without establishing a diagnosis. As soon as a disease is detected, the symptom of which is the drying of the nasal mucosa, the otolaryngologist will be able to select effective and safe drugs for the patient. But still you need to start treatment with another.
First of all, it is necessary to take measures to improve the indoor climate:
- do wet cleaning more often;
- air the rooms;
- Install humidifiers, especially during the heating season.
It is important to observe the correct drinking regime when air humidity is low. Every day you need to drink 2 liters of liquid, including purified water, herbal decoctions, tea from rose hips or dried fruits.
Pharmacy drugs
The most effective way to treat dry nose is to moisten the mucosa with special means. If a patient has blood crusts due to constantly bursting vessels, they cannot be ripped off - this will only slow down the healing process of tissues. It is advisable to use ointments that do not contain drying components. For the treatment of dry nose use:
- oxolin ointment (manufactured under the trade name "Oxolin");
- Fleming's ointment;
- "Pinosol" (oily nasal drops on a plant basis, can cause allergies);
- "Vaseline";
- “Vitaon” (includes rosehip, yarrow and pine oils).
In addition to these funds, you can buy liquid vitamins A and E in capsules without a doctor’s prescription. They can be taken orally (vitamin-mineral complexes Aevit, Aekol) or lubricate the nasal cavity. Such agents contribute to the restoration of a healthy epithelial surface.
In addition to these drugs, patients are prescribed moisturizing drops and sprays with sea salt such as:
- "Aquamaris";
- Humer;
- "Salin."
Vasoconstrictor drugs for dry noses can not be used - this will only exacerbate the problem.
Home Therapy Options
You can fight with the drying out of the mucosa without drugs and trips to the clinic. There are several simple methods of treatment if the nasal mucosa dries. What to do at home? You can use any of the methods described below only if the cause of dryness is not pathological, but is caused, for example, by a low level of humidity in the room:
- Drizzle your nose with vegetable oil. For this purpose, any oil (vegetable, olive, sea buckthorn) is suitable. Turunds dipped in oil produce a more powerful effect. They act for a longer period, moisturizing the epithelium, softening the crusts and promoting the healing of microcracks.
- Use a solution of sodium chloride. Cheap, safe and hypoallergenic saline is sold in any pharmacy. During the day, they can drip their nose as many times as needed - there will be no harm.
- Inhalation with essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint, decoctions of chamomile, calendula.
- Moisten your nose with water and silver. Such a tool is sold in pharmacies. Silvered water moisturizes well and eliminates irritation.
- Have a cup of hot tea, coffee, cocoa. Hot drinks help ease breathing and eliminate symptoms for a while.
Safe means for pregnant women
The load that lays on the body of the expectant mother often leads to changes in the functioning of individual systems, hormonal imbalance. It is not surprising that during pregnancy women face such a problem as dryness and nasal congestion, even if such violations were not previously observed.
Dry mucous membranes in expectant mothers are a temporary phenomenon that does not require special medication. You can eliminate uncomfortable sensations using various safe means. For example, the use of oil or salt-based drops, the use of humidifiers, sufficient fluid intake. If a disease has become a cause of dry nose during pregnancy, a woman needs to see a doctor and in no case do not use drugs at random.
About Prevention
Since the activity of the brain, respiratory system, and general well-being depend on how the nose works, in order to prevent the appearance of dryness and the formation of crusts on the nasal mucosa, it is necessary:
- Constantly humidify indoor air.
- Do not allow dust to accumulate.
- In winter, use saline solutions or other means for irrigation and rinsing of the nasal cavity.
- Extremely cautious approach to the use of vasoconstrictor drugs.
- Use respirators and face masks when working in dusty rooms.
- Strengthen the immune system, lead a healthy lifestyle and treat chronic diseases on time.