Fewer things make cold season more miserable than a nose that’s red, raw and sore.
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that → make → nose
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.
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skin → include → septum
For some people that means flaking and tenderness.
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that → mean → flaking
For others it means painful sores or even nosebleeds.
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it → mean → sores
To find out why this happens and what you can do about it, I spoke with two ear, nose and throat doctors (ENTs).
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I → find → doctors
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.
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you → explain → nose
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.
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that → soothe → 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.
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you → fall → 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.
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it → form → 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.
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Herman → help → Houston
One tub should last you all season.
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tub → last → you
“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.
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he → provide → emollient
It contains a blend of botanical oils, including pine, eucalyptus, peppermint and cottonseed, that moisturizes dry, inflamed nasal passages.
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that → contain → passages
It comes with a dropper, so you can apply it directly inside your nostrils where irritation tends to start.
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irritation → come → nostrils
Fair warning: It has a strong, menthol-like scent.
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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.
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irritation → base → septum
Its formula combines saline and aloe to moisturize dry nasal passages and calm tenderness from colds, allergies and winter air.
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formula → combine → colds
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.
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tube → recommend → pocket
This saline spray blends propolis, eucalyptus, oregano oil and xylitol to clear congestion while moisturizing irritated nasal passages.
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spray → blend → passages
“Using nasal saline to clean the nose is very helpful,” says Salvador.
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Salvador → use → nose
“They usually come in two concentrations — 0.9 percent and three percent.
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They → come → concentrations
The former can moisturize the nose and thin excess mucus.
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former → moisturize → mucus
The latter can cause decongestion, but tends to have mild irritation.”
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latter → cause → irritation
This one falls into the former category and shoppers say they love how easy it is to use the point-and-pump bottle.
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it → fall → bottle
“Gentle nose-blowing with soft and fragrance-free tissues can also help clear excess mucus,” says Salvador.
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Salvador → blow → mucus
“This helps to reduce nasal drainage, which can irritate the skin outside the nose.”
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which → help → 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.
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that → ’re → blowing
They’re also sturdy enough to hold up to a big sneeze without tearing.
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They → ’re → sneeze
This cool mist humidifier can help keep your nose hydrated as you sleep.
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you → help → nose
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.
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machine → design → 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.
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it → mean → counter
Why does the inside of your nose get irritated when you have a cold?
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you → get → cold
Catching a cold doesn’t just leave you congested.
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Catching → catch → you
It can set off a chain reaction inside your nose that can leave the tissue there swollen, tender and raw.
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that → set → tissue
Much of that discomfort comes from your body’s own defenses working overtime.
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defenses → come → discomfort
“During a cold, any of the 200 viruses that can cause such an infection enter the nose.
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that → cause → nose
This results in the white blood cells in the area causing swelling and inflammation to the nasal tissues,” says Salvador.
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Salvador → result → tissues
“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).
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cells → release → particles
However, the swelling and mucus production can cause the nasal tissues to feel irritated.”
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tissues → cause → ?
All that extra mucus creates a second problem: constant wiping and blowing.
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mucus → create → problem
…and 14 more, not listed.
The Aporia
