Chapped nose- 4 Causes, 12 Home Remedies and Prevention

Chapped nose is very uncomfortable, and it irritates us a lot although it is a very small problem. We can develop a chapped nose when we have a common cold, as we try to blow our nose repeatedly to get rid of the mucus and this irritates the nose and causes chapped nose.

Chapped nose is very commonly seen among the people during winter time, as we tend to suffer from cold and runny nose more often during this time. It can be easily treated by following some simple home remedies. So, let us explore the causes and treatments of the chapped nose.

Chapped nose Causes:

There are only a few causes of developing chapped nose. These are very simple causes which are avoidable. No significant disorders are underlying the chapped nose. So, you need not worry much as they are preventable.

Dry skin:

Having dry skin is one of the most common causes of developing a chapped nose. Dry skin tends to get cracked easily leading to the chapped nose.

Using harsh Cleansers:

Using rough cleansers damages the skin, which leads to cracked skin on the face and nose, including the development of chapped nose.

Blowing nose more often:

When you have a cold, you tend to blow nose more often and that too with pressure to get rid of mucus in the nose. This leads to chapped nose due to irritation of the skin of the nose.

Using rough tissues:

If you happen to use rough tissues for blowing your nose when having a cold, this irritates your nasal skin, leading to the formation of the chapped nose.

Chapped nose Home Remedies:

Many remedies can quickly be done from the comfort of your home to get rid of the chapped nose. Some examples of such home remedies are:

Petroleum jelly:

Petroleum jelly is an excellent moisturiser. You can apply some petroleum jelly over the nose and massage well every day.

Application of oils:

Application of natural oils over the chapped nose moisturises the skin over the nose and reduces the pain and irritation. You can use any oil of your choices like sesame oil, olive oil or coconut oil for this purpose.

Moisturizing soap:

Avoid using soaps containing too many chemicals and also the soaps which are rough. Use moisturising soaps, which contain cream, etc. and very few chemicals. This moisturises your skin and reduces the dryness which causes chapped nose.

Vitamin E:

You can use vitamin E capsules, by pricking them with a needle and then squeezing out the liquid out of them. Then mix the liquid from Vitamin E capsule with some oil like olive oil, sesame oil, etc. and apply it gently over the chapped nose. This remedy helps in faster healing of the skin of the chapped nose.

Humidifiers:

You can use Humidifiers in your room while sleeping at night. This makes the air in the room moist and makes breathing easy and reducing nasal irritation.

Inhaling Steam:

You can boil some water and inhale the steam several times a day. This relieves the congestion in the nose, makes the nasal mucosa moist and reduces irritation in the nose. It also eases the pain of chapped nose.

Aloe vera gel:

Aloe vera is a natural remedy that can easily moisturise your skin and hydrate it. You can take some freshly removed aloe vera gel and apply it over the chapped nose. Massage gently and leave it on for a few minutes. Then you can leave it on like that or wash with lukewarm water.

Cold washcloth:

Take a smooth washcloth and place it in some cold water. Then squeeze out the excess water from it. Apply this cold and damp washcloth over the chapped nose and leave it for few minutes. Then remove it. It provides soothing relief from the irritation and pain caused by a irritated nose. You can repeat this method several times a day.

Using Saline nasal drops or spray:

You can use saline nasal drops or spray in your nostrils 2 to 3 times per day. This will ensure that your nasal membrane is moist and reduces the irritation in the nose. This reduces the number of times you blow your nose, ultimately helping in the faster alleviation of the chapped nose.

Gently Cleanse the face:

While cleansing the face, avoid using hard and rough scrubs and exfoliators. Cleanse your face gently with smooth or soft cleansers. Also, wipe your face after cleansing with smooth towels. Don’t use rough towels.

Use soft tissues:

As using rough tissues is one of the causes of forming the chapped nose, avoid using rough tissues for blowing nose. Use soft tissues to blow nose and also try to exert less pressure when blowing nose. Try to reduce the number of times you blow your nose. These steps facilitate faster healing of the nose.

Honey:

Honey is a natural moisturiser. It has been used for centuries to moisturise the skin and in various beauty regimens throughout the world. Just apply a little honey over the nose. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then gently wash with lukewarm water.

Chapped nose Prevention:

There are several things that you can do to avoid developing a chapped nose in the first place. They are:

Avoid taking showers for long duration:

If you take showers for an extended period, it can dry up your skin, including the skin around your nose. This can lead to the chapped nose. So, take a shower only for short duration, and that too with lukewarm water. Don’t use very hot water to take a shower as it dries up your skin fast.

Don’t use rough tissues:

We always need to use soft tissues when blowing our nose. Usage of rough tissues irritates the skin around the nose and leads to the chapped nose.

Don’t blow nose more:

When blowing the nose, we need to blow very gently and avoid putting excess pressure on the nose. Also, we need to avoid blowing the nose many times throughout the day.

Apply Moisturizers:

If you have dry skin, try to apply a good moisturiser on your skin including over the nose. This helps in preventing drying out of the skin and development of chapped nose.

Avoid Cleansers which are harsh:

Avoid using cleansers and scrubs that are rough or harsh. If you use such products, they damage the skin and can lead to damaged nose skin along with cracks on skin elsewhere on your face. Always use cleansers which are gentle.

Hydration:

As dry skin is one of the most common reasons for developing irritated nose, you need to maintain adequate hydration to avoid dry skin. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day. Cover your face with a scarf when going out in dusty areas and under the hot sun to avoid drying up your skin.