As winter approaches, the air becomes dry. This dryness may cause you to feel a burning nose sensation. It’s as if your nose is on fire, extremely dry, and irritated.
Nose burning can be due to a changing climate, but it can also occur because of some health reasons that you may not know of.
Let’s discuss this uncomfortable sensation and get to the bottom of it. Moreover, we will discuss some care tips to help alleviate this burning.
Table of Contents
What is a Burning Nose Sensation?
Burning nose sensation refers to a heat feeling, discomfort, or irritation in the nasal passages.
The nose is one of the body’s defense mechanisms against intruders. It heats and filters the air we breathe, preventing bacteria and contaminants like dust from entering our lungs. A medical evaluation is necessary since nose burning could indicate this process isn’t working.
Individuals experiencing this sensation describe it as a warmth or burning feeling inside the nose.
The intensity of this sensation varies. However, it is generally uncomfortable, and you may feel other symptoms such as dryness, itching, or an urge to rub or scratch the nose.
Why Does Your Nose Burn and What to Do About It?
We have compiled a list of the possible reasons for the nose-burning sensation and provided solutions.
Changes in Climate
The primary reason for a burning nose feeling is dry weather. It occurs due to dry airways caused by excessive heat or low humidity, which might cause your nose to burn as you breathe in.
Apart from dry conditions, prolonged exposure to air conditioning can also dehydrate the nasal mucosa, resulting in a burning feeling in the nose.
What to Do? Put a Water Bowl in Your Room!
Prof. Dr. Babar Hussain Khan, a renowned ENT specialist with 30 years of experience, suggests a simple solution to prevent a burning nose during dry weather. He recommends keeping a water bowl in your bedroom. The air will get more humid as a result.
Furthermore, ensure you are getting enough water during dry spells. Another option is to use a 0.9% saline solution to rinse your nose.
COVID-19
A burning feeling in the nose and loss of smell are common symptoms of COVID-19 infection. After an infection, these symptoms usually go away in a few weeks, with discomfort spontaneously ending and smelling normal again.
Nonetheless, even after the infection has cleaned up, some people may still experience symptoms like burning in their noses and trouble smelling.
What to Do? Simply Rest and Drink Fluids!
Treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19 infections is nonexistent. You can control your symptoms at home with lots of rest, drinking fluids, and taking painkillers for fever or headaches.
After the infection, nose burning may go away, but some people experience discomfort and permanent changes in their ability to smell long after the infection is treated.
Hay Fever
Hay fever is a nasal mucosal inflammation induced by irritants like dust, pollen, pet hair, feathers, perfume, or disinfectants. These chemicals irritate the mucosa, which results in rhinitis, itching, and a burning feeling in the nose.
What to Do? Take Care!
Ensure the agent causing hay fever is absent from your home. Regular cleaning will help with this. In more severe situations, your physician might recommend allergy shots or antihistamines.
Sinus Infection
A sinus infection, often known as sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses that can result in headaches, sinus pressure, rhinitis, and occasionally a burning feeling in the nose. Both bacteria and the influenza virus can cause sinusitis.
Identifying the infection is the first step if you want the treatment to be successful. Read more on how to treat sinus infections for rapid relief.
What to Do? Start Your Medication Course!
Depending on the cause, your doctor will start treating your sinus infection. He may recommend antibiotics or antivirals.
Decongestants can help relieve the pressure-like feeling in your head. See whether you can treat your sinus infection at home in addition to seeing a doctor.
Cold and Flu
Cold and flu viruses can induce sneezing, rhinitis, and a burning feeling in the nostrils due to nasal mucus irritation in the airways.
What to Do? Stay Hydrated!
To combat either infection, you might need to take paracetamol or another medication to treat your symptoms.
Ensure you are hydrated by consuming lots of liquid, such as water and juice. Read how to treat the common cold and flu at home.
Medication
As a side effect, some drugs can cause the nasal mucosa to become dry. This is particularly true for decongestants or nasal sprays. Certain sprays have components that can irritate the nose, raising the possibility of infection.
What to Do? Tell Your Doctor!
It’s critical to inform your doctor of any burning nose feeling you may be experiencing due to taking medicine. Your doctor might recommend an alternative kind of nasal decongestant that doesn’t include any irritant chemicals.
For some people, nasal irrigation with cool water might be helpful and relieving when your doctor recommends to keep on taking your medication.
Sjögren Syndrome
Sjörgen syndrome is an auto-immune disease characterized by inflammation of several glands in the body. It frequently causes dry eyes, lips, and perhaps even the nose.
What to Do? Again.. Talk to Your Doctor!
A rheumatologist usually diagnoses symptoms such as dry mouth, trouble swallowing, difficulty speaking, dry eyes, and light sensitivity. If you experience any of these signs, consult your doctor.
When to See an ENT Specialist?
If the burning feeling in your nostrils persists for longer than a week and you feel additional symptoms, you should visit a doctor:
- Breathing difficulties
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Bleeding from the nose
- Losing consciousness
- Light-headedness
- High temperature
It’s also crucial to visit your doctor if you have dryness in other areas of your body, such as your mouth, eyes, or genitalia, as these could indicate more severe conditions like Sjörgen syndrome.
Book an appointment with one of the best ENT Specialists in Lahore via Healthwire’s platform.
