What is the best solution for chronic dry nose?

[Alex1540]

        Hello, my girlfriend has an extremely sensitive nose lining, and gets dry very easily resulting in semi-frequent and quite powerful nosebleeds. As a remedy, she has been recommended by a few doctors to use Vasoline to help stop the dryness. She has been doing this for a few years now, sticking globs of petroleum jelly up her nose to prevent the dryness, and it has worked. But I have personally investigated it, and found that it may not be such a good idea. We have been looking for a better alternative that can actually help moisturize instead of simply restricting air flow. Recently my grandmother has had similar problems and she has been using KY jelly instead, as it is water based. The fear is that cramming copious amounts of petroleum jelly up my girlfriends nose could, in the long term, have negative effects, especially if she is accidentally insufflating  bits of it into her lungs here and there. My question is, which solution would be best? She just recently came across http://www.amazon.com/Babyganics-Healin-Protective-Ointment-3-25-Ounce/dp/B004BYUQIW - A non-petroleum ointment, and was wondering if this would be a better solution? The ingredient list seems a bit funky to me, so I was wondering if this would be safer than vasoline. Thanks for your help!

[Margot49]

I do have a deviated septum,mwhich the doc says can contribute to the nose bleed issues.  I also have very dry sinuses, mouth and throat.  doc suggested saline spray, which I tried for some time with little success.  I would have a nose bleed almost every morning or when trying to blow my nose.  Well, I can only tell you what has worked for me and I have had very few nose bleeds for some time now.  I do use a humidifier in the bedroom at night.  Also, a pharmacist suggested I try the NeilMed nasal "gel" as it won't run out the nose like the saline spray.  I use it first thing in the morning and sometimes before bed.  I have noticed a marked improvement!  I sometimes put a little Vasaline or Neosporin, which the doc suggested, just on the inside of my nostrils before bed.  She may want to give the gel a try.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Using plain non chemical based creams is safe, as the long term effects of other jellys may not have been studied. Unless studies have been done it is difficult to predict long term effects, so please avoid the same. Ask her to practice good ‘nasal hygiene’, i.e avoid using fingertips to remove the crusts, as they harbor infection causing bacteria. She can try using an OTC saline spray and avoid blowing her nose too hard and use a soft Kleenex. If you don’t already have one get a humidifier for your bedroom.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.