Fewer things make cold season more miserable than a nose that’s red, raw and sore.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.
For some people that means flaking and tenderness.For others it means painful sores or even nosebleeds.To find out why this happens and what you can do about it, I spoke with two ear, nose and throat doctors (ENTs).
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.The best products to soothe irritation inside your noseI rounded up products that can help soothe existing irritation or prevent it from starting, both inside and around the 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.Vaseline Original Healing Jelly$5.97Amazon$5.99Target$3.24WalmartWhat to knowWhat we likeMulti-purposeLasts a long timeAffordableSomething to noteCan feel greasyVaseline’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.
“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.
One tub should last you all season.Ponaris Nasal Emollient$21.70Amazon$22.09TargetWhat to knowWhat we likeEasy to applyLasts a long timeSoothingSomething to noteStrong scent “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 Special...