Ear, Nose & Throat Treatment What to Do for Dry Nose and Sinuses By Kristin Hayes, RN facebook twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Kristin Hayes, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD on September 01, 2020 twitter linkedin John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board John Carew, MD on September 01, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Causes Increase Fluid Intake Humidifier Saline Nasal Spray Neti Pot If you live in an arid environment, you probably know that dry nasal and sinus passageways can lead to other problems including thick mucus and frequent bloody noses. It's important it is to maintain a proper amount of moisture in your nose and sinuses. Here are some tips for keeping your nose and sinuses moist and healthy. Causes of Dry Nose and Sinuses Ideally, the mucous membranes lining the sinuses produce mucus which flows into and through the nasal passageways, sweeping out foreign debris including bacteria as it goes. When mucus is inhibited from flowing freely by dry conditions, problems occur. Dry nasal passageways may lead to inflammation of the blood vessels in the nose and sinuses and subsequent congestion. Eventually, inflammation and congestion can even cause sinus infections. In addition to living in an area with low humidity, certain health conditions, for example, dehydration or Sjorgen's Syndrome, will cause your mucous membranes to dry out. If you're prone to sinus problems in the first place, dryness will only make things worse. Increase Your Fluid Intake Hydration, to a significant degree, starts from the inside out. Drinking more fluids, specifically more water may help to thin out mucus. It may also be beneficial to limit alcohol or other diuretics. Generally speaking, most of us require more fluids during the summertime when the temperature rises, or when we engage in physical activity. While water is best it's not the only way to increase your fluid intake. If you just can't stomach a lot of plain water, try adding a lemon to your water, or drink flavored water or an electrolyte beverage such as Gatorade or Powerade. Simple Tricks to Drink More Water Use a Humidifier Sleeping with a humidifier, ideally a cool mist humidifier (available at most drug stores), next to your bed can help to keep your mucous membranes moist. The cool air will also help to decrease any inflammation inside your nose or sinuses. Most humidifiers require distilled water in order to keep bacteria from growing in the system. However, a more expensive option is a self-sterilizing humidifier. If you'd really like to go all out, it is also possible to have your HVAC company add a humidifier to your heating/cooling system. This is a more expensive option but may allow you to more easily control the humidity levels in your home all year long. How to Choose the Right Humidifier Use Saline Nasal Spray Saline nasal spray is sold over-the-counter at most any pharmacy or drug store and is a great way to keep your nasal passageways moist. You can use it multiple times per day, since it's not really a medication and there isn't any real danger of overdoing it. Using Saline Nasal Spray Try a Neti Pot A neti pot is a device that looks an awful lot like a small teapot. It is used for nasal/sinus irrigation. Nasal irrigation is thought to be useful in removing excess mucus or foreign matter and thinning nasal secretions. You can buy a neti pot (without a prescription) at your local pharmacy along with a commercial sinus rinse to use in it. Or, you can make your own rinse using simple ingredients such as baking soda, iodine-free salt, and distilled water. How to Use a Neti Pot for Health Benefits Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Nevares AM. Sjögren Syndrome. Merck Manual Consumer Version. Updated April 2018. Dunkin MA. Arthritis Foundation. Sjögren’s Syndrome and Your Body. Rabago D, Zgierska A. Saline nasal irrigation for upper respiratory conditions. Am Fam Physician. 2009;80(10):1117-9. Additional Reading American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Saline Sinus Rinse Recipe. ear, nose, & throat associates of corpus christi. Sinuses. emedicinehealth. Sinus Infection. Sjorgen's Syndrome Foundation. Top 5 Tips for Dry Nose and Sinuses.