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Scabs in the nose: causes and effective treatments

19-01-2025,
Tomasz Słodowski

You can read this text in 3 min.

Scabs in the nose: causes and effective treatments

PantherMedia

Nasal polyps

Scabs in the nose are a fairly common problem that can occur in people of all ages. There are delicate tissues inside the nose that can easily be damaged by allergies, infections and other problems. Dry air is also often the culprit. Knowing the cause of the problem and proper care are key to healing and prevention in the future.

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Nasal scabs are usually harmless and heal on their own if proper care is provided. Among the most common reasons for their appearance are allergies. Seasonal ones in particular can cause inflammation of the nasal mucosa, leading to excessive mucus production and irritation of the tissues in the nose. In addition, frequent wiping of the nose can promote the formation of scabs.

Blowing the nose too hard is also a common cause - excessive nasal wiping, especially with a runny nose, can cause irritation and damage to the sensitive skin, which can lead to scab formation. In addition, forceful attempts to clear the nose can push mucus deeper into the sinuses or damage the inside of the nose.

Dry air plays a big role - and is one of the most common causes of nasal scabs, especially in winter when heating in homes reduces humidity. Dry air leads to the drying out of the nasal mucosa, which in turn promotes the formation of scabs.

Allergies, Dry nose, Noseache, Scabs, Scabs-in-nose

Scabs in the nose: how do they form, photo: panthermedia

Sometimes the nose can become irritated due to the environment, but not as a result of an allergy. This is known as non-allergic rhinosinusitis, and common irritants include cigarette smoke, chemicals, alcohol or spicy food, among others.

Injury and nose picking are also worth including in the list of causes - trauma to the nose from an accident or injury can damage the tissues inside, leading to bleeding and scabbing. Similarly, picking the nose - can damage the inside of the nose.

It is also worth bearing in mind that some nasal sprays contain oxymetazoline. This is a drug that reduces blood vessels in the nose, helping you to feel relief from a blocked nose. Although such sprays initially help, excessive use can lead to dryness, irritation, inflammation and increased nasal congestion.

For scabs resulting from the minor problems listed above, it is worth trying:

  • humidifying the air,
  • using moisturising ointments that have petroleum jelly in them or ointments based on vegetable oil (e.g. coconut oil), which help to keep the nose moisturised. Tea tree oil, which has anti-inflammatory properties, also has good results,
  • rinsing the nose with saline,
  • avoiding irritation - in the event of an infection, it is a good idea to avoid excessively wiping the nose with hard tissues and try to dry the nose gently. It is also worth avoiding irritants such as strong chemicals,
  • a balanced diet and hydration.

Allergies, Dry nose, Noseache, Scabs, Scabs-in-nose

Scabs in the nose: when to see the doctor, photo: panthermedia

Although scabs in the nose are often the result of minor, harmless problems, it is worth consulting your doctor if they persist over a long period of time or other worrying symptoms appear, e.g. the scabs are very painful, bleeding, there is swelling. This may indicate an infection or other more serious condition that requires professional treatment.