When dry crusts are constantly forming in the nose, this is very unpleasant. They make breathing difficult, clog the nasal cavity, and become a breeding ground for infection. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures to get rid of them as quickly as possible. But it is imperative to start treatment with diagnostics, since a healthy person does not form dry, dense crusts on the nasal mucosa.
Causes and Symptoms
There are many ways to treat crusts in the nose, and each of them is effective in its own way. Which one to choose - traditional or folk - everyone decides for himself. In any case, if you do not eliminate the causes that cause them, the result will be short-lived. And these reasons can be both external and internal.
If dryness and crusts in the nose appeared relatively recently, while there is no cough, runny nose, fever and other symptoms of respiratory diseases, then the problem is most likely caused solely by external causes. It can be too dry or polluted air, smoking, chemical irritation or burns of the mucous membrane, entry of small foreign bodies into the nasal cavity.
As soon as the external causes are completely eliminated, new crusts stop forming, and the old ones gradually disappear and the normal state of the mucous membrane is quickly restored.
Another external cause can be very cold air, which leads to freezing of the mucus that moisturizes the nasal passages. When it enters a warm room, transparent snot begins to flow abundantly, and they quickly wash away the ice crusts.
Internal causes are associated with various diseases and pathologies. Concomitant symptoms help to partially identify them:
- Chronic rhinitis. If a runny nose is not treated for a long time, then over time, the mucous membranes become less and less active, the cells degenerate, which first leads to the formation of multiple dry crusts, and later to nasal polyposis.
- Hormonal disruptions - often lead to changes in the viscosity of fluids in the body. Too thick mucus accumulates in the nasal passages, clogs them and forms dense crusts-plugs that make it difficult to breathe.
- Infectious diseases of the nose or sinuses provoke the appearance of yellow or green snot with an unpleasant odor. If the nose is not cleaned in time, infection-infected crusts form inside the cavity.
- Injuries to the nose, improper cleansing. The inner lining of the nasal passages is very delicate, thin, with capillaries close to the skin surface. Therefore, even a minor scratch can lead to bleeding and the formation of a bloody crust.
Features of the structure of the nose: too wide or narrow nasal passages, curvature of the nasal septum. Narrow passages lead to the retention of snot in the nasal cavity and the formation of plugs. Passing through wide, too strong air flow dries out the mucous membranes. With curvature, both are possible at the same time.
Features of the structure of the nose: too wide or narrow nasal passages, curvature of the nasal septum. Narrow passages lead to the retention of snot in the nasal cavity and the formation of plugs. Passing through wide, too strong air flow dries out the mucous membranes. With curvature, both are possible at the same time.Another common cause, which is difficult to unambiguously attribute to external or internal, is the excessive use of vasoconstrictor nasal drops, which leads to drying out and cracking of the mucous membranes. Therefore, for the duration of treatment for crusts, it is better to completely abandon these funds.
Accordingly, treatment should be aimed at eliminating the main cause of the appearance of crusts and, at the same time, at the fastest possible recovery of damaged mucous membranes.
You can try to eliminate non-infectious causes using folk methods. But they cannot cope with serious infectious diseases and hormonal disruptions - here it is better to seek medical help.
Treatment features
Regardless of the reason for the formation of crusts, their treatment should be started with rinsing. This removes excess mucus from the nose, softens the crusts themselves and moisturizes the mucous membrane. For washing, you can use a saline solution, furacilin, decoctions of chamomile or calendula. It is advisable to perform the procedure several times a day.
If the nose is not clogged, then you can close each nostril in turn and draw in another rinse solution, and then forcefully blow it back out. You can rinse well a nose clogged with snot and crusts by pouring liquid into it with a small syringe. In this case, the head should be tilted down, and the pressure of the water should not be too strong so that it does not fall through the Eustachian tube into the middle ear.
After rinsing, other treatments can be applied:
- oil-based nasal drops;
- anti-inflammatory and wound healing ointments;
- steam inhalation;
- turundas impregnated with medicinal substances.
But all these methods only facilitate the removal of crusts, reduce their formation and eliminate them for a while as a symptom. The emphasis should be on eliminating the underlying disease: treating the common cold, eliminating foci of inflammation, fighting infection, and normalizing the endocrine system.
If, according to the results of the examination, it turns out that the cause of the formation of crusts is the curvature of the nasal septum, the patient has only two options: leave everything as it is and accept that the problem will occur for life, or decide on surgical intervention.
It should be borne in mind that constantly forming crusts eventually lead to mucosal atrophy, impairment or complete loss of smell.
Traditional methods
Most of the folk methods really help to quickly remove the crusts in the nose, formed under the influence of external causes, but they do not have a significant effect on the internal causes.
Honey with butter. Softens crusts, heals wounds, relieves inflammation and irritation of mucous membranes, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. At the same time, honey should be natural and of high quality, and butter should be ghee. Mix the ingredients in equal amounts and lubricate the nasal passages up to 5 times a day.- Seaweed. Contains a large amount of iodine and is able to create a protective moisturizing membrane on the mucous membrane. Dry cabbage (natural, without salt and other additives) grind or grind to a fine dust. Inhale each nostril in turn so that it does not enter the bronchi. Repeat 2-3 times a day.
- Onion with honey. It can even cope with ARVI, which has caused a runny nose and the formation of crusts. Grate a large onion on a fine grater and mix with a tablespoon of honey. After 15-20 minutes, drain the resulting juice and instill 3-5 drops in each nostril every 2-3 hours. Store in a tightly closed glass container in the refrigerator for no longer than 2 days.
- Potato compress. Helps to quickly get rid of non-purulent sinusitis, rhinitis, remove nasal congestion. Boil a large potato with the peel, then peel and crush in mashed potatoes. Wrap in several layers of gauze. In the nostrils, drip 3 drops of menthol or mint oil, and put a potato compress on the bridge of the nose and insulate with cotton wool. Keep for 10-20 minutes. The procedure should be performed once a day.
Honey with butter. Softens crusts, heals wounds, relieves inflammation and irritation of mucous membranes, has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. At the same time, honey should be natural and of high quality, and butter should be ghee. Mix the ingredients in equal amounts and lubricate the nasal passages up to 5 times a day.You can find other recipes on the Internet. The main thing to remember is that with a purulent rhinitis, which is usually indicated by the yellow or green color of snot, or nosebleeds, no heating procedures and compresses should be done.
In parallel, you can carry out steam inhalations with soda solution or decoctions of medicinal herbs: chamomile, calendula, string, celandine, sage, etc. They perfectly moisturize mucous membranes, facilitate breathing, and promote the rapid discharge of crusts.
Pharmacy preparations
For those who do not trust traditional methods, there are effective pharmaceutical preparations that will help to quickly soften and settle the crusts, as well as slow down or completely prevent their re-formation:
- Sea buckthorn oil. It has truly unique healing properties, while being a completely natural product, the only contraindication to which is its individual intolerance. They can be used to coat the nasal passages with a cotton swab (very carefully, without peeling off the crust!). For a longer exposure, you can soak gauze turundas with oil, insert them deeper into the nose and leave for 20 minutes to 2 hours. It helps well with infectious rhinitis, irritation, damage and inflammation of the mucous membrane,
Chlorophyllipt. It is best to use an oil solution to treat crusts in the nose. Diluted with water, it is used for rinsing, in pure form - for instillation. Has strong antiseptic and antifungal properties. Helps when crusts are formed by staphylococci and other fungal infections.- Balm "Rescuer". A natural and very effective preparation based on several types of oils: olive, sea buckthorn, fir, ghee and oil extracts of plants, as well as vitamins A and E, which significantly accelerate the regeneration of cells and tissues, beeswax. Exfoliates crusts, relieves inflammation, accelerates the healing of wounds and cracks.
- Flemming's ointment. An excellent homeopathic remedy that has no contraindications. It contains plant extracts (calendula, witch hazel), zinc oxide, menthol, and the base is petroleum jelly. The ointment simultaneously reduces a runny nose, restores mucous membranes and helps exfoliate and remove already formed crusts. Has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effect.
Chlorophyllipt. It is best to use an oil solution to treat crusts in the nose. Diluted with water, it is used for rinsing, in pure form - for instillation. Has strong antiseptic and antifungal properties. Helps when crusts are formed by staphylococci and other fungal infections.In case of an infectious or allergic rhinitis, the doctor may additionally prescribe antibiotics and antihistamines. They will eliminate foci of inflammation, reduce a runny nose, and relieve swelling. Such funds are selected individually in each case.
An integrated approach to treatment allows in most cases to eliminate the problem in 3-7 days. If the crusting continues, you will have to undergo a diagnostic examination. There is probably a hidden reason provoking their appearance.
It is impossible to leave the problem unresolved, as this can lead to the development of chronic skin diseases, the appearance of non-healing ulcers and loss of smell.
