Ask a Health Blogger: Dry, Bloody Nose

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

15 Nov 2008 01:22 PM

Lately when I blow my nose, I see red or brown streaks on the tissue. What's going on? I've had a stuffy nose lately -- but I thought it was just fall allergies. Should I be worried?

I don't think you have an emergency on your hands.

My first question in response is: how dry is it in your house? When I have blood in my snot (red or brown streaks), it's often because things are dry. I also tend to get nosebleeds a LOT during the winter. Something as simple as running a humidifier in your bedroom might help. You can also drink more water to help keep your whole body hydrated.

Other hydration helpers:

• Take a long, steamy bath or shower. (If your nose is stuffy, a drop of eucalyptus oil in the water can help clear things up.)
• Simmer a pot of water on the stove -- the evaporating steam can help humidify the whole house. That's a nice, free home humidifier. Just keep your eye on the pot while it's boiling away -- you don't want it to boil down to nothing.

If you've had a cold or allergy problems lately, you might also have a little sore somewhere in your nose from blowing or wiping. I tend to get little sores right at the top of my nostrils when I'm blowing my nose a lot. When that happens, I put a little Vaseline or even chapstick around my nostrils to help protect them from irritation. That usually does the trick. You can also try those moisturizer tissues that are out there. I'm not personally fond of them because they feel kind of slimy. But they might appeal to your sad little sniffer!

If these hydration tricks don't help, it might not hurt to give a call to your doctor or allergist or other health professional.

Do you have a question for a Health Blogger? Send Aimee a PM and she'll do her best to get you some useful information!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger