There’s nothing like a sudden rush of blood out of your nose (somehow always oh-so-conveniently when you’re commuting, in a meeting, or walking down the street) to add a little drama to your day. But at least you can comfort yourself with the fact that you’re not alone (and we’re not just talking about Eleven from Stranger Things): Around one in seven people will deal with a nosebleed at some point in their life, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. However, only a lucky few are plagued by nosebleeds over and over again, especially around this time of the year. So what the heck’s going on inside your poor little nose?
“Dryness is the number one cause of a nosebleed,” says Andy Ahuja, M.D., an otolaryngologist (a.k.a an ears, nose, an throat doctor) based in Houston. Whether you live in a super-dry climate, or it’s frosty outside and the heated indoor air is totally devoid of moisture, it doesn’t take much for the nasal membranes (which are rich in tiny little blood vessels) to dry out, crack, and start bleeding, turning you into a crime-scene victim. Adding to the issue: seasonal colds, allergies (and the meds used to treat them, like prescription nasal sprays) along with repeated nose blowing can irritate those delicate passages, making it all too easy for a tiny blood vessel to rip open and trigger some bloody dribble.
When dryness is the issue, moisture is your best friend—Ahuja recommends regularly dabbing an OTC water-based gel (like Ayr Saline Nasal Gel) on the inside of the front part of your septum (about a centimeter in), spritzing with a nasal saline spray, or plugging in the humidifier at night to combat a dehydrated sneezer. (And, the obvious advice: don’t pick your nose!) But if the nosebleeds continue, despite your best moisturizing and babying efforts, the next move is to see an ears, nose, and throat doctor who can determine if there are any other medical conditions, anatomical issues, or medications triggering your nosebleeds. “People who have a deviated septum, which may dry out faster, sometimes deal with frequent nosebleeds, along with those who take medications that thin the blood like Advil, ibuprofen, or prescription Warfarin (often used to reduce your risk of heart attack),” says Ahuja.
If you’re a frequent bleeder, the ENT may cauterize the inside of the nose to seal up those vessels and prevent future problems. It sounds scary but it’s not—the doc will place numbing medication inside your nose and then use an electric current or chemical agent to quickly burn or destroy the tissue causing issues. And the next time you feel a gush, remember to sit up (no need to lean back—leaning slightly forward can help you avoid swallowing blood), apply firm pressure by pinching the front (not the bridge) of your nose where the bleeding is coming from, and chill for 10 minutes or so until the blood comes to a halt. If it just so happens that you’re not walking into the office/driving/on a date, an ice pack over your eyes or bridge of the nose can stem some of that bleeding, too.
