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Saline Gel Solves Dry Nose Problem

Saline gel is designed to moisten a dry nose without exposing the lungs to oil.

Many people experience great discomfort during dry weather or in dry climates. The inside of the nose dries out and some people find that their body’s reaction to this problem actually makes it harder to breathe.

Nosebleeds

Another frequent difficulty from dry nasal passages is a propensity to nosebleeds. For a person taking an anticoagulant, such an event could become a medical emergency. We are always interested in new approaches to keeping the nose moist, but we worry about anyone putting mineral oil or petroleum jelly in the nose. Chronic inhalation of such substances could cause lung inflammation.

Q. You wrote about saline spray for dry nose. My ENT [ear-nose-throat specialist] told me about Ayr Saline Gel OTC for dry nose. It really works.

I used to suffer from bad bloody noses. As long as I use the gel, they no longer trouble me. It keeps the mucous membranes moist much longer than just plain saline.

A. We suggested using saline spray in the nostrils rather than petroleum jelly because of the danger of lung inflammation (lipid pneumonitis) if petrolatum is inhaled. A gel formulation sounds handy.

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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