Dry nose and nosebleed: what should you know?

The front of the nose contains small delicate blood vessels close to the surface. Dry air, air conditioning, crusting, forceful blowing, nose picking, and minor knocks can damage them. Allergic rhinitis or a common cold may cause rubbing and repeated blowing. Sinusitis can add congestion and irritation. Hypertension does not explain every nosebleed, but a clinician may consider it when bleeding is recurrent or difficult to control. Most brief episodes stop with correct first aid, but the pattern, amount, and medicines used are relevant.

Sit upright, lean slightly forward, and breathe through your mouth. Pinch the soft part of the nose continuously with thumb and finger while timing the effort; do not keep releasing pressure to check. Spit out blood rather than swallowing it. Afterward, avoid blowing or picking the nose and strenuous activity for a while. Saline spray and a suitable nasal moisturiser may reduce crusting. Do not put tissue deep into the nose. If you take a blood-thinning medicine, ask a clinician before changing it.

Get urgent help if bleeding is heavy, follows a significant injury, causes faintness or breathing difficulty, or does not stop after sustained pressure. Arrange a medical review for repeated episodes, bleeding from both nose and gums, easy bruising, or a new change after starting medicine. A clinician can check the nasal lining, blood pressure, and medicines, and may treat a visible bleeding point.

Could dryness, allergy, infection, or a medicine be contributing? Is my blood pressure relevant? Which saline or moisturising product is suitable? How should I manage another episode?