Nasal cautery with silver nitrate

Silver nitrate reacts with the moist surface of the nasal lining and creates a small controlled area of tissue change. This can close a visible vessel that has been bleeding. The clinician applies it carefully to the selected spot, often after numbing the area. It is intended for a specific site and is not a general treatment for nasal congestion or every nosebleed.

Follow the clinic’s advice about saline, ointment, and pain relief. Keep fingers and cotton buds out of the nostril, do not peel away the crust, and avoid forceful nose blowing or strenuous exertion until advised otherwise. Sneeze with your mouth open and avoid smoke or dusty air. If bleeding occurs, sit forward and pinch the soft nose continuously. Read Nosebleed for additional first-aid guidance.

Contact the clinic about increasing pain, swelling, repeated bleeding, or discharge with a bad smell. Seek urgent care if pressure does not control substantial bleeding, or if you feel faint, have trouble breathing, or keep swallowing blood. Silver nitrate should be applied only by a trained clinician; do not try to treat the inside of your nose yourself.

Clarify how often to use saline or ointment, when you can exercise, how to manage a new bleed, whether the opposite nostril needs assessment, and which medicines or sprays you should avoid temporarily.