Dried Blood in Nose

A dried and bloody nose is a condition in which a person becomes afflicted with dried blood in the nose mixed with snot. This condition happens for a number of reasons. Sometimes on waking up a person might find his/her nose filled with mucus. When forced out the mucus might be reddish or maroon colored and has dried blood in it. This can sometimes be painful, but in most cases it is not.

A dried and bloody nose can happen to both toddlers or adults. Usually, it is caused by a change in temperature. If, however, it is accompanied by a headache, cold or a sore throat, a consultation with a doctor is advisable. The other symptoms associated with dried blood in the nose are:

Picture of Dried Blood in Nose

Symptoms of Dried Blood in Nose

Blood in snot

The most obvious symptom of this condition is the coming out of dried blood from the nostrils, when it is blown or during sneezing. The inner lining of the nose is covered with mucus whose production increases when the nose gets irritated. The dried blood can either come out with the mucus or alone as clots. Depending on how the blood is coming out the condition causing it can be analyzed and treated.

Headache

Some people might be getting frequent headaches and pain in the back of the eye. This is very common in the case of a bloody nose. The headache can be mild to severe and usually goes away shortly after.

Any problem in the nose is somehow related to the other parts of the body and can be the underlying symptoms of an allergy or a lung disease.

Cold

The accumulation of mucus is also related to cold weather. So, if you are blowing out dried blood from your nose there is a very fair chance that you have a cold. This happens especially during winters.

Chest Pain

In some cases a person might experience chest pain and also dried blood in the nostrils. Even though there is a possibility that these two might not be related, if the condition continues for a long period it might be an indication of lung disease. Which of course needs to be treated immediately.

Difficulty in breathing

Due to the regular accumulation of dried blood in the nose, a person might have difficulty in breathing properly. Sometimes, the bloody nose is so painful that every time a labored breath is drawn pain and discomfort are the inevitable consequence. This usually happens shortly after sleeping.

Causes

Dried blood in nose is not a disease in itself, but it can be a symptom of an underlying disease. The various causes of this condition are:

Temperature and Dryness

If the room you are sleeping is particularly cold and dry, there is a huge possibility that you will wake up with a bloody and dry nose. Bloody noses are particularly widespread during winters. During such chilly periods the dry air causes the nasal lining to get irritated and makes the nose to bleed. The blood is however unable to come out of the nose and accumulates there overnight. So, when the person concerned wakes up in the morning and blows the nose, dried and bloody snot flies out.

Allergies

If a bloody nose happens shortly after moving to a new place or eating something different from the usual fare, you might well have an allergy. The allergens might irritate the nasal passage, and thereby, cause it to bleed. Other symptoms associated with allergies are sneezing and pain in the nose. This is known as allergic rhinitis. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis can also include a runny nose, nasal stuffiness and itchy red eyes.

Injury

Blood in the nose can also be due to injury in the nasal cavity. The injury might even happen on the outside of the nose, while the impact causes bleeding on the inside. This blood accumulates in the nose and dries. Later, it causes a stuffy nose accompanied by irritation and inflammation. Such internal injuries usually heal by itself.

Scrapping

When a person has a cold and blows the nose frequently, the inner lining of the nose can get damaged resulting in bleeding. Also, sometimes dryness in the nose causes the inner lining to break, which causes bleeding and a lot of pain. And when the nose is itching and painful the urge to scrap and touch it can be unbearable. Unfortunately, that exacerbates an already bad and bloody situation.

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty also known as a nose job is surgery done to reconstruct a person’s nose. Sometimes after the surgery is done the inner lining of the nose bleeds a little. This is fairly common and as the blood is in tiny quantities it accumulates inside the nose and dries rather than flowing out of it. It later comes out when the nose is blown.

Infections

Respiratory infections are the most common cause of dry and bloody noses. The troublesome common cold is one such infection that causes bleeding in the nose. The cause is familiar; the constant blowing of the nose causes the nasal passage to get irritated. This is totally natural, harmless and goes away as soon as the cold is gone.

Thinning of the blood

A person taking blood thinners might also be susceptible to this condition. This thinning of the blood makes it come out of the skin in small quantities, with the potential of accumulating in the nasal cavity.

Cystic Fibrosis

In Cystic Fibrosis the individual concerned usually coughs up thick and blood-filled mucus. In some cases, cystic fibrosis later develops into respiratory infections and blood starts coming out of the nose as well.

Tuberculosis and Lung Cancer

Any disease that affects the lungs can also cause blood to accumulate in the nasal cavity. Tuberculosis and Cancer are two main diseases that have been reported to cause blood in the nasal cavity.

Treatment for Dried blood in nose

Depending on the disease that is responsible for the dried blood in the nose, there are many different treatments for it. These include:

• Nasal Spray – Most of the bleeding in the nose happens due to the dryness of the nasal cavity. In order to keep the nasal passage wet saline nasal sprays can be used. These are over-the-counter sprays, but it is advisable to consult your doctor before using them. The sprays not only moisturize the nasal passage, but also keeps it clean and free of dust, dirt, and other allergens.
• Petroleum Jelly – Applying a small amount of petroleum jelly on the inner lining of your nose is one of the best ways to keep it moisturized. Petroleum jelly is totally safe and is currently the cheapest moisturizer. If you cannot find nasal spray in pharmacies near you, petroleum jelly is best alternative to it.
• Wipes – Damp wipes can be used to clean the nose. You can either buy wet wipes that also have antibacterial properties or take a normal tissue, spray some water on it and wipe the nose lining with them. That will prevent dryness and help avoid any bleeding. It can also lubricate your nose when you are wiping it so that the dried blood easily comes off.
• Humidifier – A humidifier is very useful for removing dryness in a room and can be very helpful in providing relief to the nasal passage. Most especially on excessively dry days.
• Medical Treatment – If the dried and bloody nose is due to either lung diseases or infections, proper medical treatment for the disease can help reduce their symptoms. Consult a doctor if the dried and bloody nose stubbornly stays with you for more than a week. That is essential to the health and overall well-being