Discomfort in the nasal septum when moved can be perplexing. This sensation, often felt when touching or wiggling your nose, signals irritation. Understanding the underlying reasons for this pain is the first step toward finding relief and ensuring nasal health.
Understanding Your Nasal Septum
The nasal septum is the wall that divides your nasal cavity into two distinct passages. This structure comprises flexible cartilage in the front and rigid bone in the back, all covered by a mucous membrane. The septum supports the nose and plays a role in directing airflow, ensuring the air you breathe is filtered, warmed, and humidified before reaching your lungs.
Common Reasons for Discomfort
Discomfort often arises from irritation or inflammation of the septum’s delicate lining. Dry air can dehydrate mucous membranes, leading to dryness, cracking, and pain. Exposure to allergens or environmental irritants like smoke can also trigger inflammation in the nasal passages, making the septum tender. Frequent nose blowing or nose picking can cause micro-tears or bruising of the septum’s sensitive tissues.
Inflammation extending from the nasal passages or sinuses (rhinitis or sinusitis) can also make the septum feel tender. Rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane, while sinusitis involves the lining of the sinuses. These conditions can lead to swelling and pressure that radiates to the septum, increasing sensitivity to movement.
Localized infections in the nasal vestibule (the area just inside the nostrils) can also cause septum pain. This condition, nasal vestibulitis, is frequently caused by Staphylococcus bacteria and can result from nose picking, excessive nose blowing, or plucking nasal hairs. Symptoms often include pain, redness, swelling, and the formation of crusts or pimples in the affected area.
While a deviated septum typically does not cause pain from movement, it can indirectly contribute to discomfort. An off-center septum can lead to increased dryness or turbulent airflow in one nostril, making that side more susceptible to irritation, nosebleeds, and pain. A deviated septum can also obstruct sinus drainage, increasing the likelihood of sinus infections that cause pain and pressure. Small foreign objects lodged in the nasal cavity can also cause irritation, pain, discharge, and bleeding.
When to Consult a Professional
While minor septum discomfort is often temporary, certain symptoms indicate a need for professional medical evaluation. Consult a healthcare provider if you experience persistent, worsening, or severe pain. Signs of an infection, such as fever, increasing redness, swelling, or pus/discolored discharge, warrant prompt medical attention. Difficulty breathing through your nose, frequent nosebleeds accompanying the pain, or pain that significantly interferes with daily activities are also reasons to seek medical advice. If the pain follows significant trauma to the nose, a medical professional should assess the injury to rule out more serious issues.
Self-Care Measures for Relief
For minor septum discomfort, several self-care measures can help alleviate symptoms. Gentle nasal saline sprays or rinses can moisturize the nasal passages and help clear away irritants. When performing nasal rinses, use distilled or sterile water to prevent infections.
Employing a humidifier, especially in dry environments, can add moisture to the air and help nasal tissues retain hydration, ideally maintaining indoor humidity between 30% and 50%. Avoid known irritants such as nose picking, vigorous nose blowing, and exposure to allergens or tobacco smoke. Staying well-hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids helps thin nasal mucus and keep mucous membranes moist. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can also be used for temporary relief.