When dryness is the issue, moisture is your best friend—Ahuja recommends regularly dabbing an OTC water-based gel (like Ayr Saline Nasal Gel) on the inside of the front part of your septum (about a centimeter in), spritzing with a nasal saline spray, or plugging in the humidifier at night to combat a dehydrated sneezer. (And, the obvious advice: don’t pick your nose!) But if the nosebleeds continue, despite your best moisturizing and babying efforts, the next move is to see an ears, nose, and throat doctor who can determine if there are any other medical conditions, anatomical issues, or medications triggering your nosebleeds. “People who have a deviated septum, which may dry out faster, sometimes deal with frequent nosebleeds, along with those who take medications that thin the blood like Advil, ibuprofen, or prescription Warfarin (often used to reduce your risk of heart attack),” says Ahuja.
Watch a hot doctor explain why that stubborn bruise won’t heal:
If you’re a frequent bleeder, the ENT may cauterize the inside of the nose to seal up those vessels and prevent future problems. It sounds scary but it’s not—the doc will place numbing medication inside your nose and then use an electric current or chemical agent to quickly burn or destroy the tissue causing issues. And the next time you feel a gush, remember to sit up (no need to lean back—leaning slightly forward can help you avoid swallowing blood), apply firm pressure by pinching the front (not the bridge) of your nose where the bleeding is coming from, and chill for 10 minutes or so until the blood comes to a halt. If it just so happens that you’re not walking into the office/driving/on a date, an ice pack over your eyes or bridge of the nose can stem some of that bleeding, too.