Burning Sensation in Nose : Causes, Treatment, and Home Remedies

A burning sensation in the nose can be due to various reasons. It can be an allergy, infection, or any other cause of irritation. Along with burning in the nose, some people may also experience itching, burning, and irritation in the eyes, throat, and sinuses.

The causes of the burning in the nose include the following:

1. Sinusitis

   Inflammation of the sinus is known as sinusitis. Sinuses are the empty spaces present behind the forehead and cheeks. A viral or bacterial infection can cause sinusitis.⁽¹⁾

   The symptoms of sinusitis include:

   • Sore throat
   • Runny nose
   • Stuffed nose
   • Headache
   • Cough
   • Mucus dripping in the throat
   • Pain in the cheeks and forehead
   • Fever

   Sinusitis mostly results from viral infection and tends to go away on its own without any treatment. In case the bacterial infection is a cause, antibiotic treatment may be required.

2. Influenza

   Influenza is commonly known as flu and is a very common respiratory infection. Its symptoms can be mild to severe. They include:⁽²⁾

   • Cough
   • Fatigue
   • Body aches
   • Headaches
   • Fever
   • Sore throat
   • Runny and stuffy nose
   • Burning sensation in the nose

   Some may also experience diarrhea and vomiting with other symptoms.

   Mostly the symptoms resolve on their own. A certain group of people need to be more precautious, they include:

   • Children under the age of 5 years
   • Adults over 65 years of age
   • Pregnant females
   • People with chronic health conditions

3. Allergic Rhinitis

   Inflammation inside the nose is known as allergic rhinitis. In a person with allergic rhinitis, the immune system interprets dust and pollen as a threat and attacks them causing inflammation. This condition is known to affect 10-30% of people worldwide.⁽³⁾

   If the allergy occurs due to pollen or something that is present seasonally, it is diagnosed as hay fever.

   The symptoms of hay fever include:

   • Sneezing
   • Headaches
   • Stuffy nose
   • Postnasal drip
   • Runny nose and eyes
   • Burning sensation in the nose, mouth, and throat

   Avoiding allergens is the primary way to relieve allergic rhinitis. People can limit their outdoors when the pollen count is too high. This may be helpful in preventing pollen allergies.

   Over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids can also be given.

   There is another way of treatment of allergies, which is immunotherapy. It involves exposing the person to small amounts of allergen and teaching the immune system not to react to it.

4. Nonallergic Rhinitis

   Sometimes rhinitis is not due to allergy and is known as non-allergic rhinitis.

   This tends to affect adults more and can lead to symptoms all around the year. The symptoms include:

   • Runny nose
   • Burning sensation in the nose
   • Postnasal drip
   • Sneezing
   • Stuffiness in nose
   • It does not cause itching in the eyes, nose, and throat as a symptom.
   • However, people with nonallergic rhinitis are sensitive to air pollution, certain odors, and changes in weather.
   • Avoiding triggers may be helpful in easing symptoms of nonallergic rhinitis.

5. Coronavirus Infection

   Coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 is also known to cause a burning sensation in the nose. Its symptoms include:⁽⁴⁾

   • Fever
   • Cough
   • Shortness of breath
   • Sore throat
   • Nausea and vomiting
   • Runny and stuffy nose
   • Burning sensation in the nose
   • Diarrhea
   • Tiredness
   • Headaches and body aches

   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, anyone suspecting coronavirus should get tested and follow the below-mentioned precautions:

   • Monitor the symptoms
   • Wear a well-fitted mask
   • Clean hands often and thoroughly
   • Avoid sharing personal items
   • Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly
   • Keep the rooms of the house well-ventilated

Home remedies cannot treat allergic reactions or infections, but can surely relieve discomfort.

In case of viral illness, cold, or flu a person can do the following:

• Inhale steam
• Drink plenty of water
• Take rest

Saline nasal sprays or rinses can be used for ongoing nasal irritation or inflammation. Using a humidifier can also be helpful to a person in breathing in an easier way and reducing discomfort.

Any person with sudden and severe symptoms should connect with the doctor. If the doctors doubt the burning sensation to be due to bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. Allergy testing is also done to rule out allergic rhinitis.

The burning sensation can be due to allergy or any type of infection and may go away as the infection subsides. There are various over-the-counter medications and home remedies that can be helpful in giving relief from the symptoms.