According to Dr. Pham Doan Tan Tai, Head of the Otology - Audiology Unit and Deputy Head of the Otolaryngology Department at Children's Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, the nose is the first gateway to the respiratory system. Its function is to warm, humidify, and filter the air before it enters the lungs. When the surrounding air is too dry or when the body is dehydrated, the mucus layer in the nose decreases, causing the mucous membranes to become dry, irritated, prone to cracking, and reducing their resistance.

A dry nose causes discomfort, leading to itching, burning, mild nasal congestion, and creates favorable conditions for bacteria and viruses to grow and enter the body. This can lead to rhinitis, sinusitis, nosebleeds, affect sleep and overall health, and increase the risk of secondary infections in children, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and those with underlying medical conditions.

Common causes of dry nose include: prolonged dry or hot weather; extended use of air conditioning or fans, not wearing a face mask; the habit of drinking little water and infrequent nasal cleaning; the effects of improper or non-prescribed use of nasal sprays containing corticosteroids or antihistamines; and certain nasal and sinus conditions like allergic rhinitis and sinusitis.

Dry nose causes discomfort, leading to itching, burning, and mild nasal congestion. Illustrative photo: Canva stock

Dry nose causes discomfort, leading to itching, burning, and mild nasal congestion. Illustrative photo: Canva stock

Therefore, Dr. Tai recommends people take care of their health, especially the nose as the gateway to the respiratory tract, to prevent respiratory illnesses. People should avoid staying in air-conditioned rooms continuously for 4-6 hours. Ideally, every 2-3 hours, one should leave the air-conditioned room and go outside to be exposed to fresh air.

Adults should drink enough water, about 2-2.5 liters per day. For children 1 year and older, water intake should be calculated by age, with the amount of water measured in cups (each cup equivalent to 250 ml). The number of cups should correspond to the child's age. Children over 9 years old should drink a maximum of 8 cups of water per day. Additionally, everyone should supplement with vitamins A and C to boost their immune systems.

Regarding nasal hygiene, the doctor advises daily cleaning. This is because when the temperature is too high, too cold, or dry for extended periods, the nose cannot adapt quickly, which can lead to damage and make it vulnerable to bacterial and viral attacks. There are many methods for cleaning the nose and moisturizing the nasal mucosa, including the use of sterile natural seawater sprays. For children, nasal sprays containing the element sulfur can be used to moisturize and restore the nasal mucosa.

Van Ha

Natural seawater nasal sprays like Sterimar are non-addictive and suitable for both children and adults. The French brand currently offers products such as Sterimar Sensitive for sensitive noses, Sterimar None Prone to Colds for nasal hygiene and cold prevention, and Sterimar Hygiene & Comfort for daily nasal hygiene.

Sterimar also has a product line called Sterimar Nose Prone to Colds, supplemented with copper ions (Cu). Copper is a trace element with natural antibacterial properties that helps prevent nasal and sinus diseases during hot weather. The product is intended for people with sensitive constitutions who are prone to colds and rhinitis, especially in polluted environments with high levels of fine dust and pathogens such as Covid-19 and influenza.

See Sterimar Fanpage and Shopee.