Why kids get more nosebleeds in winter — and how to prevent them

If your child suddenly has more nosebleeds once Michigan’s cold weather hits, you’re definitely not alone. Winter’s dry outdoor air combined with cranked-up indoor heat creates the perfect conditions for irritation inside the nose. The wince-inducing result: crusting, cracking and bleeding.

Pediatrician Dr. Jordan E. Kridler of Henry Ford Health explains why it happens and what parents can realistically do at home to prevent winter nosebleeds and ease the dryness.

Why dry winter air triggers nosebleeds

As temperatures drop, so does moisture in the air.

“This time of year, the air outside becomes a lot drier, and all of the moisture is sucked out of it,” Kridler says. “That moisture in the air is used to give lubrication to the inside of the nostrils.”

Without that natural lubrication, she adds, “the mucosa in the nose gets irritated and cracks, and that’s what can cause the little vessels in the nostrils to rupture.”

Indoor heating makes dryness even worse. “It’s similar to dry skin or cracking on your hands,” she says.

Easy ways to prevent dry-weather nosebleeds

Parents don’t need specialty treatments. The basics go a long way. Kridler recommends:

• Use a humidifier. A cool-mist humidifier in your child’s bedroom can restore moisture overnight.
• Try saline spray. She calls saline safe for all ages, including babies. “It moisturizes and loosens the mucus in their noses without medication. The salt water solution helps soften dried mucus making it easier to remove with bulb suction,” she says. Many pediatric offices use it routinely for newborn congestion.
• Reduce nose-picking and forceful blowing. Toddlers often pick their nose, which creates more irritation. Gentle reminders help.
• Use a cool compress during a bleed. “Applying cool compresses to the nose can help,” she says.
• Consider nasal decongestants (depending on the child’s age). These can constrict blood vessels, but should only be used when age-appropriate.

When it’s just dryness — and when it could be something more

Parents often wonder if a runny or stuffy nose is dryness, allergies or a cold. Kridler says to look at the whole picture.

If your child’s “energy level is good, they’re eating and drinking well, there’s no fever,” and no known sick contacts, she says it’s likely seasonal dryness or congestion.

However, there are moments to check in with your pediatrician:

Call your doctor if:

• Bleeding lasts more than 15-20 minutes
• The bleed is heavy
• Your child feels weak or dizzy
• Nosebleeds happen very frequently
• They come from the same nostril every time

For repeated same-side bleeding, Kridler notes that an ENT may check for “a specific vessel that needs to be cauterized.”

When your child is uncomfortable, you’re not alone

Winter dryness happens to many Michigan families, but a few simple steps can prevent most nosebleeds and help kids stay comfortable all season long.

Reporting by Tara Jones

​​This content is sponsored by Henry Ford Health. For related content, visit Top Kids Health Questions Answered!

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