How to Keep Your Nose from Drying on a Plane

Let's face it -- air travel is fast, but it's not always the most comfortable experience. Because the humidity drops significantly inside an airplane, your skin can dry out quickly, including on the inside of your nose. A dry nose can lead to a dry throat, which in turn makes breathing more difficult than it should be. Fortunately, several methods of alleviating dry nose on a plane exist that won't cost you much, if anything.

Keeping your body hydrated is the best way to curb a dry nose. This means drinking water before and during your flight, as well as avoiding beverages that serve as diuretics, such as coffee and alcohol. The humidity level is low when you reach your cruising altitude, so you should drink more water than you typically would to maintain the same level of hydration that you're used to. Instead of guzzling a huge bottle of water before you board the plane, sip on water throughout the flight. When your entire body is hydrated, your nose is less likely to dry out.

Saline nose sprays can be purchased over-the-counter, so you're not required to carry a prescription to bring them on your trip. These sprays have the same saline concentration as is naturally produced in your body, and are typically used to help to clear any mucus in your nose and seasonal allergies. The solutions in saline nose sprays can also be used to add moisture to your nose, so a few sprays to your nose during the flight will help prevent a dry nose.

Instead of buying a saline spray, you can also fill up a small clear plastic bottle with water. Make sure the bottle has a spray top, such as an old body spray container that has been thoroughly cleaned, or a similar empty container from a drug store. Mist your face with the water every hour or so, breathing in the mist to moisturize your nose. Be mindful of your seatmates -- spritz yourself in the bathroom unless you have the row to yourself.

If directly ingesting water or saline through your nose is not your thing, The Daily Mail offers another solution. Dampen a cotton cloth with water, preferably hot water, and lay it over your nose. Breathing in the air that is filtered through this cloth will serve as a makeshift humidifier. If your flight attendant cannot provide a damp cloth, bring a spare wash cloth in your carry-on and dampen it in the bathroom.