# Is vasaline or hand cream safe inside the nose **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 1, 2013, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518 "2013-04-01T12:02:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/1 "2013-04-01T12:02:35Z")
I accidentally got soap inside my nostrils when I was washing my face and forgot to rinse out my nose for hours because I thought it would be fine. Well it wasn’t. It’s now the next day and the first half inch to maybe one inch of the inside of my nose is extremely dry and cracked, like your hands get when their really dry. I have used saline nose spray and my nostrils need more than that at this point. Whats a safe moisturizer to use? It’s just the first half inch to maybe one inch of my nostril, what can I put in their? is Vaseline or hand cream safe? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/2 "2013-04-01T12:25:29Z")
Vaseline inside the nose isn’t a good idea – there’s a risk of [lipoid pneumonia](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/petroleum-jelly/an00947) if it’s inhaled. It may not be a high risk, and the condition is treatable, but why take the chance? ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/3 "2013-04-01T12:33:30Z")
I know there’s one nasal moisturizer called Secaris. I’m sure there are others. Check with your pharmacist. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/4 "2013-04-01T12:43:57Z")
This came up recently on the boards, so I took the opportunity to ask the Pharm D, the respiratory therapist and the General Attending at the hospital my mom just spent a few days at. They all agreed it’s a risk with Vaseline, but a very very small one, and in an alert adult patient, none of them have a problem with recommending it to relieve nasal dryness or prevent nosebleeds in people taking bloodthinners. They also said water based gel lubricant is a perfectly cromulent alternative. Water based lube is what we use when inserting NG tubes up your nose and down your throat. It comes in little sterile packets, but it’s essentially KY jelly, sometimes with a numbing agent added. So if you’re concerned, check with your doctors, but mine are cool with it. ETA: From personal experience, don’t use hand cream. Burns like a mf-er. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/5 "2013-04-01T14:09:05Z")
how far can you stick the Vaseline down your nose, I need to stick it as far as it will go basically. If you stick your finger in your nose you will hit something. Thats about where I need the Vaseline but I’m concerned will it “plug” my nose? Is that a risk? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/6 "2013-04-01T17:20:51Z")
Use a Q-Tip to spread the Vaseline inside your nose? I wouldn’t go too deeply, though. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/7 "2013-04-01T17:21:29Z")
That sounds abnormally far to get soap up your nose. I suspect it’s something else causing the pain, and you should see a doctor for real medical advice. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/8 "2013-04-01T17:30:56Z")
There was a point in time where an Ear Nose and Throat doctor instructed me to apply bacitracin in my nose. It’s essentially Neosporin. It’s got that greasy feeling that you seem to want plus anti-bacterial. In my case it was due to a consistent bloody nose. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/9 "2013-04-01T17:34:19Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > There was a point in time where an Ear Nose and Throat doctor instructed me to apply bacitracin in my nose. It’s essentially Neosporin. It’s got that greasy feeling that you seem to want plus anti-bacterial. In my case it was due to a consistent bloody nose. did they say to stick it as far up as you could, near the “bend”? ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/10 "2013-04-01T17:35:42Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > That sounds abnormally far to get soap up your nose. I suspect it’s something else causing the pain, and you should see a doctor for real medical advice. basically when I was trying to wash the soap out of my nose it just washed it further up. So can I put Vaseline up near the “bend”? ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/11 "2013-04-01T17:42:44Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > did they say to stick it as far up as you could, near the “bend”? The location of the bleed (the spot that he cauterized) was about half an inch up from the opening. That was as far as I needed to go. He told me to put bacitracin on a cotton swab, put it in my nose and swish it around to lightly coat the insides. No matter what, you aren’t going to need globs and globs of it. I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “bend” and I’m not in a position where I can investigate further right now. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/12 "2013-04-01T17:44:27Z")
\*\*Is vasaline or hand cream safe inside the nose \*\* I think it’s pretty safe. If I were stealing vaseline or hand cream the last place I’d look is in your nose. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/13 "2013-04-01T18:11:33Z")
Use a saline nasal spray. Use it several times and blow out your nose for a rinse. And then keep using as needed to keep the dry parts moistened. Can’t get safer than that. [![](http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/369222/220.jpg) ](http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/369222/220.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/14 "2013-04-01T18:55:36Z")
Neosporin is safe and will work well. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/15 "2013-04-01T19:34:01Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > basically when I was trying to wash the soap out of my nose it just washed it further up. So can I put Vaseline up near the “bend”? I really don’t know. That’s a bit more “invasive” than I’d want to go without a doctor’s orders. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/16 "2013-04-01T20:31:21Z")
Medical advice is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/17 "2013-04-01T21:04:58Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > basically when I was trying to wash the soap out of my nose it just washed it further up. So can I put Vaseline up near the “bend”? I’m thinking that this would be a good time to try out a neti pot. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-vasaline-or-hand-cream-safe-inside-the-nose/654518/18 "2013-04-01T21:08:26Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I’m thinking that this would be a good time to try out a neti pot. This was going to be my non-professional advice. It sounds like you may still have soap up inside your nose and it’s causing some irritation. Use a neti pot and rinse your nose out well. Then you can apply something if it’s needed.