# Warning to all re Nasal Sprays **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 27, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-all-re-nasal-sprays/677316 "2013-12-27T22:15:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-all-re-nasal-sprays/677316/101 "2015-04-21T01:14:06Z")
> [@simster](#): > > sorry- without more details - I call bullshit. The other common reasons are cocaine use and nose-picking. A doc would be able to see signs of picking. Also nose surgery itself can have this as a side effect; certain nose piercings can also do it. It can also be an occupational hazard caused by exposure to certain compounds. Nasal sprays cut off blood to the sprayed area\*, so I can see how it could cause a perforation if someone sprayed in the same place all the time (as we do). It would cut off blood flow to the area in the septum…shudder. \*Because it cuts off blood flow, some nasal spray on a tissue and held against a shaving nick stops it cold. Works on other minor bleeding, also. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-all-re-nasal-sprays/677316/102 "2015-04-21T01:15:06Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Do you have a cite for that? I’d like to “see it” for myself. Heres a good cite from 1998: > **[Intranasal steroids and septum perforation--an overlooked complication? A...](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9830677/)** > > The use of intranasal steroids for the treatment of allergic and vasomotor rhinitis has doubled during the past 5 years. The number of reported cases of nasal septum perforation has increased correspondingly. The mechanism behind this is unknown, and... Here’s another from 2005. > **[Nasal septal perforation 1981–2005: Changes in etiology, gender and size -...](https://bmcearnosethroatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6815-7-1)** > > Background Septal perforation is an uncommon but very bothersome illness and treatment is difficult particularly with large perforations. We wanted to establish the etiology and size of nasal septal perforations in an attempt to implement preventive... ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-all-re-nasal-sprays/677316/103 "2015-04-21T01:19:15Z")
BTW, the return of pollen and the upcoming crappy pollen season made me remember [Shower Soothers](http://www.amazon.com/Sudacare-Shower-Soothers-Vaporizing-Tablets/dp/B000SIHO4O) – those discs from Sudafed (Vicks also made them) that you put in the bottom of your hot shower and they released eucalyptus and other Vicks-smells to decongest you. They were MAGIC. I wish they would come back, because none of the homemade ones have ever measured up. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-all-re-nasal-sprays/677316/104 "2015-04-21T01:43:25Z")
**IvoryTowerDenizen** , \*\*GrumpyBunny \*\*and **Broomstick** - Ignorance fought - bullshit call rescinded. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-all-re-nasal-sprays/677316/105 "2015-04-21T13:20:33Z")
I stand corrected as well. However, the point remains - for all OTC (and Rx) drugs, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS re how much and how often to use them! ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-all-re-nasal-sprays/677316/106 "2015-04-21T14:24:02Z")
Yes! That’s the take home message. Nasal perfs and dependency are why the 3 day limit is recommended! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/warning-to-all-re-nasal-sprays/677316.md?page=5)