Overview
The inside of the nose has many tiny blood vessels close to the surface, especially at the front. Dry air, picking, blowing hard, colds, and allergies can make them bleed.
Most nosebleeds are from the front of the nose and are easy to stop. Less often, bleeding comes from the back of the nose, which can be heavier and harder to stop, especially in older adults and people with high blood pressure or on blood thinners.
When to get medical care
Causes
Common causes include dry air, nose picking, blowing the nose hard, colds, allergies, sinus infections, and minor injuries. Other causes include blood thinners and aspirin, nose sprays used often, a deviated septum, something stuck in the nose (in children), high blood pressure, bleeding disorders, and, rarely, tumors.
OwieClear has pages on 11 conditions that can cause nosebleed. Each shows how soon to get care.
Common causes
- NosebleedOften treated at home
Bleeding from the nose, most often from dry air, nose picking, colds, or allergies.
Less likely causes
- Broken noseOften needs care today
A nose injury that causes pain, swelling, bruising, nosebleeds, or a crooked look.
- Easy bruising or bleeding (needs checking)See a doctor if it doesn't get better
Bruising easily, bruises you can't explain, bleeding a long time from small cuts, frequent nosebleeds, or very heavy periods.
- Bleeding disorder (hemophilia or von Willebrand disease)See a doctor if it doesn't get better
Inherited conditions where the blood doesn't clot normally.
- Damaged nasal septumSee a doctor if it doesn't get better
A hole or damage in the wall between the nostrils, causing crusting, nosebleeds, a whistling sound when breathing, or a collapsing nose.
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)Often needs care today
A type of acute myeloid leukemia that causes dangerous bleeding and clotting problems.
- Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal typeOften needs care today
A rare, aggressive lymphoma linked to Epstein-Barr virus that usually starts in the nose or throat.
- Mucosal melanomaSee a doctor if it doesn't get better
A rare melanoma that starts in the moist linings of the nose and sinuses, mouth, vulva and vagina, or anus.
- Nasopharyngeal cancerSee a doctor if it doesn't get better
Cancer of the upper part of the throat behind the nose.
- RhabdomyosarcomaOften needs care today
The most common soft tissue cancer in children.
- Waldenström macroglobulinemia (lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma)See a doctor if it doesn't get better
A slow-growing B-cell lymphoma that makes large amounts of an antibody called IgM.
What you can do at home
- Sit up and lean forward so blood doesn't go down your throat.
- Pinch the soft part of your nose firmly for 10 to 15 minutes without letting go to check.
- Breathe through your mouth and spit out blood.
- Don't pick, blow, or bend over for several hours after it stops.
- Use a humidifier and saline spray or petroleum jelly inside the nose to keep it moist.
- Trim children's fingernails.
Medicines
A decongestant spray like oxymetazoline (Afrin) on a cotton ball can help stop bleeding, but don't use it for more than 3 days. A provider may seal a bleeding vessel (cautery) or pack the nose.
At the doctor
The provider will find where the bleeding is coming from.
Questions you may be asked
- How often nosebleeds happen and how long they last
- Which side
- Recent injury or nose picking
- Blood thinners, aspirin, or nose sprays
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- High blood pressure
The exam
A look inside the nose, and checking your blood pressure.
Tests
- Usually no tests
- Blood count and clotting tests if nosebleeds are frequent or heavy
- A scope exam of the nose
Prevention
You can lower your chance of nosebleeds.
- Use a humidifier in dry weather
- Keep the inside of your nose moist
- Don't pick your nose
- Blow your nose gently
Check your symptoms
Most symptoms have more than one possible cause. The symptom checker looks at all of your symptoms together, plus your age, and shows how soon to get care.
Sources
Last updated 2026-11-13.