To understand how conditions affect the nose, it’s important to know a little about its structure.

The nose is made up of a combination of bone and cartilage. At the top, around the bridge, the structure is bone. Towards the front, the nose is mostly cartilage and this continues inside, where a cartilage called the nasal septum divides the nose into two halves. Air enters into each of these halves through the nostrils. Towards the back of the nose, the two nasal cavities join together.

The entire nasal cavity is lined with a membrane that produces a thin film of clear mucus. This helps humidify the air that is breathed in and traps particles like allergens, bacteria and viruses. If the inside of the nose is too dry, its various functions will be impaired.