Petroleum jelly: Safe for a dry nose?

In general, petroleum jelly is safe to use for nasal dryness if you apply only a small amount to the very front of your nasal septum — the tissue dividing your nostrils — and rub it in. However, lipoid pneumonia is a rare, potential problem from inhaling fat-based substances (lipoids), such as petroleum jelly or mineral oil, for prolonged periods.

Typically, petroleum jelly applied in the nostrils drains down the back of your nose with normal nasal secretions and is swallowed. But small amounts of the jelly can also migrate into your windpipe (trachea) and lungs. Over many months, it can accumulate in the lungs, leading to areas of severe inflammation (lipoid pneumonia) in the lungs. Chronic inflammation over many years can result in irreversible scarring of lung tissue, which impairs lung function.

In some people, lipoid pneumonia causes no signs or symptoms. In others, signs and symptoms develop gradually and may include cough and shortness of breath. Lipoid pneumonia can usually be diagnosed with a computerized tomography (CT) scan. Treatment is to stop using petroleum jelly in your nose.

Safer methods for relieving nasal dryness include:

• Using a vaporizer or humidifier
• Using nonprescription (over-the-counter) saline nose sprays
• Applying water-soluble lubricant sparingly just inside your nose to the very front of your nasal septum, the tissue dividing your nostrils