Geriatric Nasal Dryness: Pathophysiology, Clinical Assessment, and Therapeutic Approaches

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 73 - 76, 31.08.2025

Elad Azizli Ahmet Arslanoğlu Gürcan Sünnetç, Jeffrey Bedrosian

Abstract

Dry nose, also known as rhinitis sicca, is a common condition in the elderly. It results from age-related degenerative changes in the nasal mucosa, such as glandular atrophy, decreased mucus production, impaired mucociliary clearance, and structural changes in the nasal cavity. Despite how frequently it occurs, dry nose often goes underdiagnosed and undertreated in geriatric care. This comprehensive review explores the underlying pathophysiology, diagnostic methods, grading techniques, and evidence-based treatments for dry nose in older adults. It discusses clinical signs like dryness, crusting, epistaxis, and hyposmia, along with diagnostic tools such as nasal endoscopy, imaging, and objective moisture measurement. Severity is categorized using a practical grading system that correlates symptom severity with physical findings. Management depends on the disease grade and includes non-pharmacologic options like saline irrigation and humidification, topical emollients, intranasal corticosteroids, and, in severe cases, surgical procedures or antimicrobial therapy. Special considerations for geriatric patients—such as polypharmacy, cognitive limitations, and comorbidities—are highlighted. The review concludes by highlighting current research gaps, including the need for standardized grading tools and elderly-specific clinical trials. Increased awareness and personalized care can significantly improve the quality of life for older adults dealing with nasal dryness.

Keywords

Dry nose , geriatric care , nasal endoscopy

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