Comfort and side effects
CPAP Dry Nose: Why It Happens and How to Fix It
A dry, crusty or burning nose on CPAP comes from air that is not humid enough for your nose to handle, especially in winter or with a mask leak. Raising heated humidification, using heated tubing and a saline spray usually helps within a few nights.
Signs
- Dry, burning or itchy inside of the nose
- Crusting or scabs in the nostrils
- Stuffiness that is worse in the morning
- Occasional small nosebleeds
- Discomfort with nasal pillows
Common causes
- Humidity set too low
- The AirSense 11 user guide lists a dry or blocked nose as a sign that the humidity level may be set too low.
- Cold, dry room air
- ResMed explains that cold, dry air makes your nose work harder to warm air before it reaches your lungs, which can cause irritation and sinus headaches. Dry noses are especially common in cold or low humidity climates.
- Mask leak
- Air that leaks out of the mask or mouth pulls more dry air through your nose. F&P notes that an ill-fitting mask can dry the airways.
- Higher pressures
- ResMed notes that CPAP air enters the upper airway faster than the nose can warm it, especially for people on higher pressures.
Fixes to try, easiest first
Use saline spray at bedtime
A saltwater (saline) nasal spray adds moisture to the inside of your nose. The AASM and MedlinePlus both list saline sprays for a dry or stuffy nose on CPAP.
Use it before bed and again in the morning if your nose feels raw.
Use a water based nasal gel
A water based nasal moisturizer can soothe dry skin inside the nostrils. Ask your clinician before using petroleum based products near your mask, since petroleum can break down mask materials.
Turn up the humidity one step
Raise the humidity level on your machine by one step and give it a night or two. If you get water droplets in the tube or mask, you have gone too far, so step back down or add heated tubing.
Make small changes. Big jumps can cause rainout or swing you back into dryness.
Add heated tubing or turn on Climate Control
Heated tubing keeps moist air from cooling in the hose. ResMed's Climate Control Auto sets the ClimateLineAir tube to about 27 C and adjusts the humidifier to keep a steady humidity level.
Fix mask leaks
Refit your mask lying down with the air on. If you breathe through your mouth with a nasal mask, a chinstrap or full face mask may help, because mouth leak pulls extra dry air through your nose.
Consider a room humidifier
If your bedroom is very dry, ResMed suggests asking your equipment provider whether a room humidifier would help your CPAP humidifier keep up.
Talk to your provider if it does not settle with your clinician
If your nose stays dry or crusted after a week or two of these changes, ask your sleep doctor or equipment provider to review your humidity, mask type and data. They may also suggest a different mask style.
See your doctor if dryness leads to frequent nosebleeds, painful sores inside the nose, or a nose that stays blocked even with saline and full humidity. Get care right away for a nosebleed that does not stop after 20 minutes, or if you take blood thinners and get nosebleeds.
Supplies that can help
Salt water spray that moistens and clears the nose, a simple aid for the congestion and dryness some people get on CPAP.
A water-based or saline gel applied inside or around the nostrils to soothe dryness and soreness from CPAP airflow.
Tubing with a built-in heating wire that keeps humidified air warm all the way to the mask, which is the main fix for rainout (water droplets …
Distilled water is what most CPAP humidifier chambers are meant to be filled with, because it leaves little or no mineral scale behind.
The removable water tank of a CPAP humidifier; it wears and needs replacing, especially if it cracks, clouds or leaks.
Retailer links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Mask types this applies to
Frequently asked questions
Why is my nose so dry with CPAP in winter?
Cold indoor air holds less moisture, so your nose has to add more to the CPAP air. Turning up humidification and using heated tubing usually helps. ResMed notes that colder conditions can also make an existing mask leak worse.
Can I use Vaseline in my nose with a CPAP mask?
Ask your clinician first. Petroleum based products can degrade mask cushions, so many people use a water based nasal gel instead.
Should I use a humidifier if my nose is dry?
Yes, if you are not already. Heated humidification reduces some CPAP side effects, according to the AASM systematic review, and it is the first fix most manufacturers recommend for nasal dryness.
Sources
Last reviewed October 11, 2026. How we research · Report an error