The Nasal Microbiome, Explained

The gut microbiome gets the headlines and the skin microbiome is close behind. The nose has one too, and it is far less talked about. Here is what it is and what everyday life does to it.

What is the nasal microbiome?

The nasal passages are home to a community of microorganisms — bacteria mainly — that live on the mucosal lining, the same way communities live on the skin and in the gut. Its make-up varies from person to person and shifts with age, environment and season. Researchers study it because the nose is where inhaled air first meets the body.

Why a small ecosystem matters

A stable nasal environment — moist, at the right pH, with a functioning mucus layer and cilia — is the condition under which this community stays in balance. When the environment changes, the community changes with it.

What disrupts the nasal environment

• Very dry air — aircraft cabins, heating, air conditioning.
• Smoke and heavy pollution.
• Over-use of some nasal products — decongestant sprays in particular are not intended for daily long-term use.
• Mouth breathing, which bypasses the nose's warming and humidifying entirely.

Everyday nasal care

The habits that keep the nasal environment steady are the ordinary ones: nasal breathing, hydration, humidified rooms, and a daily cleansing routine to clear the particles that collect. NOWONDER™ nasal spray (also known as Enovid) is a cosmetic nasal cleanser used for exactly that — it cleanses and refreshes the passages, contains no steroids and is not habit-forming. Use 2 sprays in each nostril before or after visiting crowded places. Per the label, NOWONDER™ may be applied 3 to 4 times daily, or up to 6 times daily as needed. No claims are made about its effect on the microbiome; it is a cleanser, used as the label directs.

More on how the nose works in How Your Nose Filters the Air You Breathe.

Frequently asked questions

What is the nasal microbiome?
The community of microorganisms that normally lives in the nasal passages, as on the skin and in the gut.

What disrupts it?
Very dry air, over-use of some nasal products, smoke and heavy pollution can all change the nasal environment.

Does NOWONDER affect the nasal microbiome?
NOWONDER is a cosmetic nasal cleanser used according to the label. No claims are made about its effect on the microbiome.

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