Quantification of Drying Effect of Water Soluble versus Petrolatum Products on Nasal Mucosa

Abstract

Objectives:

Nasal dryness can lead to quality of life issues or recurrent epistaxis. Nasal emollients have been used for its treatment, but few objective studies are available showing their ability to prevent mucosal dehydration. Due to rare reported complications with the use of petroleum, water-based emollients were developed. Objectives: 1) Determine water loss of various nasal emollients exposed to flowing air. 2) Compare water loss from nasal mucosa that has been coated with various nasal emollients.

Methods:

Ongoing laboratory studies were performed in an academic setting beginning in October 2012. A setup consisting of two specimen chambers, a flow meter, an air source, and two humidity/temperature sensors was used to test the ability of various nasal emollients to prevent water loss. Water loss from the agents was calculated based on weight and humidity. Experiments were also performed using sheep nasal mucosa coated with the same emollients. Water loss was similarly determined for the mucosa. A literature review on complications of petroleum products was performed.

Results:

Water-based nasal emollients lose more water and mass than petroleum-based products (P = .02). Nasal mucosa coated with water-based products rather than petroleum also lost more water.

Conclusions:

Petroleum-based nasal emollients are superior to water-based emollients in terms of less dehydration of underlying mucosa. There are, however, rare complications associated with the use of petroleum products.