Fractured nose
Caring for your nose at home
You can often manage your broken nose at home by following the advice below:
- Hold an ice pack (frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel will also work) to the nose for 10-15 minutes every few hours for the first couple of days.
- If your nose is bleeding, pinch the soft partof your nose just above your nostrils for 10-15 minutes to stop the bleeding.Lean your head forward to prevent blood trickling down your throat.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve the pain.
- Prop your head up in bed by sleeping on a few pillows to help reduce the swelling.
If your nose looks deformed,don't attempt to straighten it yourself. See your GP for advice.
If your nose looksstraight and your symptoms start to improve after a few days, you may not need to seek medical advice.
In these cases, you should avoid wearing glasses until the swelling has gone down and you should try not to pick or blow your nose until it's healed.Avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks and avoid contact sports for at least six weeks.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about the signs of a broken nose, and find out how to look after your nose at home and when you should seek medical advice.
How do I know if Ive broken my nose?
A broken nose will be painful, swollen and red. Other typical symptoms include: bruising around the eyes ( Eye, black ) a nosebleed tenderness when you touch the nose a crunching or crackling so
Caring for your nose at home
You can often manage your broken nose at home by following the advice below: Hold an ice pack (frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel will also work) to the nose for 10-15 minutes every few hours for th
When to see your GP
Contact your GP if: the pain gets worse or is not relieved by ordinary painkillers (your GP may be able to prescribe a stronger painkiller) the swelling doesn't go down after a few days the swelli
When to go to hospital
Go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department if: you have a nosebleedthat won't stop you have an open wound over your nose clear fluid is trickling from your nose (this could ind
Treatment for a severely broken nose
If your nose is crooked or the skin is broken, you'll probably need to be assessed and treated in hospital. A doctor may be able to realign your nose using special instruments under general anaesthet
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