Raw Between Nose and Mouth

Updated on May 05, 2008
J.A. asks from Grand Rapids, MI
32 answers

My son has a bad cold that he caught from my husband. He has been through an entire box of Kleenex. He's raw red from the nose down to the mouth, and it's naturally painful. I've tried to put vasoline there, and it has helped some, but of course, we have to wipe his nose about a hundred times. They are not allowing certain products over the counter anymore for children and colds. What can I give him, besides chicken soup, and other fluids, and ibuprofin when his temp is up? I'd love for it to dry up....but know that it has to work through his system. Oh, and we are already using vapor rub on his chest at night, and putting the vapor plug in too.

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So What Happened?

Thanks, gals. You all had some wonderful ideas for me to pull from. My little guy is feeling more like playing today, and his nose is less drippy, but still stuffed up. I did use the idea of coving one nostril and sucking up the other side. Worked wonders. I know I'll try more things mentioned here. As far as his red and raw nose, I used vasoline previously. It seems to be less a problem today. Thanks again.
J.

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J.K.

answers from Grand Rapids on

my son and daughter have the same thing right now~all the doctor says is it is a waiting game~I feel the same way!! What I have been doing is giving motrin~or ibuprofin just so they can sleep through the night~and through naps~I have been letting them sleep as much as possible~hopefully they will be over it soon~they have had it for a week!! YUCK!! Not fun when they are sick!! Good luck!!

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J.W.

answers from Eau Claire on

Good ol' children's Sudafed works for my girls. The pharmacist warned that as a decongestant it would make them runnier, but we've had good luck. Try aquaphor or chapstick under the nose, and my 6 year old swears by lotioned tissues (puffs). Good luck.

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M.R.

answers from Omaha on

I use baby wipes too to help clear away the junk between my 11 month old daughter's nose and mouth. We all have colds right now, and she doesn't seem to mind them as much as Kleenex. As for the rawness, for the longest time I have been using the Lanisoh nipple cream on both her and myself for the rough and chapped areas on the face. It worked wonders on her chin when she was drooling early on too. I have been using it on my upper lip and nose at night and by the morning it's all cleared up. I had almost a full tube left over after breastfeeding and tried it on her chin a whim, and it worked great!

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T.J.

answers from Boise on

For the rawness, I would put on some Ambasol tooth gel. It has benzocine in it and will help numb the pain. As for the head congestion... I love love love my NETI POT. (it was actually featured on Oprah. It looks like a geenie lamp and you mix a saline solution (the packets come with the pot) and you flush the nasal cavity and sinuses. You have to tilt your head forward and to the side and pour the solution in your nostril... it will come out the other nostril. Then you plug one side of your nose and give like 5 big old farmer blows, then do the other side. It sounds nasty but it works GREAT.

Good Luck!

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A.O.

answers from Milwaukee on

HAve you tried a saline nasal spray? I think that "little noses" actually has a baby safe formula that I am sure would work on your 3 yr old. Also it may sound funny but lansinoh breast cream (lanolin) creates an awsome barrier for tender and sore skin. It will protect even with wiping and is free of color or strong odor. I have used it for diaper rash and eczema on my children and it works wonders. Don't let the name fool you.

Hope your Son feels better
Take care,

A.

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S.F.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Using Vasoline is very helpful and even though you have to keep applying it it will make a tremendous difference in how your son feels. As for a medication that may help...Benedryl. One it will help him sleep some and two it will help with the runny nose. It is hard at that age to find anything really helpful you may also want to check into Triaminic or something like that. I find that the store off brands still provide the same amount of relief as the big ticket items. I hope this helps.

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S.B.

answers from Boise on

I have 5 children and we have always used Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night cream it is fantastic! We also use it to prevent chapped lips but if the lips do get chapped (my 8 year old will just run out to play and then lick his lips) we put it on immediately when I notice the dry lips and within an hour or two they are all healed and back to normal. I use it on the edge of my nostrils in between blowing my nose. If you wait until the nose is really pink there will be a little bit of a burn. I do not sell Mary Kay but I know it is good stuff!

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A.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

My daughter just got over a 3 week cold. I used Puff's Plus tissues(the ones with lotion) and put Burt's Bees Evening Primrose cream on a couple times a day. It protected her skin from all the "running". Hope your son gets well soon!

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T.G.

answers from Boise on

Well I dont have much advice for the cold itself, they just take time. But for the rawness... I have found that vitamin E capsules work really well (even for adults of course). You can buy a bottle at any store, get a pill out and poke a hole in the top of it and rub it on where it is raw. It will at least help it heal faster and sooth it. Its good for all scrapes and scratches as well. When the cold is gone, take a Vitamin E everymorning for healthy skin and hair. :)

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B.W.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I agree with Suzanne F, Vaseline. Make sure you have the tissues with lotion in them that makes a big diff too.
Benadryl has an antihistamine in it that will help dry things up. Check with your doc for dosage.
As for the vapor rub, it may be irritating his little nose if he has any type of allergies I would stop using it... my pedi says it is a waste of $$, same for the plug.
I would up the humidity in the house and especially in his room.

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Your doing lots of good things for him already. I personally never give cold med. to my children. I don't medicate a fever either unless it gets to 102 or I need to help them sleep. A fever is the body's natural way of fighting off germs. Viruses cannot survive as well at the elevated temps. You can also try vitamin e oil under his nose.

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A.I.

answers from Lansing on

i use carmex when my kids get that way and there is a product call simpley runny it work great ask the pharacy about it

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C.R.

answers from Waterloo on

I also have a 3.5 year old son and have found a great remedy for sore nose, upper lip, and even dry cheeks for the little guy--Aquaphelic! I think I got the spelling right. It's a white cream that works wonders and heals quickly. Also, for the temp: try alternating the ibuprofin with children's tylenol. My pediatrician recommended that and we saw much better results in fever control.

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J.B.

answers from Des Moines on

DEODORANT!! Sounds weird, but works wonders. My mom just shared this secret with me a few weeks ago. This is an answer to the raw nose, it prevents it from happening as well as heals it when it's happened. You just dab a little between his nose and mouth and it should feel better soon. I tried it and my nose was better within 2 days, even though I was still using boxes of Kleenex during that time. I'd probably stick to women's deodorant and solid, not gel.

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L.C.

answers from Jackson on

This is late but for the next cold and runny nose that you have to deal with for your son or anyone else with a runny nose I strongly recommend the Puffs Plus!! Since they brought them out I have never had to deal with a sore nose, nor have my six kids, my seven grandchildren or my MIL. I think it has been at least 11 years. That is a pretty good record. Oh, We have them in the nursery at church too.

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C.K.

answers from Des Moines on

Hi J.. It looks like you had plenty of great responses, but wanted to share my quick chapped nose healer. We use Carmex lip balm (the white jar with the yellow lid) on chapped noses & upper lips when we have colds. It works great. We also do the vicks on the feet with socks (as mentioned on an earlier post) for bad coughs. This worked wonders on our 8 year old daughter who had had a cough for weeks. This was actually the only thing that helped her at night.

I am a 46 year old mom of two step sons, ages 21 and 20 and two daughters,ages 8 and 6.

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M.M.

answers from Great Falls on

J.:
Aloe Vera.
Heals very well, absolutely natural product.
Take Care!!!

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T.T.

answers from Boise on

Be sure to use the "Puffs" kleenexes with lotion in them. They are more expensive but it is amazing what a huge difference it makes!

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D.S.

answers from Saginaw on

put a thick layer of carmex on it overnite. it'll heal right up!

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K.L.

answers from Grand Rapids on

You have some great responses here so I just want to add one quick tidbit. When my son is red and raw from wiping his nose I use any form of lipbalm or chapstick. I basically keep some in my coat pocket, purse, and kitchen junkdrawer so whenever we need it it's on hand. Because it's not lotiony or goopy it isn't immediately wiped off but it's very moisturizing and helps the chap (obviously...that's it's purpose).
I used it all the time because my son constantly licks his lips and is so chapped sometimes he looks like he's been drinking koolaid, and then we he was dry and flaky under his nose I just started applying there too. It helped immediately! When I sold Avon I stocked up on them for about 40 cents, so we have peppermint, chocolate, and all sorts of other fun flavors he likes. ;)

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A.B.

answers from St. Cloud on

Hi J., my kids have colds as well. If I stick to the kleenex with lotion, I usually never have problems. They have had colds for about three weeks and so far I have not had a problem with that. If I use regular kleenex, they tend to get the rash as well.

Best of luck!

A.

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S.K.

answers from Des Moines on

J., I really do not know of anything other than constantly putting vaseline on it. But one thing that really helped my kids was at night just as they got into bed (if they wipe it off I waited until they were asleep) putting alot of vaseline on then. And if I woke up in the night I would go apply more. My girls had problems with dry lips so this really helped. You can give it a try and good luck.

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T.B.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Have you tried baby wipes, vaseline, some type of moisture needs to be put there...it probably hurts him whenever you wipe his nose...Have you talked to your doctor about other medicines to give him or is that what he gave you to do...I hope that everything gets better for him soon

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C.B.

answers from Des Moines on

A friend of mine said to put vicks vapor rub on the bottom of the person feet and then put socks on when they go to bed.This helped her daughter get rid of her cold.She claims it works.A far a the rawness goes I would keep using vasoline and very soft tissues.

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D.F.

answers from Boise on

I gave my daughter about 1/2 a strip of the Triaminic cough and cold dissolve strips. Her pediatrician said it's ok in small doses to assist. It worked great to help clear up her runny nose. Also, if he has a cough, you could try putting the vaporub on his feet then covering with socks.

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A.A.

answers from Milwaukee on

J., Try the childerns Pedialight juice and popscicles for hydration, try the new all natural hall cough drops and vitiamin C to help. It works well with my grandchildren. Being in the healthcare field you can give children over the counter medications as long as you don't overdose. Other wise take him to his pediatrician. Good luck, and God bless you both

K.L.

answers from Milwaukee on

i use baby wipes on my son's nose when it gets raw from colds. i don't have him blow in them of course but for wiping they work great. i also use chap stick on the raw area at night. then he doesn't feel like his nose is running and try to wipe it off. my son is going thru a bad cold right now too.

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S.F.

answers from Dubuque on

Talk to your ped,see if pedicare for runny nose is right for your child it has helped with my child. There is a nightime one also.

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S.S.

answers from Omaha on

Iliked little noses nasal spray for my son when he was little, You can get medicated that seems to help dry thing up. childrens triaminic has always worked for us too.

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P.H.

answers from Provo on

I'm not sure how to help with the rawness of the nose besides the vaseline, but, with the runny nose, we give our daughter Little Noses Saline drops. She just lays on her back and I put a few in. If she sniffs it up, it's okay, because it needs to make its way to the back. It's also safe to use on a regular basis. If she's sick, we use it around every diaper change. So far this year, she has not been sick once because we have caught the draining and plugging up early enough.

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C.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I only ever use Puff's Plus tissues with lotion, that helped me when I was growing up. Of course, now it's a bit late, but it will ease his nose greatly if you use those tissues.

Also, I use any over the counter medication that is for runny noses. There really isn't anything else to do. Just keep using vaseline (or neosporine) and wipe tenderly.

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