Nosebleeds are a nuisance no matter when they happen. Fortunately, most nosebleeds are minor. Typically, nosebleeds occur when the nose becomes dry and the lining of the nose cracks. With appropriate pressure, most nosebleeds will stop quickly. Appropriate moisturizing techniques can help prevent nosebleeds for many people. If you don’t respond to the moisture, you may benefit from an in-office cauterization to address any problem areas that are present in your nose. More serious causes of nosebleeds do exist, but thankfully - they are rare. Nevertheless, it is important that you are fully evaluated with nasal endoscopy to rule out any serious causes prior to undergoing any treatment.

While it is not common, there are nosebleeds that are so severe that they need to be addressed in the operating room. Even less commonly, you can have a significant nosebleed from the sphenopalatine artery, the artery that serves as the main blood supply to the nose. This is more likely if you have had any previous surgery in the nose or sinuses. In these cases, you might benefit from a surgical procedure called a sphenopalatine artery ligation.