Nasal sprays are sprayed directly into the nose to relieve nasal allergy symptoms. They help relieve congestion or stuffiness in your nose, which is often a symptom of cold or nasal issues.

If you regularly deal with thick nasal congestion, nasal sprays can help to loosen and thin out mucus. Many types of nasal sprays are available in the market, with most of them available over the counter without a prescription. Hence, you must choose a long-term and effective nasal spray that can help you tackle your specific symptoms without the rebound of side effects¹, as seen with steroid nasal sprays.

Let’s look closer at the effects of steroid nasal sprays and how preservative-free sprays can help.

Steroid Nasal Sprays

Steroid nasal sprays, also called corticosteroid nasal sprays, are anti-inflammatory medicines that you spray into your nose.²

Although it helps to reduce inflammation (swelling) and relieve symptoms such as sneezing and a runny or blocked nose³, nasal steroid sprays can lead to body-wide side effects and complications after long-term use⁴.

When used to combat sinus symptoms, these sprays occasionally cause minimal bleeding of the nose and thinning of the lining.⁵ Other side effects include a stinging or burning sensation in the nose, dryness and crustiness in the nose, a dry, irritated throat, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, itchiness, redness and swelling in the nose.

Steroid nasal sprays don’t contain steroids like those sometimes used for bodybuilding (anabolic). They instead have corticosteroids. It takes several days to work and must be used daily to be effective. Some corticosteroids may slow growth in children, primarily if used for a long time. Local side effects of steroid nasal sprays tend to affect the nasal passage openings the most. More rarely, they can be up higher in your nostrils. These symptoms can occur right after you use the nasal spray or days afterwards^.6

If you have bleeding and irritation of your nasal passages, it can increase your risk of more severe complications. These include breaks in the skin (ulceration) or tiny holes (perforation) in the septum between your nostrils.⁷

Though they are less common, some side effects involve your eyes and sinuses. These may occur right away or even days after use. Such side effects include Sneezing, Watery eyes, A runny nose or stuffiness, Headaches, and Cough.

Preservative-Free Nasal Sprays

The use of preservatives in nasal sprays is debatable. Still, different studies have reported risks, and consequently, the European Medicine Agency (EMA) recommends using nasal sprays with zero BAC. In fact, the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medicinal Devices (BfArm) proposed for BAC to be removed from intranasal products in Germany due to concerns about mucociliary effects.⁸

Sterimar™

Keeping in step with this regulatory trend and applying the precautionary principle for patients, Sterimar™ has developed preservative-free approaches. 

Driven by the regulatory recommendations for preservative-free formulations in nasal sprays, Sterimar™ effectively relieves symptoms without steroids, drugs and preservatives.

Instead of preservatives, we use alternative formulas based on 100% natural seawater drawn in France, in Cancale in the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel. The sea coast is regularly monitored in terms of health by the official body IFREMER, which can trigger a rapid alert.

Preservative-free nasal relief may also be less likely to irritate. So, if you suffer from allergies or hay fever, using nasal saline without a preservative may be preferable. Preservative-free saline solutions and sprays may also feel gentler on the tissue lining the nose, especially for those with sensitive noses, like babies and children.

Seawater-Based Nasal Sprays

Nasal saline sprays differ from brand to brand. Some have preservatives, and some don’t, so don’t forget to check the labelling when considering a nasal spray.

Sterimar™ is an expert with over 40 years of expertise in nasal health and an effective and trusted solution by many leading healthcare professionals around the globe. 

With 100% natural, purified seawater-based nasal sprays that are entirely drug and preservative-free, we offer nasal solutions for everyone, even babies, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, to avoid poor nasal hygiene and the issues that come with it.

Learn more about health issues associated with poor nasal hygiene here and breathe easily to enjoy life’s beautiful moments.

References

1. The Benefits of Daily Nasal Sprays. (n.d.-b).

    https://www.centuryearnosethroat.com/blog/893928-the-benefits-of-daily-nasal-sprays/#:~:

    text=If%20you%20regularly%20deal%20with,harm%20to%20the%20nasal%20tissue

2. Steroid nasal sprays. (2021, November 18) nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/steroid-nasal-sprays/

3. Steroid nasal sprays. (2021c, November 18). Nhs.uk.

    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/steroid-nasal-sprays/#:~:text=When%20sprayed%20into%20the%2

    0nose,as%20polyps%20in%20your%20nose

4. More, D., MD. (2022, January 12). What to Know About Steroid Nasal Spray Side Effects. Verywell   

    Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/side-effects-from-nasal-steroids-83087

5. Steroid nose sprays. (2021, November). https://publicdocuments.sth.nhs.uk/pil2506.pdf

6. Chang GH, Wang WH. Intranasal fungal (Alternaria) infection related to nasal steroid spray. Am J 

    Otolaryngol. 2013;34(6):743-5. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2013.07.016

7. Bridgeman MB. Overcoming barriers to intranasal corticosteroid use in patients with uncontrolled 

    allergic rhinitis. Integr Pharm Res Pract. 2017;6:109–119. doi:10.2147/IPRP.S129544

8. Elder P, Crowley P, “Antimicrobial Preservatives Part Three: Challenges Facing Preservative 

    Systems”. Am Pharm Rev, Jan 1st, 2012.