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How Do You Get Rid of Polyps in Your Nose?

Reviewed on 10/14/2022
A senior man having a nasal endoscopy for nasal polyps
Nasal polyps will often go away on their own. When treatment to get rid of them is necessary, it usually involves steroid nasal spray or drops to shrink the polyps. Surgical removal is often used to get rid of polyps (polypectomy) that may become cancerous.

Polyps are abnormal growths of tissue that project from mucous membranes. They may be flat or may appear to be attached by a stalk (pedunculated). They are very common and can form on any part of the body that has mucus membranes, such as inside the nose and sinuses. 

In addition to inside the nose and sinuses, polyps also commonly form on other parts of the body such as:

  • Colon (the most common type)
  • Stomach (gastric polyp)
  • Ear (aural polyp)
  • Cervix
  • Uterus
  • Throat and vocal folds (larynx)

Some types of polyps may not need treatment and may go away on their own. 

Treatment to get rid of polyps in the nose usually involves steroid nasal spray or drops to shrink the polyps. 

Some polyps carry a risk of becoming cancerous and need to be removed. Types of polyps that are dangerous because they may become cancerous include:  

  • Adenomatous polyps (adenomas)
  • Hyperplastic polyps
  • Sessile-serrated and traditional-serrated polyps

Surgical removal to get rid of polyps (polypectomy) is the most common treatment for polyps that cause symptoms or have the potential to be cancerous. 

What Are Nasal Polyp Symptoms?

Polyps often have no symptoms. When symptoms of nasal polyps occur, they may include:

  • Stuffiness or a blocked feeling in the nose
  • Feelings of pressure or fullness in the face
  • Reduced sense of smell or taste
  • Runny nose
  • The constant need to swallow (post-nasal drip)
  • Nosebleeds
  • Snoring
  • Symptoms similar to sinusitis
    • Pain, swelling and tenderness around the cheeks, eyes or forehead
    • Green or yellow mucus from the nose
    • Sinus headache
    • Fever

What Causes Nasal Polyps?

Causes of nasal polyps include:

  • Chronic sinus irritation, such as from allergies
  • Smoking
  • Upper respiratory tract infections 

Factors that increase the risk of developing nasal polyps may include: 

How Are Polyps in the Nose Diagnosed?

In addition to a patient history, nasal polyps are diagnosed with:

  • A physical exam of the sinuses with a special tool that has a light on it
  • Computerized tomography (CT) scan
  • A tissue sample (biopsy) to determine if the polyp is cancerous

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Reviewed on 10/14/2022
References
REFERENCES:

Image source: iStock Images

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/nasal-polyps-the-basics?search=nasal%20polyps&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~147&usage_type=default&display_rank=1 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nasal-polyps/