Combatting Dryness: Patients Share Their Favorite Tips and Advice

Winter and spring seasons can present additional challenges for Sjögren’s patients, especially around dryness. Depending on where you live, this time of year can be cooler, with a drier climate, and a variety of weather changes. Cooler and drier weather can exacerbate symptoms for Sjögren’s patients due to lower humidity, drier air blowing from HVAC systems, smoke from cozy fires, and other conditions that can contribute to your symptoms. To help you combat dryness, we asked patients to submit their favorite tips that help them most. This article highlights what patients shared!

Editor’s Note: The advice and products mentioned are solely recommendations by our patients for what helps them reduce their symptoms. The Sjögren’s Foundation does not endorse the products mentioned in this article. If you are experiencing worsening symptoms, please contact your physician immediately.

Dry Mouth, Nasal Passages, and Airways:

Dry air (outside and inside) can be a key contributor to increased symptoms of dry mouth and nasal passages. In dry mouth where your salivary glands do not produce enough saliva, staying hydrated and using the right products consistently can help stimulate saliva production and keep the mouth moistened when saliva isn’t being produced. Sjögren’s patients also often have decreased mucous production in their nasal passages, causing a drier nose that can create sores. 

The function of mucous is to filter the air we breathe in and to keep our nasal and sinus passages and throat from becoming dry. The lower humidity of the cold outside air or the constant blowing of inside also reduces the moisture in your mouth and nasal passages. Without the protection of saliva and mucous, these conditions can make your dry symptoms worse. Similarly, lower humidity and change in temperature can irritate your throat and lungs. Here are some of your tips and over-the-counter products for reducing the symptoms of dry mouth and dry airways:

General Tips and Advice

• Leave a water bottle in areas of high use, such as by your bed, in your car, in your travel bag, by your desk, etc. so that you can always have water within reach.
• Carry a water bottle with different handles and openings, especially when flare-ups occur so that you can open them with more ease- different situations require different types of water bottles.
• Wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth. Masks often trap moisture and increase the humidity of air the wearer breathes in. Use these in especially dry conditions, such as around a fire, on an airplane, and in a dry office building. There is also the added benefit of offering some protection from viruses and other pathogens or irritating air pollutants.
• Avoid foods and beverages that can cause dryness or inflammatory symptoms, such as salty foods, high-acidic foods, garlic, onions, caffeine, chilies, sugar, etc.
• Avoid direct air exposure from fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and fans.
• Apply Vaseline, Aquaphor, or other hydrating ointments and balms on the lips and slightly in or around the nose to prevent them from drying out.

Note: Some ointments that contain humectants, like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, can be tricky in dry, low humidity conditions. Humectants, in general, are designed to hydrate but in dry, low humidity conditions they can also pull moisture away from the mouth, skin, nose, and lips. If you notice drier symptoms, discontinue use.

• Be sure to only use ointments very sparingly in your nose; inhaling ointment into your lungs can be dangerous.
• Use a humidifier to help with moisture and humidity in the air. Be sure to use either a self-sterilizing humidifier or change the distilled water every 2 weeks to prevent bacteria, mold, and fungus growth and release into the air. Washing with diluted vinegar every week can help keep your humidifier clean.
• Use Dry Mouth mints at bedtime, especially Xylimelts® by Oracoat.

Note: Some patients may be sensitive to xylitol, a common ingredient in “sugar-free” products. There are also a few concerns about the use of xylitol and cardiovascular issues per recent research publications. Please read our news story "Research links Xylitol and Cardiovascular issues – What Sjögren’s Patients should understand!"

• Gargle with Biotene, and other approved oral rinses and medications to help with dry/sore throat and dry mouth.
• Breathe in steam from a hot bath, shower, or a pot of boiled water to help with dry throat, nasal passages, and lungs.
  • Please also see our Clinician’s Corner, where Dr. Mabi Singh, DMD, MS discusses “Overcoming the Sensation of Dryness of the Mouth (Xerostomia)."

Dry Eyes

The blast of dry air to your face by cold winds or the HVAC system can leave your eyes irritated and drier than before. The cold air doesn’t hold as much humidity and can cause what little tears Sjögren’s patients produce to evaporate more quickly. Couple this with the drier air caused by heating systems and it can lead to worsening of dry eye symptoms. 

In the January/February issue of Conquering Sjögren’s, we asked ophthalmologist, Esen Akpek, MD, for her advice on winter dryness and dry eyes in our Clinician’s Corner. Members can retrieve previous Conquering Sjögren’s issues on our website here.

Tips and Advice for Dry Eyes

• Apply eye ointment at bedtime to help keep moisture in at night.
• Use a warm compress throughout the day and heated eye masks at night.
• Wear onion goggles or other protective eye wear when outside or near a heat source like a fireplace or wood stove.

Bonus Advice and Products for Hair, Skin, and Nails

• Put on lotion and gloves to cover your hands and retain moisture before going outside.
• Apply a thick layer of coconut oil on your fingers and nails, wait 10-15 minutes, and then rub into hair and scalp.
• Apply thick cream lotions or baby oil immediately after a shower and then towel dry. 
• Apply Aquaphor or Vaseline on your feet and put on socks at bedtime.

We want to thank all our patients who wrote about their favorite tips and advice for dryness! Some are good old standbys (that will always be helpful) and we hope some new tips and advice help you. No matter what the advice, the key to dryness is to stay on top of it and don’t let any part of your body get too dry before you treat it again! 

This article was first published in the March/April 2024 issue of Conquering Sjögren's.