The most common reason for the ammonia smell is sinusitis. This occurs when the tissue around your sinuses gets irritated and expands as result of your sinus cavities being overrun with bacteria, fluids or other unwanted microorganisms. This can be prompted by polyps in the lining of your nose, having a deviated septum or just a cold.
The ammonia smell in nose can also arise from sweat drying off on the surface of your skin. There are hordes of naturally occurring bacteria on the surface of your skin that can interact with the sweat you produce to give off the stench that can sometimes seem to come from other things.
One of the more serious reasons for the ammonia smell in nose can be liver disease. Your liver helps break down the food you eat and can filter out all of the unsafe chemicals that you might have ingested. If it stops working correctly, it could lead to a build up of toxins that can trigger the smell of ammonia.
So how does one diagnose and treat this symptom?
How to treat sinusitis-induced smell ammonia in nose?
The difficulty of treating this is affected by how severe the sinusitis is. For most mild cases (2 – 4 weeks long) one can find respite in vaporizers or steam from boiling water in a pot. It is important to be mindful of the fact that using these treatments for more than two weeks can have negative results. It is possible to alleviate symptoms by utilizing readily available nasal products from any drugstore. Sudafed and nasal sprays can be very effective.
For more severe cases of sinusitis, the easiest and most efficient way to treat is simply through steam. Just inhale and let the vapor clear your sinuses and easy some of the symptoms. However, if those options don't work it is always recommended that you see a doctor and get the right antibiotics or steroids prescribed to you.
How to treat sweat-induced ammonia smell?
Luckily for you, this is the easiest one to treat! You don't need to take anything but you might have to change your eating habits and clothes. Proper hygiene is the key to eliminating bad smells on your body as well so be sure to shower regularly.
If the ammonia smell in nose remains pungent after better hygiene methods have been implemented, we recommend that you switch to cotton and avoid tight clothing. If you are willing to change your clothes twice a day, it can often help as well. If that's still not enough then avoid foods that contain a lot of fat and try to eat healthier! Contact a doctor if none of these strategies help.
Did You Know?
Ammonia smell in your nose could be more serious than you think!
How to treat liver disease-induced ammonia smell?
This is the least likely cause of the smell but one that you should be aware of. It is almost always accompanied by other serious symptoms of liver disease like bloody stools, jaundiced features, chronic exhaustion and dark urine.
Treatments can range drastically depending on the root of the problem and can involve anything from a simple dietary change to reduce weight or eliminate the consumption of alcohol to serious surgery. Catch it before it gets worse and remember to see a doctor if you show any strong indicators of liver disease.
| Type | Other Key Symptoms | Possible Treatments |
|---|---|---|
| Sinusitis | Cold-like symptoms | Steam, nasal sprays, antibiotics |
| Sweat | Excessive sweat, could be from exercising a lot | Showering, dieting, baggy cotton clothes |
| Liver disease | Bloody stool, dark urine, jaundice, chronic exhaustion | No alcohol, dieting, surgery, transplant |
EmoticonEmoticon