Bleeding form the nose is common and can occur after forceful nose blowing or an injury to the nose
Most active nose bleeds can be stopped by leaning forward and pinching the soft part of the nose just above the nostrils and applying a cold pack to the root of the nose for a few minutes.
Bleeding from the nose (known as epistaxis) is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the lining of the nose.
There are two types of nose bleeding. The most common originates from the front of the nose and can usually be stopped with basic first aid ie. pressure and ice. Bleeding from the back of the nose does not always stop with first aid measures and is more likely to need medical attention in hospital.
The vast majority of recurrent nose bleeds can be treated by nasal cautery under local anaesthetic in the clinic using a silver nitrate stick. After the vessels have been cauterised, Vaseline should be applied twice a day for the next two weeks to prevent a crust forming.
If there is no obvious bleeding point at the front of the nose, an examination of the back of the nose with an endoscope may be required to identify the cause of the nose bleed.
