Chronic Runny Nose

There are new and highly effective treatments for persistent nasal drip or drainage. Sometimes allergies and sinus infections are the cause of chronic runny nose, and we can control drainage with medications and/or sinus surgery. In some patients, the nerves that control the nasal mucus flow become dysregulated and make the nose run for no reason. This is called chronic rhinitis. There is now a simple, safe, and highly effective procedure to “turn off” these nerves to stop the drainage. There are two approved devices-one freezes the nerve inside the nose (Clarifix device) and the other uses radiofrequency energy to disrupt the nerve fibers (RhinAer). These procedures have little recovery time and can often be done in the office setting or with minimal or no sedation in the operating room.