Nose Irritation & Sneezing: Causes, Reflex, and Relief

When something gets in your nose and irritates it, you sneeze. Sneezing is a natural reflex that helps to clear the nasal passages of irritants. When an irritant enters the nose, it stimulates the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators, which cause the blood vessels in the nose to dilate and the nasal tissues to swell. This swelling narrows the nasal passages and makes it difficult to breathe. Sneezing helps to clear the nasal passages by expelling the irritant and the excess mucus that has been produced.