Nasal Polyps: Complete Guide to Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: September 2026

Nasal Polyps: Complete Guide to Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

TL;DR

Nasal polyps are soft, painless growths on the lining of the nose or sinuses. They are not cancer and often occur in groups. Many people with small polyps have no symptoms, but larger polyps can block the nose and cause a stuffy nose, postnasal drip, and loss of smell. Medicines such as steroid sprays often shrink them; endoscopic surgery removes them when medicines fail. Polyps frequently come back after treatment.

Quick Answer

Nasal polyps are soft, noncancerous growths that form on the lining of the nose or sinuses, often in clusters "like grapes on a stem." Small polyps may cause no symptoms, but larger ones can block the nose and lead to congestion, postnasal drip, loss of smell and taste, facial pressure, and snoring. First-line treatment is steroid nasal spray; oral steroids, biologic medicines, and endoscopic surgery are options when sprays are not enough. Polyps often return after treatment, so follow-up care and prevention steps such as managing asthma and avoiding irritants matter.

What Are Nasal Polyps?

Nasal polyps are soft growths on the lining of the nose or the spaces inside the nose, known as sinuses. They are painless growths inside the nose or the hollow areas inside the bones of the face. Nasal polyps aren't cancer.

Nasal polyps often occur in groups, like grapes on a stem. This clustering is one of the reasons they can block airflow even when each individual growth is small.

Small nasal polyps might not cause symptoms. Larger growths or groups of nasal polyps can block the nose. They can lead to breathing problems, not being able to smell, and infections.

Nasal polyps can affect anyone. But they're more common in young and middle-aged adults. Medicines can often shrink nasal polyps or get rid of them. But surgery might be needed to remove them. Even after treatment, nasal polyps often come back.

Nasal polyps are linked to irritation and swelling, also called inflammation, of the inside of the nose and sinuses that lasts more than 12 weeks. This is known as chronic sinusitis. But it's possible to have chronic sinusitis without getting nasal polyps.

What Are the Symptoms of Nasal Polyps?

Nasal polyps are linked to long-lasting inflammation inside the nose and sinuses. People who have small nasal polyps might not know they have them. But having more than one polyp or having a large polyp can block the nose.

| Symptom | Description | |---|---| | Runny, stuffy nose | Congestion and drainage that persist well beyond a typical cold | | Postnasal drip | Mucus running down the throat from the back of the nose | | Loss of smell | The ability to smell is reduced or lost | | Loss of taste | The ability to taste is reduced or lost | | Facial pain or headache | Aching across the face or head | | Tooth pain | Pain felt in the teeth, linked to sinus pressure | | Facial pressure | A sense of pressure over the forehead and face | | Snoring | Noisy breathing during sleep caused by a blocked airway |

Because these symptoms overlap with many common illnesses, timing matters. See a healthcare professional for symptoms that last more than 10 days. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps are like those of many other illnesses, including the common cold.

When Should You Seek Urgent Care?

Seek medical care right away or call 911 or your local emergency number if you have any of the following. These signs suggest complications that need immediate attention rather than a routine appointment.

| Urgent warning sign | Why it matters | |---|---| | Symptoms that quickly get worse | Sudden worsening can signal spreading infection or inflammation | | Seeing double or other vision changes | Vision changes suggest inflammation is reaching the eye area | | Swollen forehead | Swelling in the forehead can indicate a serious sinus complication | | Pain or swelling around the eyes | Eye-area involvement requires urgent evaluation | | A bad headache that keeps getting worse | A progressively worsening headache is a red flag | | Stiff neck | A stiff neck can point to infection that has spread beyond the sinuses |

What Causes Nasal Polyps?

Experts don't know what causes nasal polyps. They don't know why some people get nasal polyps and others don't.

What is understood is the link to inflammation. Nasal polyps are tied to irritation and swelling of the inside of the nose and sinuses that lasts more than 12 weeks, a condition known as chronic sinusitis. Long-term inflammation appears to set the stage for the soft growths to form, though researchers have not identified a single trigger.

What Increases Your Risk?

Infections, allergies or any condition that causes long-term inflammation in the nose or sinuses can increase the risk of having nasal polyps.

| Risk factor | How it's linked to nasal polyps | |---|---| | Asthma | A chronic airway condition often found alongside nasal polyps | | Aspirin sensitivity | Reacting badly to aspirin is associated with a form of nasal polyps | | Cystic fibrosis | An inherited condition affecting mucus-producing cells | | Dental infections | Infections in the teeth can contribute to ongoing inflammation | | Lack of vitamin D | Low vitamin D levels are linked with a higher risk | | Family history | Having relatives with nasal polyps might increase risk |

What Are the Complications?

One of the most common complications of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps is making asthma worse. This is a meaningful link for anyone managing both conditions: controlling the inflammation in the nose can help keep asthma more stable.

Polyps can also block the nose enough to cause breathing problems and increase the risk of sinus infections, which feed back into the cycle of inflammation.

How Are Nasal Polyps Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of nasal polyps starts with symptoms, a medical history and a physical exam. Several tests can confirm the diagnosis and rule out other problems.

| Test | What it shows | |---|---| | Nasal endoscopy | A narrow tube with a lighted lens or tiny camera looks at the inside of the nose | | CT scan (imaging study) | Shows the size of polyps deep in the sinuses and where they are; helps rule out other reasons the nose is blocked | | Allergy skin test | Tiny drops of allergy-causing agents are pricked into the skin of the forearm or upper back; the skin is watched for reactions | | Blood test for allergies | Screens for allergies when a skin test can't be done | | Sweat test (cystic fibrosis) | A chemical put on the skin causes the area to sweat; the test shows if the sweat is saltier than most people's sweat — a child who has nasal polyps might have cystic fibrosis | | Blood tests | Look for conditions linked to nasal polyps, such as allergies or problems with the immune system |

How Are Nasal Polyps Treated?

Chronic sinusitis, with or without polyps, can be hard to treat. The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms, reduce swelling, shrink or remove polyps, improve symptoms, and improve quality of life.

Medicines

| Medicine type | How it works | |---|---| | Nasal steroid sprays | Sprays such as fluticasone, budesonide, mometasone, triamcinolone, beclomethasone, and ciclesonide reduce swelling in the nasal lining | | Steroids taken by mouth | Pills such as prednisone can help when polyps block nasal sprays; they may also be given to shrink polyps before surgery; because oral steroids can cause serious side effects, they're generally prescribed only for a short time; steroid shots may be used if polyps are severe | | Biologic medicines | Dupilumab, mepolizumab, and omalizumab aim at certain cells or proteins to lessen irritation and swelling; used for people whose polyps keep coming back | | Other medicines | Antihistamines treat allergies; antibiotics treat infection; aspirin desensitization — taking a little more aspirin bit by bit under an allergy specialist's supervision — can help people with polyps and asthma who react badly to aspirin, and may be followed by daily aspirin therapy |

Surgery

If medicine doesn't shrink or get rid of nasal polyps, endoscopic surgery can remove polyps and correct problems with the sinuses that lead to polyps.

In endoscopic surgery, a surgeon puts a small tube with a lighted lens or tiny camera, also known as an endoscope, through the nostrils into the sinuses. A surgeon then uses tiny tools to remove polyps.

A surgeon can also make the openings to the sinuses larger. This can be done during endoscopic surgery. Or there's a procedure called balloon ostial dilation. This procedure doesn't involve removing tissue from inside the nose.

After surgery, a corticosteroid nasal spray might help keep nasal polyps from coming back. A saltwater rinse can promote healing after surgery.

How Can You Prevent Nasal Polyps?

The following might help lower the chances of getting nasal polyps or having nasal polyps come back after treatment.

| Prevention step | Details | |---|---| | Manage allergies and asthma | Follow your treatment plan; keep symptoms controlled; see your healthcare professional if they're not | | Avoid nose irritants | Avoid tobacco smoke, chemical fumes, and dust; if you smoke, talk to your healthcare professional about ways to quit | | Wash your hands often and well | One of the best ways to protect against infections that can cause irritation and swelling of the nose and sinuses | | Use a humidifier | A machine that adds moisture to the air might help prevent the nose from getting stuffy and irritated; clean it as directed to keep bacteria from growing | | Use a nasal rinse | Rinsing the inside of the nose with a saltwater spray or nasal wash might help remove what irritates it |

Nasal rinses deserve careful attention to water safety. You can buy saltwater sprays and nasal wash kits without a prescription, and they come with a neti pot or squeeze bottle and directions for how to use them.

Use water that's distilled or sterile or has been boiled for one minute and cooled. The water can also be filtered using a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller. Rinse the pot or bottle after each use with the distilled, sterile, previously boiled or filtered water and leave it open to dry.

Preparing for Your Appointment

You'll likely start by seeing your primary care provider. You might then be referred to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or an allergy specialist.

Ask a family member or friend to go with you, if possible. Having someone with you can help you recall the information you get during the appointment.

Before the visit, make a list of your symptoms, even if they seem unrelated to your nose or sinuses, and when they began. List other medical conditions you have, all medicines, vitamins and supplements you take including doses, and the questions you want to ask your healthcare professional.

Your care provider might ask you questions, including:

• When did you last have a cold or sinus infection?

• How often do you have colds or sinus infections?

• Do you have allergies? To what?

• Do you have asthma? How controlled is it?

• Do you often take aspirin or any other pain medicines?

• Do you smoke or are you often around tobacco smoke?

• What kind of work do you do?

• What are your hobbies?

• Have you ever had any sinus or nasal surgery?

Some basic questions to ask might include: What is likely causing my symptoms? What tests do I need? What treatment do you suggest? Do I need to see a specialist?

Conclusion: Don't Ignore a Nose That Never Clears Up

Nasal polyps are silent by design — small ones cause no symptoms, and when symptoms appear, they mimic the common cold. That is exactly why a stuffy nose that lasts more than 10 days, a loss of smell, or one-sided facial pressure deserves a proper evaluation rather than another round of over-the-counter decongestants.

The good news is that nasal polyps are treatable. Most respond to steroid nasal sprays; stubborn cases respond to oral steroids, biologic medicines, or endoscopic surgery that removes the growths and opens the sinuses. The realistic caveat is that polyps often return after treatment, which makes follow-up care, nasal rinses, and control of asthma and allergies part of the long-term plan rather than an afterthought.

If your congestion, postnasal drip, or loss of smell has lasted more than 10 days, book an appointment with a healthcare professional — and seek urgent care right away for vision changes, a swollen forehead, eye-area pain or swelling, a worsening headache, or a stiff neck.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are soft, painless growths on the lining of the nose or sinuses. They aren't cancer and often occur in groups, like grapes on a stem. Small polyps might not cause symptoms, while larger ones can block the nose and cause breathing problems, loss of smell, and infections.

Are nasal polyps cancerous?

No. Nasal polyps aren't cancer. They are soft, painless growths inside the nose or the hollow areas inside the bones of the face.

What causes nasal polyps?

Experts don't know what causes nasal polyps. They don't know why some people get them and others don't. They are linked to inflammation of the inside of the nose and sinuses that lasts more than 12 weeks, known as chronic sinusitis.

What are the symptoms of nasal polyps?

Common symptoms include a runny, stuffy nose; postnasal drip; loss of smell; loss of taste; facial pain or headache; tooth pain; pressure over the forehead and face; and snoring.

How are nasal polyps treated?

Treatment aims to reduce symptoms and swelling and shrink or remove the polyps. Options include nasal steroid sprays, short courses of oral steroids, biologic medicines (dupilumab, mepolizumab, omalizumab), and endoscopic surgery. After treatment, polyps often come back, so a corticosteroid nasal spray and saltwater rinses may help prevent recurrence.

Do nasal polyps require surgery?

Not always. Medicines can often shrink nasal polyps or get rid of them. Surgery might be needed to remove them if medicines don't work, typically through endoscopic surgery in which a lighted tube and tiny tools remove the polyps and widen sinus openings.

Why do nasal polyps keep coming back?

Even after treatment, nasal polyps often come back because the underlying long-term inflammation in the nose and sinuses can return. Managing allergies and asthma, avoiding irritants like tobacco smoke, and using steroid sprays and nasal rinses can help lower the chances of recurrence.

Can a child with nasal polyps have a different underlying condition?

Yes. A child who has nasal polyps might have cystic fibrosis, an inherited condition that affects the cells that make mucus, sweat, and digestive juices. A sweat test can check whether the sweat is saltier than most people's.

Further Reading

• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDDC) — nasal polyps overview

• American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery — sinus disease and disorders

• American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology — nasal polyps

• American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology — chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment decisions.