The most common cause of nosebleeds is irritation to the lining of the nose. Once the lining is irritated, cracked or torn, the blood vessels can rupture and start to bleed.

Causes of nosebleeds include:

• Injury
• Dryness
• Foreign body in the nose
• Picking the nose

Rare causes of nosebleeds include:

• Bleeding disorder
• High blood pressure
• Treatment with blood thinner medication:
• Coumadin
• Heparin