How to Make Yourself Sneeze: Safe & Easy Methods

We all have had this feeling of “the sneeze was about to happen but disappeared”. If you ever wondered what made it fade at the last second, then this blog shall help. We will discuss how to make yourself sneeze (safely, of course!).

A sneeze is a natural defence mechanism of the body that helps in clearing the dust, mucus, allergens, pathogens, or any other residual irritants. It mostly occurs when the nostrils sense those irritants. Sometimes, the nasal passages get this sensation without producing a complete sneeze. This makes some individuals want to trigger a sneeze, but they are unaware of how to do it. The key here is not to make it a forceful reaction because the inside of your nasal passages is very delicate. Any aggressive attempt can make it a more uncomfortable experience than relief. If you want to know the safer way out, keep reading.

Why do you feel like Sneezing but Can’t?

It is quite frustrating to feel like sneezing, but it disappears suddenly, and now you are left with that urge to sneeze anytime soon. Generally, it could occur because insufficient stimulation reaches the nasal passages (not strong enough to trigger a sneeze). To understand this better, let’s discuss how a sneeze occurs.

Sneezing is the interaction between the sensory nerves in the nose and the brain. It is followed by coordinated activity of the chest, throat, face, and breathing muscles. All of these should be aligned for the individual to sneeze satisfactorily. If the signal weakens before the sneeze is complete, the person is left with the discomforting sensation without the sneeze.

If you have noticed, such a feeling is more common after exposure to strong perfumes, smoke, dusty air, pet dander, mucus shifts, etc. It is because the nervous system didn’t respond well to the initial signals. Another reason could be confusing the sneeze reflex with the brain.

How to Make Yourself Sneeze?  

Here are a few ways to sneeze naturally.

• Look Toward a Bright Light – it is possible if you have an inherited photic reflex. Simply look towards bright light, as it can trigger a sneeze in response to a light shift.
• Gently Tickle the Inside of Your Nose – this easier way lets you sneeze by lightly stimulating the front of the nostril. Roll a tissue and move it a bit inside the nostril while ensuring you’re not pushing it much deeper.
• Smell a Strong but Safe Scent – get your spice box from the kitchen (if at home) or smell a strong yet safe perfume that stimulates trigeminal nerves to cause a sneeze.
• Gently Massage or Rub Your Nose – rub the outer sides of your nose lightly to produce a sensory stimulation that may develop a complete sneeze naturally.

Why Do Some People Sneeze More Easily Than Others?

Many individuals tend to sneeze more easily than others because of differences in nerve sensitivity, genetic traits, or underlying immune responses. The following are the key factors triggering frequent sneezing.

• The photic sneeze reflex, also called the ACHOO syndrome, is passed down genetically and mainly caused by the cross-activation of the trigeminal nerve, tricking the brain into sneezing.
• A natural response to allergies or chronic inflammation is probably the most common cause here. Many people diagnosed with allergic rhinitis have hypersensitive nasal linings. Their immune response releases histamine as soon as exposure to harmless substances occurs (like pet dander, dust, polluted air, etc). The immune system is activated to expel those invaders by making the person sneeze.
• Non-allergic triggers like cold air, smoke, strong perfumes, or sudden temperature changes can make some individuals sneeze without having an active allergy.
• Nerve hardwiring or sneeze force can also make some people sneeze-burst in a row, particularly when the first sneeze was less forceful.

What Not to Do to Make Yourself Sneeze?

Here is what you should avoid when trying to make yourself sneeze.

• Avoid deep inhalation of the particles. Intensely sniffing spices like black pepper can cause severe localised inflammation, pain, or burning inside the nasal cavity.
• Don’t use dangerous or sharp objects like long pins, Q-tips, or any unhygienic items inside the nostrils. They can easily tear the sensitive mucous membranes or trigger an infection.
• Do not use real feathers as they carry dust, mites, or allergens that further cause nasal irritation while also complicating respiration. Use a tissue roll instead.

Is It Safe to Make Yourself Sneeze?  

In most cases, yes. It is generally safe to make yourself sneeze, provided that you’re doing it gently and not forcing the sneeze reflex. Sneezing is a natural defensive response of the nose to irritants, allergens, and pathogens.

It’s totally fine if you haven’t sneezed in a while or if you sneeze a few times during the day. At times, this nasal response helps in clearing mucus or irritants from the nostrils. But if you are trying to induce a sneeze, opt for mild triggers only because forceful sneezing carries potential risks like temporary dizziness or vertigo, damaged blood vessels in the eyes or nasal passages, ruptured eardrums, or irritation of the inner ears.

What If You Can’t Sneeze? 

If you think your sneezing reflex is weaker than others’, you may want to induce a sneeze. It’s quite simple. Just tickle your nose with a rolled tissue or look at a bright light. Alternatively, you may smell spices (like a careful sniff of black pepper) or pluck a hair to stimulate the trigeminal nerve.

Make sure you are not doing it just for fun or more frequently, else it can cause nasal irritation.

Can looking at light make you sneeze?

Yes. Some individuals are likely to sneeze by looking at bright light due to an inherited genetic trait called the photic sneeze reflex (aka ACHOO syndrome). The key causes of sneezing here include cross signals between nerves. Brightness triggers the optic nerve to slightly shrink the size of the pupil. In some individuals, the crossover of this signal overstimulates the trigeminal nerve that controls sneezes and facial sensations. As a result, the brain mistakenly interprets the sneezing signal to expel nasal irritants.

This reaction is experienced among 18% to 35% (approx.) of the population worldwide. It is a genetic tendency that is inherited by generations. Such a syndrome is experienced due to a sudden shift from darkness to light. For instance, when exiting a tunnel and entering the bright sunshine.

Conclusion

Knowing safe ways to make yourself sneeze can help you manage the condition when you desperately want to sneeze but are unable to do it on the first attempt. Adapting gentle approaches like rubbing the outside of the nose, light sniffing of spices or strong perfumes, and more of the ways discussed in the blog can make it easier to handle. Needless to say, sneezing is a protective mechanism, and people have different experiences. Even if you were unable to sneeze at a moment, it is normal.

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