I have a nose full of hard dried blood clots. I cleaned the front of my nostrils, and looking at me directly you wouldn't be able to see any blood clots within my nose. But I feel them all in there! I use saline spray a few x/day, and i do use the ointment but I hate using it bc it's hard to breathe with it in your nose. I occasionally pick at some of the dried blood with a tweezer (*very gently though. It's like playing Operation! I try not to touch the sides or move my nose). that is okay?