In other words, sneezing is harmless. Still, in this time of COVID-19, “sneezing has become less of a feel-good thing in public spaces, sending nearby people scattering almost as fast as your 40,000 sneeze particles,” says Villafranco. So if you’re looking for tricks to keep sneezing to a minimum, we’ve pinpointed the most common causes and rounded up the best home remedies. In rare cases, excessive and repetitive sneezing can be a clue of something more serious, “like chronic occupational exposure to irritants or certain types of epilepsy.” If you’re worried about the amount of sneezing you’re doing, bring it up with your doctor. Otherwise, try these tips: An easy workaround? Slip on a brimmed hat or some polarized shades before stepping outside—a good tip for protecting your eye health, too. Fortunately, “There is one great way to suppress the sneezing reflex if you feel it coming on,” he says. It’s the old “finger under the nose” trick from cartoons—try applying pressure to the columella, the divider between the nostrils—by pressing in an up-and-back direction with a horizontal index finger.
