How to release a ‘trapped’ sneeze, according to experts…including the genius ’tissue trick’

It's an issue that many will face now – or will in the coming months as cold and flu season rolls around.

You feel a sneeze coming on, with tingling overtaking your nasal passages… but it just won't come out.

This happens when something disrupts the reflex that causes the sneeze – when the lining of your nose becomes irritated by pollutants, which the body tries to expel.

Sometimes the signals sent between the nerves in the nose and the brain go wrong, causing frustrating sneezing midway through. So what's the best way to solve the problem?

On TikTok, content creators share thousands of clips demonstrating their clever hacks letting out a stuck sneeze – including pressing a finger on the roof of the mouth and pushing rolled up paper into the nostril.

But do any of them work?

Lauren Thayer, a registered nurse at Ohio-based Health Canal, told DailyMail.com which ones are worth trying, and which might even harm you.

Morgen Marie, an influencer from California, posted a video on TikTok in May in which she claimed she had learned to sneeze on command.

“My allergies were so bad, and you know when you really need to sneeze and your nose is just playing tricks on you?” the mother of five said in the video, which has been viewed more than 625,000 times. “It's quite miserable.”

She pressed a fingernail just inside her nostril and against the outer wall of her nose.

Within seconds she was able to sneeze. “You feel so much better,” she said.

TikTok user Ellai commented under the video: “IT WORKED WHAT THE HECK.”

A user named Hope said, “I've been using this for a long time and no one believed me.”

And Yeet wrote: 'I do this all the time – it's great for my allergies in the spring.'

Meanwhile, another TikToker with the username Tucie Tutorials posted a video in June showing that pressing the tip of his finger on the roof of his mouth made him sneeze.

And Jess, a creator from Florida, shared a video of herself sticking a twisted piece of toilet paper up her nose to sneeze. “Let it touch the back of your nostrils,” she advised.

She poked the nostril for almost a minute before finally sneezing. “It's something about fresh toilet paper that triggers my sneeze.”

Interestingly enough, Ms. Thayer said two of these TikTok tricks might actually work.

“Roll up a tissue so the end is pointed and stick it up your nose,” she said. 'This stimulates the trigeminal nerve and sends a message to your brain that you need to sneeze.'

The trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve and transmits pain, touch and temperature signals. This includes the urge to sneeze.

Touching the roof of your mouth with your tongue or finger also activates that nerve, as does plucking a nose hair.

However, be sure not to stick anything too far up your nose to prevent it from getting stuck.

Ms. Thayer also says that for some people, looking at bright lights can help.

Up to a third of the population suffers from something called photic sneezing – also known as autosomal dominant compulsive helio-ophthalmic bursts of sneezing (ACHOO syndrome).

This is when some people sneeze due to exposure to the sun or bright light.

The light causes a reflex that helps the eyes and nose communicate.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, it usually happens after exposure to intense sunlight after moving from a dark environment.

The condition is usually genetically determined.

A dash of pepper or other spices can also help you get rid of that stuck sneeze.

'Spices such as green pepper and black pepper contain piperine, which irritates the nose. This can stimulate sneezing by activating nerve endings as the nose tries to get rid of this irritant,” Ms. Thayer said.

Carbonated drinks can also be helpful. Ms. Thayer said inhaling or drinking too much sparkling water can lead to excess carbon dioxide in the body, causing you to sneeze.

Ms Thayer says sneezing is crucial and holding it in can cause serious harm.

Attempts to suppress sneezing cause excessive pressure in the throat or sinuses, leading to injury.

Ms. Thayer said this includes ear infections, ruptured eardrums, blood vessel damage to the nose, broken ribs and, in rare cases, a brain aneurysm.