We like our noses, but we do not like what we find inside them. Specifically, boogers and nose hairs. Nobody likes it when their nose feels clogged with a bunch of boogers being clumped up or when they feel the tickling of overgrown nose hairs. Most people make it a routine to clean out boogers and pluck out nose hairs. But what if we told you that these annoyances are useful?
Boogers
Let’s start with boogers. So, what are those squishy and disgusting-feeling blobs that you find in your nose? Boogers begin their story in your nose as mucus.1 Their formation starts when air passes through the nostrils and nasal cavity.2 The initial mucus is generally just a combination of water, protein, salt, and certain chemicals.1 As the air passes through the nose, it dries up the mucus, creating boogers.
1. Self-made air filter
As the air passes through the nasal cavity, it is moistened, warmed, and cleaned up by the mucus present on the tissues.3 The cleaning process enables the mucus to trap small, unseen particles.3 This includes pollen, smoke, viruses, germs, and dust particles.1,3 When boogers are formed from dried-out mucus, these particles clump up. Essentially, boogers are the byproduct of our body’s natural air filter. So, these clumped-up boogers are an easier way to remove unwanted particles from the body, preventing them from entering the body. By removing boogers, you are flushing out dirt, dust, and bacteria.1 This inadvertently keeps the lungs and respiratory tract free from particle induced irritations and problems.1
2. Virus and Bacteria Shield
The mucus or snot doesn’t just block out harmful substances; it also has an intrinsic antibacterial function. Apart from antibodies, nasal mucus contains antibodies that are responsible for starting our immune system when bacteria or viruses are inhaled.4 The mucus also contains lysozyme, a naturally occurring enzyme that kills bacteria and viruses that come through our noses.4 So when mucus or boogers are released from the body via any method, dead bacteria or viruses are removed. Better out than in!
3. Your Booger Colour is a Health Indicator
They might be sticky and icky, but they can come in handy! The colour of your boogers or mucus can give you information about your body and surroundings. Yellow, green, or white boogers can go both ways. It is either that you’re healthy and the tint is caused by white blood cells, or the colours could be a sign of an infection as indicated by the abundance of white blood cells.1 The colours red, pink, or brown could be a sign of small broken blood vessels or a light injury within the nose.1,4 Black boogers are caused by dirt particles, smoke particles, and air pollution.1 Consider avoiding an area if they fill your nose up with black boogers.
Nose hairs
Nose hairs, or nasal hairs, are strands of hair that grow inside the nostrils. Their premise and backstory are less complicated than that of boogers, but that does not make them a lesser nuisance. Overgrown nose hair causes discomfort and is unpleasant to behold. Hence, many people don’t think too much when removing them. However, these bendy strands of annoyance have their uses.
1. A Security Gate
In a way, nasal hairs work in tandem with boogers to keep allergens, dust, and pollen from entering through your nose.5 In fact, several studies have shown that the nose hair contains crusts of bacteria.6 When air travels through the nose, the hair strands effectively block any harmful particles from entering the body, including bacteria. As such, nasal hairs act as a net for unwanted microbes and make the dispelling process by sneezing or cleaning easier.
2. Asthma Prevention
Since nose hair keeps allergens from entering the nose, it also helps in the prevention of asthma. Past studies have shown that a higher density of nasal hairs directly correlates with lower risks of asthma development.5 Conversely, lack of nasal hair is shown to be a common trait among people who developed asthma.7 A lesser number of nose hairs means more allergens are able to enter the body and cause asthma-inducing inflammation in the airways. So fully plucking off your nose hairs is a bad idea.
Conclusion
While they would always be nuisances, they serve a bigger role in preventing actual problems from entering and causing havoc to our health and body. Understanding this is key to maintaining a better perspective on the little things that your body does. Clean your nose regularly so that the dirt trapped by boogers is not kept in your nostrils for too long. Always trim your nose hairs instead of plucking them out to ensure that you always have a safety net in your nose. Sterimar has all you need to keep you covered if you want to maximise your nasal hygiene. We cover nasal hygiene, treatment, prevention, and maintenance. Check out our products that are suitable for both the young and old! After all, clean nostrils are always beneficial to your breathing and body.
References
- Brodkey, D. F. (2022, May 8). Upper respiratory tract. MedinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19378.htm#:~:text=The%20mucus%20traps%20smaller%20particles,that%20lines%20the%20nasal%20cavity
- Cobb, C. (2020, July 17). Is It Dangerous to Pull Out or Pluck Your Nose Hair?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/plucking-nose-hairs#what-are-nose-hairs-for
- Ozturk, A et al (2011). Does Nasal Hair (Vibrissae) Density Affect the Risk of Developing Asthma in Patients with Seasonal Rhinitis?. International archives of allergy and immunology. 156. 75-80. 10.1159/000321912.
- O’Neill, M. (2022, December 20). What Are Boogers—And Why Does Your Body Make Them? Health. https://www.health.com/condition/cold/what-are-boogers
- Scripps. (2019, October 22). 5 Fun Facts About Boogers. https://www.scripps.org/news_items/6831-5-fun-facts-about-boogers#:~:text=Boogers%20help%20keep%20you%20well,mucus%20down%20toward%20the%20nostrils
- TIMESOFINDIA.COM. (2021, August 7). Is nose hair important to fight off colds and other viral illnesses?. ETIMESENTERTAINMENT TIMES. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/is-nose-hair-important-to-fight-off-colds-and-other-viral-illnesses/articleshow/85098998.cms
- Wagner, K. (2022, April 18). What Are Boogers Made Of? All of the Icky Details About Color, Texture, and Function. Verywellhealth. https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-boogers-made-of-5093832#:~:text=If%20you%20think%20of%20the,hairs%20and%20then%20dries%20out
Early childhood is when a child’s developing brain is most open to influence and experiences1. On that note, playful intervention allows children to utilise their creativity while developing imaginative, physical and cognitive skills. To use this to establish a foundation for health and learning, healthcare professionals should adopt playful strategies to promote healthy practices1.
Nasal sprays are sprayed directly into the nose to relieve nasal allergy symptoms. They help relieve congestion or stuffiness in your nose, which is often a symptom of cold or nasal issues. If you regularly deal with thick nasal congestion, nasal sprays can help to loosen and thin out mucus. Many types of nasal sprays […]