It can actually lead to intracranial infection. Does picking your nose really mean it’s dangerous?

Audit expert: Yuan Xiandao

Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Otolaryngology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University

When it comes to picking your nose, do you think of Ruhua in Stephen Chow's movies? This action is very impactful and is a classic scene in the movie. Many people imitate it in real life, and some people even like the comfort brought by picking their noses. However, this action is very dangerous.

The nostrils are part of the nasal cavity

The nostril refers to the external opening of the nose, generally refers to the front part of the nasal cavity with the external opening of the nose. It is the channel connecting the nasal cavity with the outside of the body.

The nostrils (nasal cavity) are covered with a thin and tender mucous membrane with many capillaries. There are many nasal hairs in the front of the nostrils, which block dust and impurities in the air and provide a clean and tidy environment for the inside of the nasal cavity. In winter, when we inhale cold air, the capillaries on the mucous membrane will quickly change the temperature of the air, and finally make the inhaled air equal to the temperature of the human body.

At the same time, the nasal cavity also has the function of secreting mucus, which we often call snot. Snot moistens the air in the nasal cavity, binds together the dust and bacteria blocked by the hairs at the front of the nostrils, and removes the dirty mucus through subsequent cleaning, making the nasal cavity clean again. Therefore, we call the nasal cavity the first "line of defense" of the human respiratory system.

Source: Wikipedia

The nasal cavity has many important functions, such as regulating the temperature of inhaled air and filtering bacteria in dust. In addition, it can regulate humidity. A large amount of nasal mucosa in the nasal cavity constantly secretes fluid. When the human body inhales too dry air, they adjust the humidity and improve it to a level suitable for the body.

The importance of the nasal cavity to us can be seen from this. It should be noted that the nasal cavity can achieve a balance on its own and only needs external force to clean it in a few cases. Therefore, frequent nose picking is not good for the nasal cavity. On the contrary, it can be said to be harmful.

The dangers of nose picking

The first part of the body to be damaged by nose picking is the nose hair. Frequent nose picking can damage the hair follicles in the nose and accelerate the loss of nose hair. The reduction of nose hair makes it easier for bacteria to enter the respiratory system, causing respiratory infections, leading to uncomfortable symptoms such as nasal dryness, itching, and decreased sense of smell, increasing the risk of rhinitis.

Secondly, the repeated action of picking your nose with your hands will weaken the secretion function of the nasal mucosa, which may lead to atrophic rhinitis, further aggravating the atrophy of the nasal mucosa, reducing or even losing the defense function of the nasal cavity. When this layer of barrier is damaged, it will induce respiratory diseases, such as sinusitis and chronic tracheitis.

Source: pixabay

Finally, when picking your nose, you may damage the "defense line" function of the nasal mucosa due to poor control of strength or the wrong angle. If the nasal mucosa is damaged, the rich capillaries in it will be destroyed, causing bleeding. In addition, bacteria attached to the nails will take the opportunity to invade and cause inflammation.

Because the nasal cavity is connected to the veins, the area around the nose on the face is usually called the "danger triangle" in medicine. The harm caused by infection here is immeasurable. If the invading bacteria enter the cranial cavity and cause infection and suppuration, it may even be life-threatening and must be taken seriously.

Why do people like to pick their noses?

Since picking your nose has so many harmful effects, why do people always feel the urge to do it?

The first reason is definitely because of the feeling of discomfort. The human body feels that there is a foreign body blocking the nasal cavity, which is the dirt produced by the mixture of mucus secreted by the nasal cavity and impurities such as dust. In order to relieve this discomfort as soon as possible, the first reaction is to use hands to clean the dirt in the nostrils. This is also to make the nostrils unobstructed and easier to breathe. It can be said to be an instinctive behavior.

Of course, it is undeniable that picking your nose brings a sense of comfort. Many people keep picking their noses because they "crave" this feeling. However, such long-term nose picking may not only cause infection, but may also cause the nostrils to become larger and affect the appearance. Therefore, everyone should try to reduce the behavior of picking their noses as much as possible.

If you cannot control the habit of picking your nose, it is recommended that you try applying a irritating liquid on your fingers. This will produce a strong stimulation when you pick your nose and make you feel uncomfortable. If you do it more often, you will naturally suppress the desire to pick your nose.

How to clean your nostrils?

In daily life, when you wash your face every day, you can use clean water to clean your nasal cavity to prevent the accumulation of foreign matter; when there is foreign matter in the nostrils or your nose is itchy, you can use a cotton swab dipped in low-concentration salt water to wipe it, but you must pay attention to the strength, do it in small amounts and multiple times, and remove the foreign matter after it softens to reduce damage to the nasal mucosa.

Source: pixabay

Of course, some preventive measures can also be taken, such as increasing external protection to reduce the inhalation of dust and other impurities into the nasal cavity. For example, wearing a mask when going out can reduce the inhalation of dirt in the air.

The habit of picking your nose with fingers can be said to be harmful and has no benefits. I hope that this can attract everyone's attention and help them restrain the habit of picking their noses. Otherwise, these habits will harm our bodies at any time and have adverse effects on our health. We must not be careless.