UrbanUpdate

Boogers are gonna happen. We can’t tell you how to stop them, because that’d be detrimental: Boogers are ultimately good for you. They form as a result of excess (or more viscous) mucus, in response to any number of biological or environmental factors. It’s often an indication that the body is adjusting to change . They’re also a cluster of mucus and dirt, formed when the mucus-coated nose hairs trap said dirt particles from entering the lungs. So, yeah, don’t focus on how to prevent boogers. Focus instead on how to properly remove them. As in, to prevent bleeding, and any need to aggressively pick.

For that, here’s some booger 101, courtesy of Dr. Jason A. Moche, Director of Facial & Plastic Surgery Division at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. The curriculum is simple: Moche outlines how boogers form, as well as how to extract them safely (and how not to!).

Boogers Are Basically Built-in Air Purifiers

Our respiratory system is lined with mucus, says Moche, all the way from the nose to the lungs. “It serves to warm, humidify, and purify the air that we breathe.” Typically, mucus does its job unnoticed. But sometimes, it becomes too viscous or copious, and you get loogies or boogers aplenty.

Boogers, then, show up for a variety of reasons. One is a humidity shift in the environment, since the air you’re breathing in plays just as much a role in why boogers amass. Since mucus is produced in the nose (in addition to the rest of the respiratory system), it’s going to easily reflect whatever quality of air you’re inhaling. “Other times, seasonal allergies can increase the amount of mucus our upper airway and nose produce, and therefore overwhelms its ability to clear effectively,” says Moche. “Arid climates are worse for nasal crusting, as are excessively poor air quality and pollutants.” If any nasal discharge quality or quantity occurs and isn’t an obvious reaction to a changed environment, then Moche advises seeing your physician to see if it’s an infection or illness.

That term, “nasal crusting”, is how Moche and other doctors refer to the booger formation process. And nasal crusting isn’t always a bad thing. It is, after all, a defense mechanism for the body: The mucus and your nose hairs are working in tandem to trap dirt and other gross things from being inhaled into the body. That’s why you should trim your nose hairs conservatively. Never pluck them, Moche stresses. They’re doing a very important job.

Picking Is Bad

If boogers get really dry and crusted against the walls of your nasal canal, it’s a recipe for a bloody nose. “This can irritate the nasal lining or even cause an infection,” says Moche. “The nose has not been able to adequately moisten the passing air.  Essentially it can behave like pulling off a scab from a healing wound and cause injury to the underlying mucosa. This can also create a cycle which can become hard to break.”

How to (Intelligently) Remove Those Boogers

If your boogers are clinging to your nose walls (our term, not his) and are easily extracted, then peace be with you. However, if they’re a little stingier, you may need to take extra measures. Moche says that once he sees no signs of a nasal or sinus infection, he prescribes a saline regimen for his super boogery patients. “This typically will consist of a saline spray or gel,” he says. “At times if there is an underlying infection of the surrounding skin for overly aggressive cleaning I may start a petroleum-based product or antibiotic ointment.” A warm washcloth, post-shower may also help, since the boogers might be slightly melted into ooey gooey snot.

Moche also suggests purchasing a new humidifier or purifier for the home. We like the Ayr Saline Nasal Gel and MistAirmega Air Purifier and the TaoTronics 4L Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifer.

Remember: Picking Is a Sisyphean Task

“The more you pick the nose, the more boogers will come.  The nasal lining will become injured and crust or scab to protect itself.” His advice: Just moisten and irrigate. Patience is a virtue, especially in your nose.

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Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQSkincare