The Secret Language of Boogers

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

02 May 2006 01:43 PM

As yucky as it may be, mucus is good for you. It helps keep your nasal passages moist and it helps protect you from infections by trapping foreign matter.

When I first started seeing an allergist (I was around five; my brother was around three), he told us to look at our snot every time we blew our noses. Old habits die hard; more than twenty years later, I'm still a booger looker.

The color of the stuff coming out of your nose can tell you a thing or two about your health.

• Clear mucus If your boogers are clear, you're in good shape. Clear is the natural, healthy color of your mucus.
• Yellow mucus If your snot is yellow, you may have a problem. Yellow mucus often signifies something damaged up in nose-land. You may have a sinus infection with a blocked nasal passage, which can turn into chronic sinusitis. You may have nasal polyps or even bronchitis. If you have yellow boogers for several days -- especially with sinus pain -- you should probably call your doctor.
• Green mucus Slimy green boogers are just as bad as yellow ones. Bacteria are usually to blame for green snot, but you may also see the color change to green from irritants like smoke or pollution. You may find green stuff coming out more when you cough than when you blow your nose, but it can come out either way. Out is always better than in! Chances are, if you're coughing up green stuff, you've got an inflammation in the bronchial tubes in your lungs.
• Brown mucus My boogers are a gross shade of grey or brown if I've spent the evening out at a smoky bar. If your sinuses are swollen, you may find blood mingling with your boogers, turning them icky dark colors. Smoking and drinking alcohol can make things worse.
• White mucus White is probably the rarest of all booger colors. But don't think you've won the jackpot if your snot is white, unless you're hoping for a medical jackpot. White mucus can be caused by certain dairy foods. If you are experiencing congestion and pressure in your sinuses and drink milk, you may see your mucus turn white.

This list is not intended to diagnose any problems. If you are concerned about the things and colors coming out of your nose, call your doctor!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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Catherine Ipcizade (5617) 02 May 2006 09:42 PM

As gross as this is :-) the comments were very helpful!!! Thank you

Aimee Amodio (11995) 03 May 2006 01:52 AM

Yeah, I know, it's gross - but I'm a booger checker from way back. Maybe I'm desensitized to it by now? :)

Lisa P (24013) 03 May 2006 01:17 PM

You know, I'm actually at a loss for words to describe just how IKKY this blog is.

Andrea M (2525) 09 May 2006 09:54 AM

OK, so it does sound gross, but very helpful! So does the same apply to childrens noses????

Jaime Egan (2178) 09 May 2006 02:49 PM

My daughter's pediatrician just told us that the color of snot/boogers means nothing now. I don't believe her...

Aimee Amodio (11995) 10 May 2006 06:53 AM

I wonder what the doctor meant by that - means nothing at your daughter's age? Means nothing in light of modern medicine? Means nothing in terms of a particular medical condition? I don't judge my health solely by the color of my snot, but I do find it to be a good indicator of what's going on up in my sinuses when I have other symptoms like the dreaded sinus headache. In other words, headache + clear mucus is probably not a cause for worry as much as headache + yellow or green stuff.

I think I'm going to start my own field of medicine: boogerology. :)

Courtney Mroch (9169) 14 Oct 2008 06:53 AM

Thank you Aimee for making an icky topic both informative and entertaining! GREAT TITLE!!!!