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We’ve all done it. You feel something bothersome inside your nose, so you pick your nose to remove it.

Although maybe a bit gross, nose picking seems harmless. But it can cause serious health issues.

Learn the health risks of nose picking so you can kick this bad habit.

Can Picking Your Nose Cause an Infection?

Nose picking can bring on nasal infections. It can also spread germs that cause viruses, colds, flus, and bacteria.

Your fingers and hands are full of germs. You probably touch dozens of surfaces a day, both inside and outside your home, that have germs. When germy fingers enter your nose, you risk spreading those germs in your body.

One of the biggest risks of nose picking is developing staphylococcus, also called a staph infection. In some cases, nose picking can give you a staph infection in your nose.

Many people have the germ s. aureus in their noses. This germ usually doesn’t cause issues, but if it enters a wound in your nose, you can get a staph infection.

A staph infection isn’t the only problem that can come from nose picking. Several common nose infections can happen if you pick your nose.

Nasal vestibulitis

Nose picking can cause nasal vestibulitis, a bacterial infection that occurs near the opening of your nose. When you pick your nose, the can spread from the tips of your fingers, leading to nasal vestibulitis and boils in your nose.

Nasal vestibulitis can cause other issues inside your nose:

• Bleeding and redness.
• Congestion.
• Discomfort.
• Itching.
• Swelling.
• Pain.

Usually, nasal vestibulitis heals on its own. But in some cases, it can be more serious. Talk to your doctor if you have nasal vestibulitis symptoms along with a fever, severe pain, or redness that impacts other parts of your face.

In some cases, nasal vestibulitis leads to nasal cellulitis.

Nasal cellulitis

Cellulitis is a common skin infection that can affect many parts of your body. When you pick your nose, it can spread there.

Nasal cellulitis can make your nose swell and hurt, and also cause redness around your nose. It’s more serious than nasal vestibulitis and may require medical attention.

The area around your nose contains veins that connect to your brain. If you leave an infection like nasal cellulitis untreated, it can get more serious and, in some cases, can be life-threatening.

If you think you have nasal cellulitis, talk to your doctor right away. Antibiotics can usually help cure the infection.

Is nose picking dangerous for people with weak immune systems?

Nose picking can cause infections. No one should regularly pick their noses, but immunocompromised people must take extra caution.

Lots of people deal with chronic stuffy noses, especially from allergies, common colds, or flus. When you’re already feeling sick, it’s tempting to pick your nose for some quick relief.

But if you’re immunocompromised, your immune system isn’t as strong as a person with a regular immune system. This makes it harder for you to fight off infections, and you can get sicker more easily.

You might recover from a cold or flu quickly if you’re not immunocompromised. But if you have a suppressed immune system, these everyday illnesses can be more serious. They can go on for longer and give you more intense symptoms.

Can Nose Picking Damage Your Nose?

Aside from making you sick, nose picking can bring other complications, such as:

• Nosebleeds — You can damage a blood vessel inside your nose by picking it, giving yourself a nosebleed.
• Tissue damage — The inside of your nose is delicate. You can easily scrape the tissue in your nose if you pick it often.
• Scabbing — If you accidentally nick your nose when you’re picking it, you can scratch the inside of it. These scratches can turn into scabs that are uncomfortable and sometimes painful.
• Spreading germs — Nose picking can spread germs from surfaces to your body, but it can also spread your germs to the surfaces you touch. If you’re infected with a virus or bacteria, you could spread it to a different surface and infect another person.

Why Can’t I Stop Picking My Nose?

Nose picking is avoidable. But sometimes, nose picking can be a compulsion. Even if you know it’s wrong, you feel like you need to do it.

When nose picking goes beyond a bad habit, it can be dangerous for your mental health. It’s important to know whether your nose picking is due to a mental health issue.

If you’ve tried but struggled to stop picking your nose, you may have rhinotillexomania, or compulsive nose picking. If you find that picking your nose takes up a lot of your time or focus, or interrupts your days or routine, you should reach out for help. Your doctor can help you determine if the source of your chronic nose picking is rhinotillexomania.

There’s also a link between nose picking and anxiety disorders like obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). People dealing with OCD may also pick their skin, pull out their hair, or bite their nails. If you deal with compulsions like these, seek help from a mental health professional.

If you compulsively pick your nose and notice yourself feeling sick, know the signs of infection so you can stop it before it gets worse.

What To Do Instead of Nose Picking

There are safer alternatives to nose picking for a stuffy nose. Practicing safe nasal hygiene can keep you healthy.

Since nose issues are common, there are many tools and medications to help you clear your nasal passages. Instead of nose picking, try to:

• Blow your nose — It’s tempting to use your finger to remove things from your nose. But using a tissue or a gentle cloth to blow your nose is the best way to clear your nasal passages.
• Keep a humidifier nearby — Adding moisture to your space can make the mucus in a stuffy nose thinner, clearing your nasal passages.
• Stand in a hot shower — The steam produced during a hot shower can help clear your nasal passages.
• Take medication — The best medicine for your congested nose depends on what issues are causing the congestion. An antihistamine can fix a stuffy nose from allergies. In general, a nasal decongestant works well to clear your nasal passages and help you breathe better.
• Use saline spray — Packaged with salt and water for you to spray into your nose, saline sprays help clear a stubborn stuffy nose from allergies or a cold. They’re available over the counter and offer quick relief.

Next time you feel the urge to pick your nose, remember to put your health first. Try a safe alternative to nose picking instead.