Everyone experiences boogers (driedphlegm) daily.
They may seem gross, but boogers are an essential part of your body’s immune system.
But what are boogers made of and where do they come from?
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Boogers are comprised of various substances including mucus, dirt, air pollutants, bacteria, and more.
MOAimage / Getty Images
What Are Boogers?
What Is Snot?
Mucous membranes in the bodylike the inside of the noseare lined with a slimy substance called mucus.
In the nose, it’s called phlegm or snot.
When snot dries, it becomes a booger.
The goal of snot is to protect and lubricate the parts of the body exposed to the outside world.
Our body must stay protected and hydrated to maintain optimal health.
One way our body does this is by creating snot in our nose.
This mucus coats the lining of our noses and prevents it from drying out, cracking, or bleeding.
Without mucus, we could be much more susceptible to dangerous, potentially life-threatening infections.
Many people are taught that your snot’s color will indicate what kind of problem your body is fighting.
For instance, many people believe yellow or green snot is a sign of an infection.
However, looking at your snot’s color as an indicator of a bigger health problem is a myth.
When there is any sign of a germ inside your body, neutrophils are sent to destroy the intruder.
What Do Boogers Do?
Boogers play an important role in how our body protects itself.
Virus and Bacteria Protection
There’s more to snot than just what you see.
Your body recognizes an irritant has entered your system.
At this point, the body signals the release of a substance known as histamine.
This histamine release informs your body that it’s time to increase mucus production to capture the pollen.
From there, it’s destroyed by the neutrophils, or expelled from the body by a sneeze.
How Are Boogers Made?
The lining inside our nose contains the mucous membrane.
This mucous membrane is responsible for creating the thick, slimy substance we all know as snot.
When this mucus mixes with air and begins to dry out, it becomes a booger.
The more a booger dries, the harder it gets.
Any time our body increases mucus production in the nose, we get more boogers.
An increase in snot can be due to many things.
You may be getting sick or already sick, experiencing seasonal allergies, or simply just be dehydrated.
Sometimes, eating spicy food can make your nose run.
Capsaicinthe ingredient that gives spicy food its ziptriggers mucus production.
Like so many things, mucus is primarily composed of water.
When your body is dry or dehydrated, the mucus will be more dry and thick, creating boogers.
Staying hydrated helps mucus stay in a more fluid state, which means fewer boogers in your nose.
You may also consider using a gear known as aneti pot.
Ultimately, there are many reasons why you may be producing a considerable amount of snot.
First, there’s the risk of damaging the inside of your nose.
Once you get a cut inside your nose,it takes time to heal properly.
Then, promptly wash your hands to avoid spreading the germs from your nose to yourself or someone else.
Is It Okay to Eat Your Boogers?
Boogers often contain bacteria and viruses, so eating boogers could expose the body to germs.
It’s not a good idea.
Summary
While boogers may seem disgusting, they serve an important purpose.
To reduce snot, you might try taking an antihistamine or rinsing your sinuses with a net pot.
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Havard Health Publishing.Don’t judge your mucus by its color.
Massachusetts General Hospital.A line of defense hidden inside the nose.
British Society for Immunology.Secret life of snot.
UNC Health Talk.Mucus, our body’s silent defender.
Allergy & Asthma web link.Pollen allergy.
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