Seeing bloody boogers can be shocking, but it is not often a cause for concern.
Minor bleeding results in the formation of blood boogers.
Treatment for bloody boogers often involves keeping your nose moist and avoiding picking and other actions that trigger bleeding.
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It may also require working with your healthcare provider to change medications that trigger bleeding.
This article dives into the ins and outs of bloody boogers.
It explains all the potential causes, treatments, and ways to prevent them.
raquel arocena torres / Getty Images
What Are Boogers?
Boogers are pieces ofmucusthat have dried in your nose.
The mixture of mucus and particles remains there until you blow your nose.
If it remains inside your nose long enough, the mucus and debris dry out and become a booger.
What Causes Bloody Boogers?
Mucus consists of water and long molecules called mucins that combine to form a clear gel.
Bloody boogers can appear as red or pink.
This can happen if your nasal tissue becomes irritated while boogers are in your nose.
The mucus in your boogers absorbs the blood, which changes your boogers from clear to red.
A small amount of blood in your boogers is usually not a cause for concern.
However, bleeding that persists or flows from your nose is a nosebleed and should be treated.
If the bleeding can’t be stopped with home treatment, you should be examined by a healthcare provider.
The risk of bleeding increases if the nasal skin becomes dry and cracked.
This makes them more vulnerable to bleeding from injury or contact.
This causes abnormalities in the blood vessels that line your nasal airways and other mucous membranes.
This can occur with as little as one dose.
Wash your hands before putting a finger into your nose to avoid spreading dirt and germs into your nostrils.
Avoid excessive picking or digging since those actions can trigger bleeding.
How to Treat Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds can occur suddenly.
They involve blood that flows freely, usually from one nostril.
Boogers form when mucus and germs, pollen, or dust mix and dry out in your nose.
Their red color results when they blend with blood that leaks from the vessels in your nasal tissue.
Treatment for bloody boogers often involves making changes to protect your nose from scratches and picking.
Dried nasal tissue can improve by adding moisture to the air and keeping your nostrils lubricated.
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