Why do boogers form in your nose

However, infections can cause your body to produce more of them, per the National Health Institutes , which explains infections can cause the mucus membranes that line your nose to become inflamed, leading to a higher-than-normal amount of mucus.

You know not to pick your nose, and it might be less tempting to do so if you understand why. Putting a finger on or inside your nostril can inadvertently transmit any bacteria or viruses on that finger into your nose, creating the perfect scenario for an infection, according to the US National Library of Medicine.

For example, you touched a surface, like a doorknob, that contained the common cold virus. When you put that same unwashed finger in your nose to flick out a booger, you also transferred viral particles into your system. It works the other way, too: putting your fingers in your nose can transmit viruses and bacteria from your boogers to other surfaces you touch afterward, thus potentially making others sick.

Fisher explains. And if you need even more convincing to keep your hands out of your nose: Picking your nose can cause nosebleeds, states the Cleveland Clinic. A number of things can cause enough boogers to form in your nostrils that you feel stuffed up, including sinusitis, allergies, or a cold, Dr. Also worth noting: Having a stuffy nose doesn't mean you're necessarily sick; dry air can also cause the sensation. If you feel like you can't breathe through your nose, your first line of defense should be a saline rinse, he suggests.

Our respiratory system is lined with mucus, says Moche, all the way from the nose to the lungs. But sometimes, it becomes too viscous or copious, and you get loogies or boogers aplenty. Boogers, then, show up for a variety of reasons.

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.

Never pluck them, Moche stresses. Essentially it can behave like pulling off a scab from a healing wound and cause injury to the underlying mucosa. From time to time, those sticky blobs of mucus turn into crusty cling-ons. They may have sharp edges and hang to your nose hairs. Removing them is painful — and potentially problematic. When mucus dries to the walls of your nasal passages, it can stick to the delicate mucosa. When you go to remove it, you may get more than you bargained for.

Ripping that skin could cause a nosebleed. You might also invite infection. Using a saline solution for nasal irrigation or a neti pot is common when you have congested sinuses. They help moisten mucus and sweep it away, either down your digestive system or out your nose. Be careful to not cram too far or push too hard.

A saline spray will moisten stubborn pieces of dried mucus so they may come free more easily. But in young children, consider using a bulb syringe.

A bulb syringe will suck it out. Boogers are pieces of drying mucus that contain trapped dirt or bacteria. These contaminants come into your nasal passages when you breathe. Your body is trapping those irritants to prevent them from getting to your lungs, where they could cause bigger problems. Boogers may also form if your environment changes dramatically.

For example, dry environments may irritate your nasal passages. This can lead to excess booger development, and the pieces may be particularly dry and sharp. But if you think your production outpaces anyone else you know, you can consider trying to prevent dry mucus. After all, the more dry mucus you have, the more boogers will form.