Dried nasal mucus is what we call boogers. Mucus is a slimy goo vital to your immune system. In your nose, mucus catches wayward microbes and other foreign particles before they reach your lungs. When a cold invades and stuffs up your nose, dead viruses get stuck in the mucus turning it from clear to green. So that dripping snot is escorting out unwelcome microbes. And when mucus dries out, hardens, and sticks in your nose, you’ve formed boogers!
Boogers and mucus are closely related, one more solid and the other more viscous. Both forms are vital to help keep you healthy. In the airways of your lungs, mucus is actually called phlegm.
Mucus and phlegm need to be wet in order to do their job of removing microbes and the dust that you breathe in. When boogers form, you may get that special itching sensation that you’ll want to deal with. Perhaps you think the answer is a little picking to dislodge the source of that itch. In fact, most people do partake in rhinotillexis. Yes, surveys show that over 70% of people admit to picking their nose! Picking is not the best habit though, so why not let your boogers just be and make every effort to avoid rhinotillexomania and especially mycophagy!
