Is Picking Your Nose Bad for Your Health?

September 30, 2025 •

4 min read

While many see it as a benign, if gross, habit, a 2006 study found that people who pick their nose are more likely to carry Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, increasing the risk of serious infections. The question, 'Is picking your nose bad?' has surprising and potentially serious health implications beyond simple social etiquette.

Quick Summary

Frequent nose picking can introduce harmful bacteria into the nasal passages, leading to infections and physical damage to delicate nasal tissues. Chronic picking can cause nosebleeds, sores, and in severe cases, nasal septum damage, posing a particular risk to individuals with weakened immune systems. There are effective strategies for managing this habit.

Key Points

Infection Risk: Picking introduces bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus from your fingers into the delicate nasal passages, potentially causing localized or serious systemic infections.
Nasal Damage: Frequent picking can cause physical trauma, leading to nosebleeds, sores, and, in severe cases, a hole in the nasal septum.
Germ Spread: The mucus you remove contains trapped pathogens, which can be transferred to surfaces and other people, spreading illnesses like colds and flu.
Compulsive Behavior: In some individuals, constant picking is a sign of rhinotillexomania, a compulsive disorder linked to anxiety and OCD that requires professional help.
Better Alternatives: To manage the habit, use saline sprays to moisturize, employ tissues for removal, keep hands busy with fidget toys, and address any underlying nasal conditions.
Link to Alzheimer's: Early research in mice suggests that damage to the nasal lining could increase the risk of certain bacteria entering the brain and contributing to Alzheimer's disease pathology.

The Hidden Dangers of a Common Habit

Most people have picked their nose at some point, whether out of boredom, irritation, or a sense of needing to clear a blockage. However, what appears to be a harmless action can carry significant health risks, especially when it becomes a regular habit. The nose's moist lining, or mucosa, is a delicate ecosystem that plays a critical role in filtering the air we breathe, trapping bacteria, viruses, and dust particles. Disrupting this delicate system with our fingers can open the door to a host of problems.

Increased Risk of Infection

Your fingers, even when seemingly clean, are covered in germs. Introducing these germs directly into your nasal cavity bypasses your body's natural defenses and can lead to a number of infections. A primary concern is the spread of Staphylococcus aureus (staph), a bacterium commonly found on the skin and in the nose.

Staph infections: Research indicates that frequent nose pickers are more likely to be carriers of Staphylococcus aureus. When picking causes small cuts or abrasions inside the nostril, the staph can enter these wounds, leading to local infections like nasal vestibulitis, which causes painful sores and crusting around the nasal opening.
Spreading illnesses: The mucus and boogers in your nose are essentially traps for airborne pathogens. Picking your nose and then touching surfaces or other people can effectively spread germs, including those that cause colds, flu, and potentially even pneumonia.
Systemic infections (rare but serious): While extremely uncommon, some studies have linked chronic nose picking to more severe systemic infections. In a case report, a 66-year-old with rhinotillexomania suffered recurrent infections, including sepsis and meningitis, believed to have originated from the nasal cavity.

Physical Damage to Nasal Tissues

The internal structure of your nose is surprisingly fragile. Repetitive trauma from picking can cause physical damage that goes beyond minor irritation.

Nosebleeds: The nasal lining is rich with tiny, delicate blood vessels. Aggressive picking can easily rupture these vessels, leading to frequent and sometimes significant nosebleeds.
Septum perforation: The nasal septum is the cartilage and bone dividing the nostrils. Chronic, intense picking can wear away at this delicate structure, eventually causing a perforation, or a hole, in the septum. This can cause whistling sounds when breathing, crusting, and is often difficult to repair.
Nasal airway obstruction: Long-term damage can lead to scar tissue formation and swelling, which may cause a narrowing or obstruction of the nasal airways.

The Compulsive Side of Nose Picking

For some, nose picking is more than just a habit; it is a compulsive behavior known as rhinotillexomania. Often triggered by stress, anxiety, or boredom, this behavior can be challenging to stop and is classified as a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB). The picking can provide a temporary sense of gratification or relief from tension, but can also lead to feelings of shame and guilt. If the habit causes physical harm or significantly disrupts daily life, it may be a sign of an underlying issue requiring professional help.

Occasional vs. Compulsive Picking

It's important to distinguish between occasional, situational nose picking and chronic, compulsive behavior. The risks increase significantly with the frequency and intensity of the habit.


Feature	Occasional Nose Picking	Compulsive Nose Picking (Rhinotillexomania)
Frequency	Infrequent, in response to irritation or a feeling of blockage.	Frequent, often multiple times per day, even unconsciously.
Cause	Dry nasal passages, allergies, or boredom.	Rooted in anxiety, OCD, or stress, providing relief from tension.
Health Risks	Generally minimal for the average, healthy individual.	Elevated risk of staph infections, significant nasal damage, and potential for systemic infection.
Impact	Little to no lasting effect on nasal health.	Can cause significant tissue damage, nosebleeds, and septum perforation.
Management	Simply using a tissue and practicing good hand hygiene is sufficient.	May require therapeutic interventions like habit reversal training or medication to address underlying causes.

How to Kick the Habit

If you find yourself frequently picking your nose, there are several practical steps you can take to manage and reduce the behavior:

Moisturize nasal passages: Dryness is a common trigger for picking. Using a saline nasal spray or humidifier can help keep your nasal passages moist and reduce the urge to pick.
Address the root cause: If picking is a response to allergies or sinus issues, treating those conditions can help. Over-the-counter antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays may provide relief.
Substitute the behavior: When you feel the urge to pick, keep your hands busy with an alternative activity. Squeezing a stress ball or playing with a fidget toy can help redirect the compulsive action.
Use a tissue: This is the most obvious and sanitary solution. Get into the habit of using a tissue to clear your nose, even for dry mucus.
Employ a reminder: For unconscious pickers, placing a small bandage on your primary picking finger can serve as a physical reminder to stop before you start.
Seek professional help: If the behavior feels compulsive and you can't control it, consult a healthcare provider or a mental health professional. Treatment for underlying anxiety or OCD can help manage the picking.

Conclusion

So, is picking your nose bad? While a rare, occasional pick is unlikely to cause serious harm, turning it into a regular habit can create a breeding ground for germs and lead to physical damage to the nasal cavity. The risks, from minor infections to severe complications, are real and can be managed with a conscious effort towards better nasal hygiene. Addressing underlying irritants like dryness or allergies is key, and for compulsive behavior, professional guidance can be a life-changing step towards better health. For more information on proper nasal care, including the use of saline rinses, consider consulting resources like the Cleveland Clinic on related hygiene topics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, picking your nose can cause a staph infection. The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus often lives harmlessly in the nose. However, when you create small cuts or tears in the delicate nasal lining by picking, these bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection, such as nasal vestibulitis, which leads to painful sores.

The inner lining of your nose, called the nasal mucosa, is very fragile and contains many tiny blood vessels. Aggressive or frequent picking can damage and rupture these vessels, leading to nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis.

Rhinotillexomania is the medical term for compulsive nose picking. It is classified as a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) and is often associated with conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or anxiety.

Yes, chronic and aggressive nose picking can damage the nasal septum, the cartilage and bone that separates your nostrils. In severe cases, this can lead to a perforation, or a hole, in the septum, which is difficult to repair.

Yes. When you have a cold, your nasal mucus contains viruses and bacteria. Picking your nose transfers these germs to your fingers, from which they can be spread to surfaces and other people, increasing the risk of transmission.

Instead of picking, use a soft tissue to gently blow your nose. If dryness is the issue, a saline nasal spray or humidifier can help keep your nasal passages moist and reduce irritation.

To break a nervous picking habit, try keeping your hands occupied with alternative activities like squeezing a stress ball or playing with a fidget toy. If the habit persists, identifying and addressing the underlying stress or anxiety with professional help may be necessary.