What happens if you pick your boogers too much?

September 21, 2025 •

4 min read

According to one study, habitual nose pickers are significantly more likely to carry the harmful Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria in their nasal passages. So, what happens if you pick your boogers too much? The consequences go beyond being a bad social habit, extending to serious health risks.

Quick Summary

Repeatedly picking your nose can cause a cycle of trauma and infection, potentially leading to nosebleeds, sores, and an increased risk of carrying infectious bacteria like staph. Chronic cases can result in damage to the delicate nasal septum and may signal underlying compulsive behaviors like rhinotillexomania.

Key Points

Infection Risk: Chronic nose picking significantly increases your risk of carrying and spreading bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (staph), which can lead to infections.
Physical Damage: Excessive picking can cause recurrent nosebleeds and damage the delicate nasal lining. In severe, chronic cases, it can even lead to a nasal septum perforation.
Psychological Links: Compulsive nose picking, known as rhinotillexomania, is a body-focused repetitive behavior that can be linked to underlying anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Moisture is Key: Addressing nasal dryness with saline sprays, gels, or a humidifier can reduce the irritation that often triggers the urge to pick.
Alternative Actions: Keeping hands occupied with fidget toys or other tasks, along with maintaining good nasal hygiene, are effective strategies for breaking the habit.
When to Seek Help: If nose picking is compulsive or causes frequent nosebleeds, pain, or recurrent infections, consulting a doctor or mental health professional is recommended.

The Hidden Dangers of Habitual Nose Picking

While most people admit to occasionally picking their nose, making it a regular or compulsive habit can open the door to significant health problems. The inside of your nose is lined with a delicate membrane, called the nasal mucosa, which is essential for trapping airborne pathogens and foreign particles. When you habitually pick, you disrupt this protective barrier, leaving your body more vulnerable to harm.

Increased Risk of Infection

One of the most significant risks associated with chronic nose picking is a higher chance of developing nasal infections. Your fingers carry a multitude of germs and bacteria, which can be introduced into the nasal passages. This is especially true for Staphylococcus aureus (staph), a common bacterium frequently found on the skin.

Staph Carriage: Studies have shown a strong link between nose picking and increased nasal carriage of S. aureus. This can lead to localized infections like nasal vestibulitis, characterized by painful pimples and crusting inside the nostrils.
Systemic Infection Spread: In rare but severe cases, particularly for those with compromised immune systems, these local infections can spread. The nasal blood vessels drain to the brain, and while extremely uncommon, a serious systemic infection like meningitis or septic cavernous sinus thrombosis can occur from a seemingly minor nasal infection.
COVID-19 Transmission: Research published in the European Respiratory Journal even suggested that touching your nose and mouth could increase the spread of respiratory infections, including pneumonia-causing bacteria.

Physical Damage to Nasal Tissues

Beyond infections, the physical trauma from excessive picking can have lasting effects on the structure of your nose.

Nosebleeds (Epistaxis): The small, delicate blood vessels lining the nasal septum are easily damaged. Frequent picking can rupture these vessels, leading to recurrent and sometimes difficult-to-control nosebleeds. The subsequent scabs that form create an irresistible urge to pick again, restarting the cycle.
Nasal Septum Perforation: In chronic and severe cases, the constant picking can wear away the nasal septum, the cartilage wall dividing the nostrils. This can result in a perforation, or hole, in the septum, which is often painful, may whistle during breathing, and sometimes requires surgical repair.
Chronic Inflammation: The repeated irritation causes persistent inflammation of the nasal lining. This can lead to a condition called chronic rhinitis, making your nasal passages feel perpetually dry, crusty, or congested, which only fuels the picking habit further.

The Psychological Component: Rhinotillexomania

For some, excessive nose picking is more than a simple bad habit; it is a compulsive behavior known medically as rhinotillexomania. This is classified as a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) and can be linked to anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

How to Break the Habit

Stopping is possible with conscious effort and management of underlying triggers. Below are effective strategies to help break the cycle.

Moisturize Your Nasal Passages: Dryness is a primary driver for picking. Use a saline nasal spray or gel to keep the mucosa hydrated. A humidifier, especially in dry climates or during winter, can also help.
Keep Hands Occupied: Find alternative activities for your hands, like using a stress ball, a fidget toy, or engaging in a hobby that requires manual dexterity. This can help distract you from the compulsive urge to pick.
Use a Barrier: Putting a bandage or glove on your primary picking finger can serve as a physical reminder and deterrent, making the unconscious act a conscious decision.
Trim Nails Short: Keeping your fingernails trimmed short minimizes the potential for scratching the delicate nasal lining and introducing bacteria.
Identify Triggers: Pay attention to when and why you pick. Is it due to stress, boredom, or anxiety? Addressing these emotional triggers can help control the behavior.
Use Tissues: When you feel the need to clear your nose, reach for a tissue and blow gently instead of picking.

Comparison: Occasional vs. Compulsive Nose Picking


Aspect	Occasional Nose Picking	Compulsive Nose Picking (Rhinotillexomania)
Frequency	Infrequent; happens from time to time.	Frequent and repetitive, often daily.
Motivation	Mild irritation, dry mucus, or boredom.	Compulsive urge, anxiety, or stress relief.
Awareness	The person is aware of the action.	Can be done subconsciously or impulsively.
Health Impact	Minor risk of infection or irritation.	Higher risk of infection, frequent nosebleeds, tissue damage, or perforation.
Emotional Aspect	Typically none.	Shame, guilt, anxiety related to the behavior.
Intervention	Easily resolved with hygiene or moisture.	May require behavioral therapy to address the underlying compulsion.

When to See a Doctor

If your nose picking is severe, uncontrollable, or has led to complications such as frequent nosebleeds, persistent nasal pain, or repeated infections, it is crucial to consult a healthcare professional. An Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist can assess any potential damage, and a mental health professional can provide guidance if the behavior is linked to anxiety or OCD. For persistent nasal issues, further information on care can be found at the American Academy of Otolaryngology's website.

Conclusion

While a common habit, excessive nose picking is far from harmless. The risks of introducing bacteria, causing nosebleeds, and damaging the nasal structures are significant, and in rare cases, can lead to serious health complications. By understanding the causes—whether environmental like dryness or psychological like anxiety—you can take proactive steps to break the habit and protect your nasal health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, excessive nose picking is considered a bad habit with potential health risks. It can damage the nasal lining, introduce harmful bacteria, and lead to infections and nosebleeds. While an occasional pick may be harmless, chronic picking is not recommended.

The medical term for compulsive or habitual nose picking is rhinotillexomania. It is a type of body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) and can be related to obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Yes. Studies have shown that people who pick their noses are more likely to carry Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. This can lead to localized infections, such as nasal vestibulitis, and in rare cases, more serious systemic infections.

Reasons for frequent nose picking can range from simple boredom and dry nasal passages to underlying anxiety or a compulsive disorder like rhinotillexomania. Dryness and crusting often irritate the nasal lining, triggering the urge to pick.

To stop picking your nose, try using saline nasal sprays or gels to moisturize the nasal passages, keep your fingernails trimmed short, use a fidget toy to keep your hands busy, or wear a bandage on your finger as a physical reminder. Identifying and addressing psychological triggers like stress can also help.

Yes, chronic and forceful nose picking can cause trauma to the delicate nasal septum, the cartilage wall dividing the nostrils. Over time, this can lead to a perforation, or hole, in the septum, which may require surgical correction.

Initial signs of a nasal infection from picking include redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, and crusting around the nostrils. You might also notice small pimples (folliculitis) at the base of your nasal hairs.