Snot, that sticky, slimy material inside your nose is key to staying healthy. In fact, think of it as your body's own natural moisturizer.
Mucus is an important substance that the body produces to protect itself from foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria. It protects the body in two ways. The first is like a physical barrier : mucus is sticky and traps foreign particles, which the body can sweep away like a broom. The second way is through its antimicrobial properties , since it is a sticky aqueous substance based on components such as enzymes and antibodies that fight infections.
It should come as no surprise, then, that your nose produces on average 1 liter of snot every day . Much of it is ingested and we don't even know it.
But during allergy season, or when you're battling a respiratory infection, it can seem like mucus is clogging your nose, leaving you congested, constantly blowing your nose, and feeling awful. But again, this is good.
The body is deliberately responding to danger by increasing mucus to fight infection and clear it. It can be annoying to have a runny nose, but it is not harmful.
What do the different snot colors mean?
Clear
Your mucus is made of long molecules (called mucins ) mixed with water. So the default color is generally light.
However, if you start to produce a lot of clear mucus, it could indicate allergies and that your body is trying to get rid of particles like dust, pollen, or animal dander.
In these cases, the best treatment is an over-the-counter nasal steroid spray , along with the use of a saline nasal spray several times a day to help flush the nasal passages. If that's not enough to ease you, an over-the-counter antihistamine can help too.
White
White mucus means you probably have a respiratory infection like a cold .
When you have this type of infection, your nasal mucus will start to become watery and clear. But after a day or so, it thickens and turns white. This is due to an increase in proteins made by infection-fighting cells called neutrophils .
Green or yellow
Green or yellow mucus can appear for several days in an upper respiratory virus. The color comes from dead white blood cells , which can turn green if you have too many.
Although we often assume that green mucus means you have a bacterial infection like sinusitis, the reality is that most of the time this is just the normal course of a respiratory virus.
Once the virus is gone, the mucus will dry up and your nose will return to normal. But if it really bothers you, a warm (not hot) steam for five to 10 minutes can help thin the mucus and ease congestion.
You can also use a saline nasal spray , which helps soften and loosen mucus so you can expel it more easily. And while a cold medicine containing the ingredient guifenesin may help, the evidence is not great.
You can skip over-the-counter medications with the word "sinus," which probably include a decongestant like phenylephrine . These can help you breathe easier through your nose, because they decrease swelling in the nasal cavities, but they don't actually reduce mucus production. They are also not safe if you have high blood pressure and should not be used for a long time.
And while rubs like eucalyptus or menthol can ease pain, they won't decrease mucus production either.
When should you go to the doctor?
Green mucus for more than 10 days
If you have an upper respiratory infection that lasts longer than 10 days or worsens after a week, see a doctor. It may indicate that the virus has turned into a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics for its treatment.
You should also see your doctor if you have a fever over 39ºC, or any fever that lasts more than two days, or if the symptoms do not respond at all to basic remedies such as saline rinses and over-the-counter cold products.
Traces of blood and pink mucus
If you have blown your nose very hard because you have a cold, it can cause irritation that leads to bleeding. This can linger around the nasal cavity for a while, making the mucus light red or even pink. Irritation may also be caused by dry air from inside.
If you have pink or red mucus, you can use a saline nasal spray or saline nasal drops two to three times a day in each nostril to keep your nostrils moist. You can also run a humidifier in your room at night to add moisture to the air.
Brown or orange snot
This type of mucus can be a sign of dried blood in the nose . It could also be the result of coming into contact with particles like dirt or cigarette smoke .
We as a society have been trained to think that color equals infection, but remember that mucus is meant to trap foreign particles, such as dust or pollen. So a brown tint could just be a sign that the mucus is doing its job.
Black
Black mucus can indicate a yeast infection or exposure to a dangerous contaminant. See your doctor as soon as possible if you have black mucus.
