How is nose mucus made

Luckily, snot helps trap this stuff, keeping it in the nose and out of the lungs. After this stuff gets stuck inside the nose , the mucus surrounds it and some of the tiny hairs inside the nose called cilia say: SIL-ee-uh. These hairs help move the mucus and the trapped stuff toward the front of the nose or the back of the throat. When the mucus, dirt, and other debris get dry and clump together, you're left with a booger.

Boogers can be squishy and slimy or tough and crumbly. It's a form of mucus produced by the lower airways — not by the nose and sinuses — in response to inflammation.

You may not notice phlegm unless you cough it up as a symptom of bronchitis or pneumonia. As is the case with mucus, phlegm that has a color such as green or yellow may indicate infection.

And anytime you see blood in the phlegm you cough up, you should seek medical attention. Mucus, explains Ellis, helps protect the lungs by capturing dirt and dust as you inhale. The dirt, dust, and debris are passed out of your system. While a persistent yellow or green color, possibly accompanied by an unpleasant odor, is often a sign of infection, color does not always indicate a health problem, says Ellis. Thick mucus, which may seem to have greater volume and may create problems such as postnasal drip, results from a number of situations and is usually an indication of being over-dry.

Using a small facial steamer or humidifier, taking a hot steamy shower, or even breathing through a warm wet washcloth can give you some relief from thick, crusty mucus. Govindaraj says. Instead, he suggests that you try an over-the-counter expectorant like Mucinex guaifenesin , which breaks up and thins mucus in the chest and throat so that it is easier to cough up and expel.

Snot dried by the air becomes a squishy or crumbly booger that many people — especially young kids — like to pick out of their nose and eat. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools.

Reviewed: May 1, Medically Reviewed. Some kids like to eat their boogers. If excessive boogers are a problem for your kids or you , try increasing water intake. Staying hydrated can keep mucus thinner and easier to manage.

Be ready to field booger questions with these five facts. These colors are not caused by bacteria; rather, white blood cells contain a substance that adds a yellow or green tinge to mucus. If your body is fighting an infection, you may produce more white blood cells. Conversely, you can be sick and still have clear mucus.