If Your Boogers Look Like This, It Might Be Time To See A Doctor

It’s that time of year again, when everyone’s fighting a cold and blowing their nose. Maybe you’ve found yourself having sinus struggles, or you’ve noticed your boogers don’t look “normal.” Whatever the case may be, mucus abounds.

“Mucus is a natural product to keep our airways moist in regular times, and to work with our immune system to fight off an irritant, infection, or other inflammation in others,” said Dr. Stephen Vogel, a family medicine physician with PlushCare. “Normal mucus appears clear to white for most people.”

If your boogers aren’t clear, then it’s possible something else might be going on, whether it’s allergies or something more serious. We spoke with doctors about what your boogers could be saying about your health, from the color to the consistency, and when you’ll want to see a doctor about it.

Yellow

Yellow mucus usually means that your body is dealing with an infection. It’s often a direct result of the white blood cells fighting off a bacteria or virus.

“Yellow mucus also tends to become thicker and/or more concentrated when your body’s immune system is activated,” said Dr. Brynna Connor, a family medicine physician and health care ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com. “The potential causes of yellow mucus include the common cold or a bacterial infection such as sinusitis (a sinus infection) or bronchitis (a respiratory infection).”

Green

According to Connor, green mucus can suggest you are suffering from a more serious bacterial infection. “The green color comes from enzymes that are released by the white blood cells as they fight infection and typically indicates a prolonged and/or more intense immune response,” Connor said.

Some possible causes of green mucus include a bacterial sinus infection, bacterial bronchitis, or pneumonia. However, green mucus can also simply consist of boogers that have been in your sinuses for a long time.

Brown