Nose-picking

Under Nose, nose picking, in-the- nose - drilling, boogers is defined as the insertion of a finger into the nose, usually to be dried nasal secretions (fachsprachlich: bark, colloquially boogers ) to remove or (more rarely) a foreign body.

Risk of injury

Nose picking poses in rare cases risks: injuries ( excoriations ) can lead to nosebleeds, the bleeding usually from the locus Kiesselbachi, a network of blood vessels at the front end of the nasal septum, stems. There are infections with a variety of pathogens that can be detected on the fingertip possible. Therefore, it is advisable in most cases to use a handkerchief. However, most people on the nasal mucosa have a lot more exciting than your fingers and is dried nasal secretions is often so tightly angekrustet that a mere blowing of the nose does not lead to the goal. But you can also put the handkerchief over your finger and so clean the nose from inside. A cleaning of the nose can also be improved with nasal irrigation and inhalations.

Compulsive nose picking

Drilling in the nose is primarily in adolescents, but also adults very widespread. In one study, 91% of adults surveyed in " to their nose " and 75 % were of the opinion that almost everyone has 'm doing. In very few cases, this behavior is pathological. However, compulsive nose picking ( Rhinotillexomania ) as a behavior with clinical significance according to ICD -10 ( International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems WHO ) with F98.8 under " Other specified behavioral and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence " classified.

Excessive compulsive nose picking can lead over a long period of time to iron out the ethmoid ( ethmoidectomy ) and perforation of the nasal septum.

Social ostracism and taboo

Nose picking in public is viewed in the West and in much of the Far Eastern culture as unhygienic. The blowing of the nose in a handkerchief is often seen in Western countries, in contrast to nose picking as no or significantly less unhygienic.

When Mukophagie (from Greek mukos " slime ", phagein "eat" ) the remote secretion is consumed. This subject, although also common, an even stronger taboo. It should be mentioned, however, that a large part of the nasal secretions and is trapped dirt particles already passes through the nasopharyngeal passage in the throat and it is then swallowed involuntarily.