Bleeding, sycosis, boils: what serious consequences can lead to nose picking. Bleeding, sycosis, boils: what serious consequences can picking your nose lead to The habit of picking your nose in adults psychology

What habit can be called bad? If you approach the answer broadly, then these are the actions that damage not only health, but also the image. From this point of view, the habit of picking your nose is really harmful: not only does it increase the risk of introducing an infection into the body, but others will have a completely unflattering opinion about a lover of publicly examining their nose. What causes an adult to pick his nose and how to overcome this tendency?

Why do people pick their nose

The habit of picking one's nose originates in childhood, when at about two years old the child begins to enthusiastically explore his "bowels". For a child, this is a form of learning. own body, which gradually fades with age.

In older children, nose picking can often be a sign of increased anxiety, stress, emotional tension. In such cases, it is necessary to visit a child psychologist or neurologist, because. ordinary jerks and remarks will not help rid the child of this habit. In rare cases, nose picking - a symptom may indicate the presence of serious complications of a neurological or psychological nature and some genetic diseases.

Thus, nose picking can be:

physiological need. This is a desire to get rid of the discomfort caused by the presence of foreign particles in the nasal cavity: lumps of mucus, small debris and dust that have settled on the nasal mucosa during breathing (the so-called boogers). Usually such “picking” is not intrusive, and as soon as the nasal cavity is cleared, the person no longer feels the desire to climb back in with his fingers;
Psychological addiction. Here everything is more complicated than in the first case: a person picks his nose not because of the desire to clear it, but because of an irresistible desire. In the most severe cases, psychologists talk about rhinotillexomania. This is the name of painful aggressive picking in the nose up to bleeding or other damage to the cavity. However, very few people who like to pick their nose cross this line: most often this process remains nothing more than an unaesthetic habit;
A symptom of a genetic disease or psychiatric disorder. In such cases, a treatment tailored specifically to the individual patient is needed. To be fair, nose-picking in such patients is usually the least of the problems.

Where nose picking is annoying habit, not associated with genetic or psychiatric disorders, it is quite possible to cope with it on your own.

Wanting to part with a bad habit, first of all, you need to admit to yourself that you have it, and you want to get rid of it. Then analyze what makes you constantly pick your nose. Perhaps you simply have nothing to do with your hands, or this process calms you down. Or maybe you recently had a disease that provoked itching and irritation of the nasal mucosa or increased mucus production? If the latter assumption turns out to be correct, you first need to visit a specialist who will help you choose the appropriate medications and give recommendations, otherwise it will be very difficult to get rid of cravings to pick your nose.

What else should you pay attention to?

The place where you live and work. Dry air, especially during the heating season, dries out the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity. As a result, a person experiences itching and irritation, which, as a result, causes a desire to pick one's nose. Therefore, try to ventilate the room more often and humidify the air in it, which can be done both with the help of, and simply by placing water containers. It does not have to be bulky basins or unaesthetic jars: water can be poured into original vases or decorative aquariums.
In the case when airing and humidifying the air do not help to avoid dryness in the nose, you can irrigate the nasal cavity with special moisturizing sprays based on sea water.
Properly clean your nasal cavities. This should be done in the mornings and evenings, washing them with warm water. For a greater effect, you can add a little salt to the water: this will not only clean your nose more thoroughly, but also relieve swelling, strengthen capillaries, and improve blood circulation.
Control yourself. Whenever you realize that your finger is in your nose, immediately remove it from there. Don't let the habit turn into a reflex, or you'll soon start picking your nose in public.
Keep your nails short. This will significantly complicate the process of extracting mucus and other formations from the nose.
Keep your fingers busy with something that will both calm your nerves and distract you from a bad habit. Such activities as needlework (sewing, knitting, embroidery), music, carving, etc. will perfectly cope with this.

Nose picking is strongly associated primarily with children. However, there are a lot of adults who are subject to this habit, alas. It is possible to unlearn this activity, but it will require a certain amount of self-control and effort, as well as getting rid of any other addiction.

Video: Awkward moment with a finger in the nose in front of 30,000 spectators

How to stop picking your nose: get rid of rhinotillexomania

We continue our story about bad habits, which can rightly be called addictions or manic cravings. You have probably already met with an extremely harmful tendency - the habit of twisting and pulling out hair, which we talked about in detail. Today we will talk about another unpleasant phenomenon - picking your nose.
Such a human action is an extremely repulsive sight, perceived by others as a lack of culture of a person. Thirst to pick one's nose is a manner that is unhealthy, since such a hobby can lead to serious damage to the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. Nose picking - distinguishing feature a person from other representatives of the animal world, since not a single animal is allowed to indulge in such a procedure.

The habit of the subject enthusiastically opening his nostrils with his finger and extracting dried mucus from the nasal passage is a pathological deviation. Such excessive enthusiasm indicates that the "poking maniac" has quite serious psychological problems, and often mental disorders. To indicate a painful passion to pop in the nose, a special medical term- rhinotillexomania.
The need to regularly insert your finger into the nasal passage is a habit that is not unique to young children. The need to pick your nose is a very common condition among adults. At the same time, not only ill-mannered and uneducated people suffer from rhinotillexomania, but also quite literate, erudite and accomplished individuals. Businessmen and politicians, doctors and teachers, oligarchs and aristocrats pick their noses.

Studies conducted by American scientists have shown a very informative picture: more than 90% of people from time to time feel the need to clear their nose with a finger. The survey showed that 25% of people indulge in this hobby daily. More than 2% of the interviewed persons devote at least two hours a day to this procedure. At the same time, some respondents eat the extracted product.
The habit of popping in the nose is a phenomenon from childhood. But when a person has matured, this manic addiction does not disappear, but, on the contrary, the manipulation is carried out more often and more energetically. And no adult can pinpoint exactly why his hand is reaching for his nose. Surveys have shown that this procedure brings considerable pleasure to many rhinotillexomaniacs. Why a person acquires an obsessive need to pick his nose will be discussed further.

What causes rhinotillexomania: the origin and purpose of the habit
The first acquaintance of a person with the study of his nostrils with a finger occurs at an early age. childhood. At the same time, no one teaches the child how to perform such manipulation. Vice versa: caring parents and scold the baby for picking his nose enthusiastically, and introduce him to the rules good manners handing colorful and bright handkerchiefs into hands. However, in most cases, attempts at exhortation, persuasion and punishment do not have much effect. The baby continues to get rid of dried mucus with his fingers.
This phenomenon has a very logical explanation. The need to keep the nasal cavity clean and the desire to clean contaminated passages in a timely manner is a physiologically determined need necessary to ensure proper breathing and combat harmful microorganisms. Since our ancestors did not have improvised means for cleaning the nose, there were no preparations for washing the passages, they had to extract the dried contents with their own hands.

The memory of such a hygienic procedure is firmly imprinted at the gene level. In addition, nature made sure that this manipulation was necessarily carried out by man. To do this, the creator provided a reward in the form of enjoyment of picking your nose. The nose of a person, like any other living being, is a very sensitive thing. Irritation in this organ huge amount receptors causes various sensations: both pleasant - in the case of picking, and painful - in case of tissue damage. That is, the procedure of peeling is a peculiar way of obtaining pleasure.
There is another hypothesis that confirms the "benefit" of energetic nose picking. According to some scientists, irritation of the nerve endings located in the human nose stimulates brain activity. That is why many people automatically put their finger to their nose when they think about a problem, make a choice in favor of one or another solution. That is, this procedure, from this point of view, is intended for better concentration of attention and strengthening of the functions of thinking.

The interviewed respondents admitted that very often they pick their nose, considering what purchases are better to make in the store. Other rhinotillexomania addicts have stated that they start performing nasal cleansing when they think about the economic and political situation in the state. Third persons perform such an exercise when they need to make a decision regarding their personal life.
Another alleged cause of rhinotillexomania is long-term nervous tension. Many contemporaries are in a state of chronic stress, experiencing enormous physical and mental overload. This leads to nervous system works to the limit of its capabilities. To prevent failure in the coordinated functioning of the body, a person needs proper rest and relaxation. Since the vast majority of ordinary people simply do not know how to relieve mental stress and eliminate muscle clamps, the psyche “throws” them a simple solution - to pick their nose. The validity of this hypothesis is confirmed by the statements of lovers of “nose-picking”, who report that after such an exercise they feel more calm and relaxed.

From another point of view, picking your nose is an indicator of a meaningless and aimless pastime. A person performs such a procedure when he is bored and has nothing to do with himself. Regular popping in the nasal passages may indicate that a person is tired of his gray and monotonous existence, but he does not see ways to change his reality. Nose picking indicates that a person does not have clear goals, and he does not understand what he wants to achieve in life. This is a sign that the subject is at a crossroads and does not know which way to move forward.
The habit of picking one's nose may indicate that a person longs for "purification of the soul." The tendency to pick is often observed in those people who feel guilty, realize that they were wrong. Since it takes courage to ask for forgiveness from an offended person, it is much easier to obtain “mercy” in another way. Nose picking is nothing more than a procedure to get rid of thoughts of one's own guilt.

The tendency to regularly pick your nose also indicates that a person is experiencing a clear attention deficit. Because of the unsatisfied need for love and respect, a person has a desire - in any way to attract the attention of others. Since the psyche mature personality remembers well that the procedure of picking the nose, performed in childhood, has always attracted the attention of parents, then it forms such an irresistible need in an adult.
The habit of frequently picking one's nose can inform about the presence of a chronic pathological condition in the subject - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Such a person is impulsive, she is not able to control her behavior and carry out actions that meet existing requirements. Patients with this disorder are careless, inattentive, careless and frivolous people. They do not realize that their actions and actions can have negative, harmful and life-threatening consequences,

The need to pick your nose may indicate a serious illness - Smith-Magenis syndrome. Smith-Magenis syndrome is a severe genetic disorder caused by a defect in the 17th chromosome. The syndrome is fixed in early childhood. Children suffering from this disorder are distinguished by stereotypical behavior. They tend to put everything in their mouths, including their own hands. They tend to grind their teeth. They often rock their torso continuously. They aimlessly twirl and twist objects. Sick children are characterized by frequent outbursts of anger. They are characterized by impulsiveness, distractibility, disobedience, aggression.

How to get rid of the habit of picking your nose: eliminate addiction
Despite the fact that many patients with rhinotillexomania understand the futility and unattractiveness of their bad habit, getting rid of their nose-picking style is quite difficult. The thing is that any habit is fixed at a subconscious level, and it is quite difficult to consciously manage the processes stored in this layer of the psyche. However, if a person is determined to overcome his disgusting need and is ready to work on himself regularly and for a long time, then it is possible to overcome rhinotillexomania.
The first step towards breaking the addiction is to determine exactly what causes the need to pick one's nose. To do this, we carefully study our inner world. We honestly admit to ourselves what we lack in life: the attention of others, love, recognition, respect. We try to understand what causes our mental stress. We confess, because of what events we are tormented by remorse. Determine what we would like to change in our lives. We need to find out what causes us anxiety or other negative experiences. Determine under what circumstances our fingers are drawn to the nose.

The second step on the path to liberation from rhinotillexomania is the transformation of the negative factors of our thinking into neutral or positive moments. On this path, we have two options. The first is to avoid or completely exclude phenomena that irritate us from our being. For example, we may change jobs if our nervous tension is caused by an unhealthy atmosphere in the work team. The second way is to change your attitude towards the factors that hinder happy life. For example, if we are tormented by guilt because we inadvertently offended a friend, we can sincerely apologize to her and mutually develop a program to improve relations. It should be remembered that in our life almost all the circumstances that we perceive as negative factors can be neutralized or completely eliminated.
To get rid of the need to pick our nose, we must fill our lives with bright colors. We must schedule our day so that we do not have time for boredom and blues. Our hands must be constantly engaged in some creative work. We can do beadwork or knitting. We can draw friendly caricatures or try to capture the beauties of nature on canvas. We can learn the art of makeup or become a nail designer. We are able to invent culinary masterpieces: something to clean, chop, sculpt, crumble. Representatives of the stronger sex can also find something to their liking. Designing models of aircraft and ships, carving wood, making icons and backgammon are quite worthy occupations.

Another condition for getting rid of the habit of picking your nose is to make it a habit to regularly rinse and clean your nose. Today, pharmacies offer various solutions of purified sea water, the use of which ensures the normal state of the mucous membrane of the nasal passages. These drugs help to thin the mucus and ensure its normal outflow from the nasal cavity. If we are annoyed by the endlessly running snot, scientifically called the muconasal secret, it is advisable to eliminate the cause of the abundantly secreted mucus. To eliminate a runny nose and nasal congestion, the doctor may prescribe decongestants - anticongestants. If our runny nose is a manifestation of an allergy, the doctor may advise nasal irrigation with antihistamines.
Another effective way to get rid of the habit of picking your nose - put your hands in gloves. We take it as a rule - in the cold season we always go outside, wearing mittens or gloves on our hands. In warm seasons, women can get nail extensions, the presence of which will simply make it uncomfortable to stick in the nose.

How to stop picking your nose? We do not forget to thank ourselves and reward ourselves for the courage shown and the work on ourselves to overcome the bad habit. Every time we have resisted the temptation to pick our nose, we should amuse ourselves and please ourselves with something. To do this, we are considering a reward system. For example, if during the day we were able to do without examining our nasal passages, then in the evening we have every right to enjoy watching a good movie for two hours, instead of the obligatory mopping provided. If we have refrained from doing picking for a week, then on Sunday we can arrange a festive dinner for ourselves with eating a delicious cake.

The main rule is to be persistent and patient. Don't expect a bad habit to be broken in one day. Remember that it takes at least three weeks to completely get rid of rhinotillexomania. We should not reproach ourselves and give up undertakings if we accidentally broke loose and picked our noses. We should forgive ourselves for the error and continue to move forward.

Rhinotillexomania is a pathological desire to pick one's nose. In psychology, this is considered normal, but in some cases the habit is a manifestation mental disorder. Constant mechanical irritation and trauma to the epithelium of the nasal passages can lead to serious medical consequences.

The reasons

Rhinotillexomania is caused by physiological and psychological reasons. Children begin to pick their nose due to impaired airflow. They clear the cavity of accumulations of mucus and crusts that prevent normal breathing. Parents, on the other hand, believe that the child puts his fingers in his nostrils out of curiosity and try to wean him.

At the heart of the psychology of such behavior in adults is aimless pastime and boredom. Trying to distract or find entertainment, a person becomes addicted to a bad habit.

Some people, when examining the contents of the nasal cavity, concentrate better or think faster. In 15% of cases, rhinotillexomania is a particular manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Physiological need

Dust particles that enter the airways are deposited on the mucous contents of the nose. They irritate the epithelial cover and lead to discomfort. Removing dried crusts relieves symptoms. Clearing passages from excess secretion also improves olfactory and respiratory function.

medical symptom

As a clinical symptom, rhinotillexomania is included in the structure of several diseases:

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and impulsivity;
obsessive-compulsive disorder;
neurotic and somatoform states.

Picking the nose is considered pathological, leading to medical consequences. Patients experience epistaxis, mucosal atrophy, and soft tissue damage.

Problems from psychology

The psycho-emotional status of a person subject to rhinotillexomania has the following features:

low stress resistance;
causeless anxiety;
increased excitability;
fast fatigue and switching.

30% of children pick their nose to get the attention of adults. They firmly fixed the causal relationship in their heads - the interest of parents in their personality can be caused in a simple way.

How to get rid of a bad habit?

You can overcome constant discomfort with the help of hygiene of the nasal cavity. You should get rid of dried mucus while washing the passages with running water or pharmacy solutions.

In patients with rhinotillexomania, measures aimed at combating stress have a positive effect. An increase in the level of stress resistance can be achieved in psychotherapy sessions.

To find out the cause of the compulsive action, you need to consult a doctor. Children may be diagnosed with atrophic or allergic rhinitis, requiring complex treatment. Nose picking can be caused by a foreign body getting stuck in the nasal passage.

When examining, you can not tilt the child's head back, this will lead to the advancement of the object in the lower Airways. In case of any suspicion, the SMP team should be called immediately.

To avoid drying out of the epithelial lining, it is necessary to maintain optimal room temperature and humidity. It is necessary to ventilate the room at least 2 times a day. The child's nails should be cut short. You can distract him from compulsion by developing games, creating crafts or reading books.

If the measures are ineffective, then you can not scold the child for a bad habit.

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It would seem that picking one's nose is a private matter for everyone, unless, of course, this happens in public. However, the researchers found that pneumococci are transmitted through the contact of dirty hands and the nasal mucosa(previously it was thought that this happens only by airborne droplets). These bacteria, once in the lungs or bloodstream, cause diseases ranging from ear infections and sinusitis to meningitis and pneumonia. And this is just one of the troubles that this common bad habit can lead to.

American scientists conducted a survey on this topic and found that 91% of respondents are interested in the contents of the nose from time to time, and 17% consider this habit a serious problem. The urge to pick your nose is called rhinotillexomania and leads to damage to the mucous membrane, which opens the gates of infection, including pneumococcal.

pneumococci different types(there are about 90 in total) peacefully live in the nasopharynx 60-90% healthy people without any consequences for the carrier, but if they get into a weakened body, a disease can develop. special risk pneumococcal infection exposed 3 categories of people:

children from 6 months to 5 years;
elderly people over 65;
those who have a weakened immune system (for example, after a viral illness).

Since pneumococcal infection is extremely common, World Organization Health recommends that children be vaccinated against it at an early age.

How to get rid of the habit of picking your nose

Clear your nose regularly. The author of a book about everyday myths and the host of the telegram channel about evidence-based medicine “Moist Mantu” Daria Sargsyan writes that this should be done carefully, cleaning each nostril in turn, otherwise there is strong pressure when blowing your nose, which can lead to mucus being thrown into the paranasal sinuses and their inflammation.
Carry paper handkerchiefs with you so that when discomfort arises, you can use them.

Trim your nose hairs - the longer and thicker they are, the more they capture dust particles from the air, making you want to scratch your nose.

Pay attention to situations that make you want to indulge in a bad habit: boredom, long waiting, thinking. Try to take something in your hand at this moment, for example, an anti-stress toy.

Find out the cause of discomfort in the nose - dry mucous membranes can be a sign of allergies.

Wash your hands - if you pick your nose, then according to all the rules of hygiene!

What to do if your child picks his nose

If your child does not remove his finger from his nose, then there is no need to scream, punish, laugh at him and shame him - this can lead to an aggravation of the habit when he runs away from you to do what he loves. Regular clarifications and a clear line of conduct will help.

Patiently explain that the nose, like the teeth, needs to be cleaned every day. Help the child with this procedure, you can use a saline solution.
Cut the child's nails short so that he does not scratch the mucous membrane and does not bring the infection into the blood.
Every time you notice a finger in your child's nose, send him to wash his hands: the need to take his mind off the game and go to the bathroom will make him pick his nose less often.
Be sure to tell your baby stories on this topic: for example, how the bear cub picked his nose and got sick, and the microbes were very happy about this and sang funny songs. But then the mother bear taught him how to use a handkerchief, he recovered and ran to play with friends, and the evil microbes had to look for another "home".
Distract: pencils, toys, plasticine - if your hands are busy, there is less desire to put your finger in your nose.
Use a humidifier and regularly ventilate the room, because if the mucus in the child's nose regularly dries up, it means that he breathes too dry and warm air.
If nose picking is his personal method of coping with anxiety, teach your toddler other relaxation techniques: breathing, hugging, etc.
Constant nose picking can be a sign of various health problems: allergies, ENT diseases, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and even attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Therefore, if this childhood habit has become a serious problem, consult a doctor.

Do you have any shameful habits?

Rhinotillexomania - the human habit of extracting dried nasal mucus from the nostrils with a finger. Moderate picking is not considered a deviation from the norm, but excessive enthusiasm for this activity may indicate a psychological or psychiatric disorder. Prolonged picking can cause nosebleeds and more serious damage.

Sergei Yesenin wrote:

On the street, a snotty boy.
The air is fried and dry.
The boy is so happy
And picks his nose.

Pick, pick, my dear,
Stick your whole finger in there
Only with this power
Don't get into your soul.

(1923)

Kozma Prutkov's poem "On the Seashore" ends like this:

And the trio jumped back,
Sweeping dew from cabbage...
The gardener stands gloomily
And digs in his nose with his finger.

Often we can observe a lightened (consciously controlled) version of picking in the nose - this is usually touching the tip of the nose with the index finger. Touching or rubbing the nose with the index finger - a sign of doubt / other varieties of this gesture - rubbing the index finger behind the ear or in front of the ear, rubbing the eyes .Often this gesture means confusion, some believe that picking your nose is a sign of low personal development and “dislike” for yourself. "Picking your nose" is also a metaphor for all sorts of meaningless and aimless pastimes.

Physiological basis

Nose performs an important physiological function in breathing and smell. His inner surface covered with epithelium, on the surface of which there is mucus. In addition to the olfactory receptors in the nose, there are a lot of sensitive endings. Foreign particles or dried mucus in the nose irritate sensitive receptors and cause a sneeze reflex. The body needs to keep the nasal cavity clean. In this sense, nose picking is a physiologically justified procedure.

Nose picking as a medical symptom

Nose picking by the people of Wisconsin.

According to : Jefferson J.W., Thompson T.D. "Rhinotillexomania: psychiatric disorder or habit?"J Clin Psychiatry. 1995, 56(2): 56-59

· 8.7% say they have never picked their nose.

· 91% admitted that they were picking and picking. However, only 49.2% believe that nose picking is common among adults.

· 9.2% think they pick "more than average"

· 25.6% pick every day, 22.3% - from 2 to 5 times a day, three admitted that they pick at least once an hour.

· 55.5% pick 1-5 minutes a day, 23.5% - 5-15 minutes, 0.8% (two) - 15-30 minutes, one - 2 hours a day.

· 18% suffer from nosebleeds, and 0.8% claim to have damaged the nasal septum while picking.

· 82.8% pick to “clear the airways”, 66.4% pick because it itches, 35.7% to keep secretions from coming out of the nostrils, 34.0% for hygiene purposes, 17.2% out of habit, 2.1% (five) for pleasure , one for "sexual stimulation".

· 65.1% pick with their index finger, 20.2% with their little finger, and 16.4% with their thumb.

· 90.3% use a handkerchief to remove discharge from the nose, 28.6% throw it on the floor, 7.6% stick it to furniture.

· 9% eat nasal discharge.

Many medical sources consider nose picking as one of the symptoms of abnormal behavior in children. In particular, this activity is considered symptom of attention disorder and hyperactivity attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; ADHD) .

Physicians distinguish between nose-picking and nose-picking associated with a psychiatric or psychological disorder. The term is often used to refer to painful picking. rhinotillexomania.

American scientists Jefferson and Thompson investigated the prevalence of the habit of picking one's nose among the population of Wisconsin. They developed a questionnaire, which they sent out by mail. The questionnaire scientifically defined nose picking as "Insertion of a finger (or other object) into the nose with the intention of removing dried nasal secretions". It turned out that about 91% of respondents pick their noses. However, only 75% of them believed that almost everyone picks their nose. One of the respondents devoted to picking 2 hours a day. Two injured their noses. Some also bit their nails (18%), pinched their skin (20%) and pulled their hair (6%). The researchers concluded that in most cases nose picking is just a habit, but in some it crosses the line of pathology.

Indian scientists Andrade and Srihari came to similar conclusions. They conducted a survey of two hundred students in city schools. Virtually every one of those interviewed admitted that he picks his nose - an average of four times a day. 17% of respondents admitted that picking their nose is a serious problem for them. In many cases, picking was accompanied by other bad habits such as nail biting. Nose picking ended in bleeding in 25% of schoolchildren. The researchers concluded that medical epidemiologists and nasal specialists should pay serious attention to this widespread problem.

In some cases, the pathological habit of picking your nose can lead to serious damage. For example, American doctors reported a clinical case in which a 53-year-old patient who constantly picked her nose broke her nasal septum and damaged her nasal sinus.

There is also the possibility psychological problems that may be associated with rhinotillexomania such as, obsessive-compulsive spectrum, the habit of biting your nails, pulling your hair and others.

People with rhinotillexomania cannot control their habits. This is usually a problem associated with obsessive-compulsive disorders or anxiety disorders. Such people experience great stress if they do not have the opportunity to engage in their obsessive habit. This helps to get short-term relief, but they are unable to control and discourage such behavior.

Other patients with a nose-picking habit may be driven by a tic or Tourette's syndrome. These are neurobiological disorders (with a change in the inhibition of the center of the brain). There are specific treatments available, including some neuroleptics and psychotherapy.

There are people who try to use a form of self-stimulation due to a lack of attention. People with ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) very often get nervous and pop their noses to get relief from keeping their brain "awake".

Unverified information and hoaxes in the media

From time to time, articles appear in the press about scientists who have discovered the usefulness of picking their nose. They are often based on unverified information.

For example, referring to an article in an English newspaper Sunday Times, claim that picking your nose is useful, as this procedure stimulates brain activity. They say that American and British scientists explain the benefits by the fact that the nasal cavity contains many receptors, stimulating which you can activate various body systems. For example, picking your nose can help you fight off a cold faster.

The proponent of nose picking is reportedly French scientist Bonnier, who believes that the nasal mucosa projects to various organs in the body. Thus, according to Bonnier, almost the entire body can be influenced through the nose.

The news was widely circulated that an Austrian lung specialist, Friedrich Bischinger ( Friedrich Bischinger) claims that those who pick their noses are happy and healthy. He seems to insist that this activity should be encouraged, since the finger is an excellent tool for clearing the nose. Bishinger also advises eating the snot that has been caught, as it is good for boosting the immune system.

Most of these reports can be classified as unverified information (which means that they may be partially true) or pseudoscience.

One of the Internet sites contains information, which is a hoax, about the habit of picking the nose of great apes.

Bibliography of scientific articles

Andrade C, Srihari BS (2001) A preliminary survey of rhinotillexomania in an adolescent sample.J Clin Psychiatry 62(6): 426-431. Preliminary assessment of rhinotellixomania in a group of adolescents.BACKGROUND: Rhinotillexomania is a recent term describing excessive nose-picking. The literature on nose-picking among the general public is sparse. METHODS: We studied nose picking in a group of 200 teenagers from 4 urban schools. RESULTS: Virtually all participants admitted to picking their noses. The median frequency of picking is 4 times per day. The frequency exceeded 20 times a day in 7.6% of the respondents. About 17% believe that the bottom has a serious problem with picking. Other habits such as nail biting, scratching, or hair pulling were also found to be quite common. Three or more habits of this kind were simultaneously present in 25% of the respondents. Several interesting observations have been made in certain categories of pickers. CONCLUSIONS: Nose picking is common among teenagers. It is often accompanied by other habits. Nose picking should be given attention by epidemiologists and nose specialists.
Caruso RD, Sherry RG, Rosenbaum AE, Joy SE, Chang JK, Sanford DM (1997) Self-induced ethmoidectomy from rhinotillexomania.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 18(10): 1949-1950. Self-made ethmoidectomy caused by rhinotillexomania.In a 53-year-old woman with long history excessive picking in the nose (rhinotillexomania) found a rupture of the nasal septum and damage to the ethmoid sinus.
Fontenelle LF, Mendlowicz MV, Mussi TC, Marques C, Versiani M (2002) The man with the purple nostrils: a case of rhinotrichotillomania secondary to body dysmorphic disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand 106(6): 464-466. A person with bluish nostrils: a case of rhinotrichotillomania associated with body dysmorphism disease.OBJECTIVE: To describe the type of self-harm associated with body dysmorphic disease. METHODOLOGY: Single case. RESULTS: We studied a person who developed the habit of pulling his hair and picking out mucus from his nasal cavity. We describe this condition with the term rhinotrichotillomania to emphasize the combination of trichotillomania and rhinotillexomania. The only motive for the patient's actions was an imaginary defect in his appearance, that is, a disease of dysmorphism. The patient was successfully treated with imipramine. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that some of the characteristics of the three diseases can be combined, leading to serious consequences. Such patients may benefit from a course of tricyclides if other drugs, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are not available.
Jefferson JW, Thompson TD (1995) Rhinotillexomania: psychiatric disorder or habit?J Clin Psychiatry 56(2):56-59. Rhinotillexomania: psychiatric disorder or habit?INTRODUCTION: Some of the symptoms formerly considered as bad habits are now recognized as psychiatric disorders (trichotillomania, onychopagia). We hypothesized that nose-picking is one such “habit”—a harmless activity for most adults, but a time-consuming, socially harmful or health-threatening activity (rhinotillexomania) for some.
METHODOLOGY: We developed a questionnaire on rhinotillexomania, mailed it to 1,000 randomly selected Wisconsin adults, and asked them to respond anonymously. The returned responses were analyzed according to age, marital status, living conditions and level of education. Nose picking has been described using characteristics such as time devoted to the activity, level of annoyance, location, assessment of one's own habit and those of others, method of picking, methods of discarding product, triggers, complications and comorbid habits, and psychiatric abnormalities.
Joubert CE (1993) Incidence of some oral-based habits among college students and their correlations with use of oral stimulants.Psychol Rep 72(3 Pt 1): 735-738.
Mishriki YY (1999) A recalcitrant case of reflexive nose picking.Trigeminal trophic syndrome. Postgrad Med 106(3):175-176.
Willekens D, De Cock P, Fryns JP (2000) Three young children with Smith-Magenis syndrome: their distinct, recognizable behavioral phenotype as the most important clinical symptoms. Genet Couns 11(2): 103-110.