What picking your nose says about your personality, according to psychology

The vast majority of people, whether they will admit it publicly or not, pick their nose, some excessively so, at least according to a pair of research papers. While some of us do it discreetly, others have no shame about sending a finger up a nostril to scratch, and sometimes pull out, whatever is irritating their schnoz, even making a snack of the booger.

Scientifically the act is known as rhinotillexomania and for most people it is a habit on par with picking cuticles, picking at skin, biting fingernails, and pulling out or twisting hair. But for a few the practice goes beyond the mere habit and can be considered a pathological disorder.

Why do we pick our noses and when should we seek help?

Over 90% of the population picks their noses according to one study carried out in Dane County, Wisconsin in 1995 and another in Bangalore, India five years later. The latter found that the habit was extremely prevalent among all social classes.

While in many places the habit is frowned upon, especially when performed in public, some of us still do it anyway suggesting that it most likely serves a biological or psychological purpose.

Some people are just doing it unconsciously, wrapped up in some other activity, unaware that the world around them might catch them in the act. Sending a finger into your nasal cavity could be the result of stress or anxiety, providing temporary comfort much like the habits mentioned above, such as nail biting, do for others.

However, there are some people who cannot control the habit and do it compulsively. They may be suffering from what is called body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs).

These are compulsive physical actions, that despite the negative consequences, people have a hard time controlling them. This is when someone who shows these symptoms may want to seek a mental health professional that can help treat the behavior.

Picking your nose could present health risks

That’s important, because not only may there be an underlying cause driving the excessive practice of the behavior, but it can also lead to health risks. The tissue in the interior of the nasal cavity is very delicate and can get damaged or infected easily.

“It doesn’t take much of a scratch to the surface of your nose to make you bleed pretty significantly,” says Bradley Otto, MD, the director of rhinology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “If you have long fingernails or you’re a little bit rough, you can scrape that lining and cause scabbing that then may allow bacteria from the nasal skin to collect there.”

“Every time you pick that scab off, you pull away a little bit of the lining of the nose,” he added. “In rare cases, people can develop a perforation between their nostrils from digging away at the septum over time.”

He explained that in most cases people are picking their nose because it is dry, which sending a finger up there doesn’t help. Hydrating with a saline spray, or even better a light coating of the inner lining with a natural oil, like coconut oil, that won’t block the airway are better alternatives. Just remember to wash your hands before application.

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