Does Picking Your Nose Make It Bigger? Here’s What Doctors Say

I am out here in these streets working feverishly to collect hard-hitting information we all need to know.  I mean, how will you sleep tonight without the answer to this very important, very serious question?

TikTok Rabbit Hole of Boogers

My most recent rabbit hole of investigation was inspired by a random TikTok video in my feed the other day. My algorithm is a wild and wonderful place I built brick by brick with my own two thumbs. Here it is:

@exhalesinus Does picking your nose make it bigger? Content intended for educational purposes only, not medical advice. #fyp #nose #face ♬ original sound - Exhale Sinus

Is it True?

Dr. Ryan C. Vaughn is an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor from Illinois. As you watched, he was asked, "Is it true that picking your nose actually makes it bigger?" I have never heard that it was even a possibility! Have you? You would think parents everywhere would be sharing that information with their little booger eaters to get them to knock it off.

How Could it be True?

He goes on to explain that if you pick your nose, "you start to push your septal cartilage over and you can start to reshape the lower lateral cartilages." Obviously, you can't move the bone, but he says you can create more space "at least on one side."

Investigating the Claim

As most curious people do, I went to The Google to figure out whether this claim was supported by evidence. I mean, Dr. Vaughn is an expert in noses, but I am having a hard time finding other medical professionals who agree with him. In fact, every source I have found is more in line with Dr. Chang, a board-certified plastic surgeon from California.

@catchangmd The truth about picking your nose 👃🏼 ♬ original sound - Dr. Catherine Chang

So, unless you are sticking something up your nose for over 16 hours a day, you should be good to go. However, there are other deterrents to this horrible habit, of course. Other than the fact that it's just gross, it can spread bacteria and cause infection in your nasal passages. 

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In conclusion, Pick On Party People! We know you do it, you little heathen. Haha! Just make sure your hands are clean, and you aren't driving down Frederica!