Why is nose-picking such a big deal? No, hygiene is not the only reason
It's an open secret. A guilty pleasure. Everybody does it, but nobody admits to doing it. Women cringe their nose at the mere mention of it, men flatly deny doing it if caught in the act. Yet there is no escaping this one temptation.
No matter how much that little voice in your head asks you to stop, the heart gives in. And suddenly, there is this strange invisible force that lifts your hand and guides your forefinger up into those dark alleys of your nostrils. And so begins the treasure hunt — your fingertip sauntering into the depths of the tunnel, hitting that snot rock, especially if it's been days since you last visited the suburbs. If too frequent a visitor, it's natural to be welcomed by that sloppy, slimy, gummy host. But the pleasure is unmistakable.
Hiding from prying eyes, sometimes behind the wall of a handkerchief or a paper napkin that carefully catches the debris as they give in without much resistance. Sometimes inside the bathroom, sometimes in the solitude of a moving elevator, which suddenly opens and exposes you to frosty glances.
But just know that every time you shame others when caught in the act, somewhere you must pray to your 'snot god' to spare you the vulnerability, the disgrace — of getting caught in a similar odious moment. Truth be told, you always think no one can see you. But just like you saw that someone grossly picking his/her nose, you too, my dear, will some day be exposed to similar indefensible providence. This is destiny, what they so suavely call fait accompli.
Of all social behavioural studies, somehow nose-picking is the most under-researched science — something that also goes on to say that the pretentious pricks in us are not ready to talk about it, and have thus normalised the practice by ignoring to see the elephant stuck in the nose, sorry, room.
In one of those less-cared-about studies, British researchers have found that picking nose isn’t just gross, it can make us sick too. Yes, according to the study, the dangerous bacteria behind potentially lethal pneumonia could be spread by picking and rubbing the nose.
"Pneumococcal infection is a major cause of death around the world, and it is estimated that it is responsible for 1.3 million deaths in children under five years [of age] annually," said lead researcher Victoria Connor, who is a clinical research fellow at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in England.
"The elderly and people with other causes of impaired immunity, such as chronic illness, are also at an increased risk of pneumococcal infections," she added.
The findings of the study, reported in the European Respiratory Journal, went on to suggest that "hand hygiene, as well as keeping kids' toys clean, could help protect youngsters from catching and spreading the bacteria to other children". This will also help cut down chances of the bacteria spreading to elderly relatives, who may be more susceptible to infection.
But before you start crying cries of validation — see, I told you it's gross — there might be one positive side to nose-picking.
"[The] presence of the bacteria can sometimes boost the immune system of children and can reduce their chances of carrying it again later in life," said Connor.
But spreading these germs can cause real harm to others, she added.
Experts believe humans find nose-picking engrossing and addictive. Sometimes we even put what we found inside the nose in our mouth to taste it. Studies in the past have already declared that picking one's nose and eating the chaff is healthy for all people. Salivary mucins in snot, it is believed, help form barriers against cavity-causing bacteria. Some experts even support that eating your snot can actually strengthen your immune system and defend against HIV.
However, excessive or chronic nose-picking, once considered only as bad habit, is also recognised as psychiatric disorder. While nose-picking is a common practice in most adults, it is a time-consuming, socially compromising, or physically harmful condition known as rhinotillexomania in some.
It is oddly satisfying to know that studies are being done to find out more about this probing 'habit' of ours.
So, next time you reach out for your nostrils and try to rub your fingers clean on the sofa or stick that snot ball under the table, just know somebody is studying you.