Snot Color Chart: Yellow, Green, Brown, And More - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Nutrition

Explore more in Allergies

Related Topics

Types
Types
Related Articles
- Types
- Deodorant
- Cockroach
- Lavender
- Citrus
- Wool
- Drug
- Sulfa
- Perfume
- Polyester
- Grass
- Hair Dye
- Horse
- Insect Sting
- Beer
- Latex Condoms
- Carpet
- Seasonal
- Dog
- Alcohol
- Tea
- Cat
- Iodine
- Mosquito Bite
- Dust Mite
- Atopy
- Ingested vs. Contact vs. Inhaled
- Environmental
- Pollen
- Eye
- Winter
- Latex
- Nickel
- Nightshade
- Morning
- Itchy Eyes
- Ragweed
- Children's
- Essential Oil
- Honey
- Wine
- Yeast
Causes & Risk Factors
Causes & Risk Factors
Related Articles
- Causes & Risk Factors
- Plant Allergens
- Fall Allergens
- Beach Allergens
- Airborne Allergens
- Histamine
- Developing Allergies
- Black Mold
Symptoms
Symptoms
Related Articles
- Symptoms
- Drug Allergy Symptoms
- Mold Allergy Symptoms
- Allergic Shiners
- Facial Swelling
- Tiredness
- Fever
- Severe Symptoms
- Constant Runny Nose
- Nasal Congestion
- Itchy Throat
- Tingling Lips
- Itchy Mouth
- Wheezing
- Nasal Crease
- Tickle in Nose
- Dust Mite Rash
- Dizziness
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Related Articles
- Diagnosis
- Home Tests
- Seeing an Allergist
- RAST vs. Skin Test
- Testing for Children
- Skin Prick Test
Treatment
Treatment
Related Articles
- First Aid for Allergic Reaction
- Drops
- Shots
- Treating Hives
- Steroid Shots
- Managing Allergies While Pregnant
- Treating Insect Sting Allergies
- Corticosteroids
- Nasacort vs. Nasonex
- Flonase vs. Nasonex
- Using an EpiPen
- Sudafed
- Nasal Sprays
- Over-the-Counter Sprays
- Claritin for Kids
- Decongestants
- Over-the-Counter Antihistamines
- Zyrtec for Kids
Home Remedies
Home Remedies
Related Articles
- Home Remedies
- for Children
- Skin Allergy Remedies
- Butterbur
- Bee Pollen
- Neti Pots
- Natural Antihistimines
- Essential Oils
- Honey
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- CBD
- Foods for Seasonal Allergies
- Vitamin C
- Relieving Stuffy Nose
Prevention
Prevention
Related Articles
- Prevention
- Hypoallergenic Dogs
- Preparing for Outdoor Activities
- Air Purifiers
- Dyson Air Purifiers
- HEPA Air Purifiers
- Hypoallergenic Labels
- Air Filter FAQ
- Personal Air Purifiers
- HEPA Air Filters
- Humidifiers
Management
Management
Related Articles
- Management
- Allergy Apps
- Managing Allergies Outdoors
Complications
Complications
Related Articles
- Complications
- Allergic Bronchitis
- Allergic Conjunctivitis
- Angioedema
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Antihistamine Overdose
- Anaphylaxis
- Allergic Asthma
- Tinnitus
- Nasal Polyps
- Headache
Related Conditions
Related Conditions
Related Articles
- Dry Eye
- Pink Eye
- Cold
- Ear Infection
- Sinus Infection
- Sore Throat
- COPD
- Histamine Intolerance

Seasonal Allergy Survival GuideWhat Does the Color of My Snot Mean?

Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Ashley Marcin — Updated on April 22, 2025

Snot color chart
Clear snot
White snot
Yellow snot
Green snot
Pink or red snot
Brown or orange snot
Black snot
Snot texture
See your doctor
Takeaway

Injury, infection, and multiple health conditions can all change the color of your snot or nasal mucus. Knowing what these color changes mean can help identify the cause.

You may have noticed that it changes color or texture occasionally. Nasal discharge can be clear, green, black, and many other colors.

Here’s your guide to the different conditions that can affect the color of your snot, tips to find relief, and when to see your doctor.

What do the different snot colors mean?

Your mucus protects your nose and sinuses from dust, bacteria, and other environmental dangers.

People with hay fever may have clear snot. A cold usually causes green or yellow snot. If your snot is another color, like red, brown, or black, it may be because of injury, smoking, or another issue.

clear	white	green or yellow
“normal” or healthy	✓
allergic sinusitis	✓
common cold	✓	✓
fungal infection	✓
injury or irritation	✓	✓
nonallergic or pregnancy rhinitis	✓	✓
sinusitis	✓	✓
smoking/drug use	✓

What does clear snot mean?

Infographic showing what the different colors of snot might mean — Design by Maya Chastain

Clear snot is considered “normal” or healthy. Rhinitis, or swelling of the mucosal membrane in the nose, is a common cause of increased snot production. This snot is often clear, and there are many types of rhinitis.

For example, allergic rhinitis or “hay fever” may also cause clear, runny nasal discharge. Although you may feel quite ill, allergies aren’t caused by a virus. The symptoms are your body’s response to irritants like pollen, cat or dog fur, and dust mites.

Pollen that gets trapped in the clear nasal mucus can also change its color.

People may also experience rhinitis without allergen exposure. Doctors refer to this as nonallergic rhinitis.

What does white snot mean?

If you’re feeling congested or stuffy, you may notice your snot is white. Congestion can cause snot to lose water content. It becomes thick and even cloudy — both signs that you may have a cold or infection brewing.

The common cold is a frequent cause of nasal congestion and white-colored snot. Your symptoms will usually develop between one and three days after exposure to the virus. Children are particularly prone to colds. Adults, on the other hand, may experience between two and three colds each year.

What does yellow snot mean?

Yellow nasal mucus indicates that the body is fighting an infection.

The yellow color comes from the cells — white blood cells, for example — rushing to kill the offending germs. Once the cells have done their work, they’re discarded in your snot, giving it a dark yellowish tinge.

What does green snot mean?

If your immune system kicks into high gear to fight infection, your snot may turn green and become especially thick. The color comes from dead white blood cells and other waste products.

But green snot isn’t always a reason to run to your doctor. In fact, some sinus infections may be viral, not bacterial. The presence of foreign bodies in the nasal passages may also cause yellow or green snot. In these instances, removing the offending item will resolve symptoms.

What does pink or red (bloody) snot mean?

Blood in your snot will tinge it pink or red. Blood may flow a bit if you’ve blown your nose a lot or had a hit to the nose.

To prevent nosebleeds, consider:

applying Vaseline or another ointment to the nasal passages
using saline nose spray or gel to add moisture to your nasal tissues
trimming fingernails to deter nose-picking
adding moisture to the air with a humidifier
blowing your nose more gently

People who are pregnant may also experience bloody snot. This may be due to blood volume increases, hormones, or swollen nasal passages.

What does brown or orange snot mean?

Brown snot may be the result of old blood exiting the body. Or you may have inhaled something red or brown that has discolored your mucus. Possibilities include dirt, snuff, or paprika.

What does black snot mean?

Most commonly, people who smoke or are in households with smokers can have gray-black snot. Being subject to heavy air pollution may cause your snot to come out black. People who use illegal drugs may also have black snot.

Black nasal mucus may also be a sign of a fungal infection. While not common, people with compromised immune systems may be susceptible to this illness.

There are four types of fungal infections of the sinuses:

Mycetoma fungal sinusitis: This type results from clumps of spores invading the sinus cavities. Treatment involves scraping the infected sinuses.
Allergic fungal sinusitis: This type is more common in people with a history of allergic rhinitis. Successful treatment involves a combination of surgical and medical management.
Chronic indolent sinusitis: This type is mostly found outside the United States. Other symptoms include headache, facial swelling, and visual disturbances.
Fulminant sinusitis: This type may cause damage to the sinuses and the bony area that contains the eyeballs and brain. Fulminant infections can cause necrosis, which can cause snot to appear black rather than the fungal spores causing discoloration.

However, the above fungal infections may not cause black snot in every case.

What if the snot texture changes?

The actual texture of your snot has a lot to do with its moisture content. Nasal mucus that flows freely has more water content than hard snot. Changes in texture can happen throughout the duration of an illness.

Watery discharge from the nose may be a warning sign of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. A leak happens when there’s a membrane tear surrounding your brain, likely from injury or certain medical conditions, like hydrocephalus. If you suspect you may have a CSF leak, seek medical attention.

When to see your doctor

Color isn’t always the best indicator of whether you should see your doctor. Instead, pay attention to the duration of your illness and the worsening of your other symptoms.

Most colds last between 5 to 10 days. They usually peak in severity between days three and five. A bacterial infection may worsen as it progresses and continue beyond this time period.

Other signs you should make an appointment:

yellow snot accompanied by a fever that lasts three or four days in a row
headache that may be focused around or behind the eyes and is worse when bending over
swelling around your eyes or dark circles
all-day swelling or redness around the eyes
severe headache
sensitivity to light
pain in the back of your neck
increasing irritability
persistent vomiting

The bottom line

Your sinuses produce snot as protection against the outside world and its many viruses and other dangers. Most causes of congestion are due to viruses and allergies, not bacterial or fungal infections.

Unless you have an underlying medical condition, you may try at-home comfort measures to clear your congestion. See your doctor if you notice warning signs of a bacterial infection or have other concerns about your health.

Read this article in Spanish.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8615244/
Asdaq SMB, et al. (2021). Identifying mucormycosis severity in Indian COVID-19 patients: A nano-based diagnosis and the necessity for critical therapeutic intervention.
Common cold. (2024). https://www.cdc.gov/common-cold/treatment/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/colds.html
https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/fungal-sinusitis/
Fungal sinusitis. (2019).
https://www.aafa.org/rhinitis-nasal-allergy-hayfever/
Nasal allergies (rhinitis). (2015).
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/The-Difference-Between-Sinusitis-and-a-Cold.aspx
The difference between sinusitis and a cold. (2025).

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Ashley Marcin — Updated on April 22, 2025

Tag » Why Is My Mucus Orange

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

Nutrition

Related Topics

Types

Related Articles

Causes & Risk Factors

Related Articles

Symptoms

Related Articles

Diagnosis

Related Articles

Treatment

Related Articles

Home Remedies

Related Articles

Prevention

Related Articles

Management

Related Articles

Complications

Related Articles

Related Conditions

Related Articles

What do the different snot colors mean?

What does clear snot mean?

What does white snot mean?

What does yellow snot mean?

What does green snot mean?

What does pink or red (bloody) snot mean?

What does brown or orange snot mean?

What does black snot mean?

What if the snot texture changes?

When to see your doctor

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

Contact