What The Color Of Your Mucus Really Means

Skip navigation!ADVERTISEMENTStory from How To Deal With AllergiesWhat The Color Of Your Mucus Really MeansCory StiegLast Updated December 23, 2019, 10:12 PM ADVERTISEMENTSee All SlidesBegin SlideshowPhotographed by Megan Madden. Look, it's not gross at all to take a peek inside your tissue after blowing your nose or sneezing. You never really know what's going to come out of your nose, especially if you have allergies. And experts say you can tell a lot about your health by examining your mucus. However, the idea that you can diagnose a cold or virus just by looking at your snot is actually a myth.Your body is constantly making mucus, about one liter or more of the slimy stuff a day, says Neil L. Kao, MD, FAAAAI, an allergist in Greenville, SC. Normal mucus is made up of mostly water, with some proteins mixed in there that give it its texture, he says. These proteins and other substances that get stuck in your mucus can also change its color.When you have a cold, your mucus might change color, but "mucus from an infection can look like just about anything," says Derrick R. Ward, MD, an allergist in Kansas City, "There's no way to differentiate between a viral or bacteria infection based on mucus color." Instead of focusing solely on the shade of your boogers, it's more worthwhile to pay attention to the amount of mucus you're making as well as any other symptoms of a cold, such as a headache or a sore throat, if you're trying to tell if you're sick.That said, given the range of colors that your snot can be, ahead are some ones to look out for next time you reach for a tissue.Begin Slideshow ADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT Health TrendsIf You’re Itchy & Uncomfortable It Might Be Bacterial Vagin...If you’ve ever experienced bacterial vaginosis, otherwise referred to as BV, you’ll know how uncomfortable it is. But you’ll also know, iby Tanyel MustafaWellnessSkinnyTok Isn’t A Trend — It’s The Latest Iteration o...Trigger warning: This article discusses disordered eating in a way that some readers may find distressing. At 30, I’d hoped diet culture and fatphobia weby Chloe LawsUnbotheredMy Abortion Was My Lifeline—Getting It Felt Like A Battle For Sur...As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted an abortion. The immediate decision didn’t come from fear or confusion; it came from clarity. by Taren HollimanReproductive HealthHow The Real Housewives Helped Me Through My Own Black Mat...Content warning: the following story contains details of pregnancy loss, surgery, the Black maternal health crisis, and fertility struggles At her Los Angeby L'Oréal BlackettUnbothered“It Took Years To Be Heard”: 4 Black Women On Their S...Sophia Umoh, 31, was diagnosed with endometriosis in her mid-twenties after first presenting with symptoms in her early teens. “It started with painful pby Carly Lewis-OduntanTaking CareEndometriosis Could Be Linked To Trauma, ActuallyTrigger warning: This article contains descriptions of sexual assault and trauma. I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2011, after years of investigationsby Lucia Osborne-Cro...BodyIf Your Period Seems Watery, This Might Be WhyLet’s face it: Periods can be weird. At various times they might be clumpy, brown, and, yes, smelly — and usually this is all totally standard. Buby Erika W. SmithMost WantedAthena Club Is Your One-Stop Shop For All Things WellnessAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Whether it was pads, multivby Karina HoshikawaBodyHow To Tell If You Have A Yeast Infection & Get Rid Of ItYeast infections are the most common type of vaginal infection and up to three out of four people with vaginas will get a yeast infection at some point in by Cory StiegMy PeriodHelp R29 & Period Law End The Tampon TaxWe’re getting personal about our periods. The path to menstrual equity starts with talking about it. There’s a lot of feelings around getby Refinery29 StaffMy PeriodIt’s 2024 — Why Isn’t Every Workplace A Period-Positive One?We’re getting personal about our periods. The path to menstrual equity starts with talking about it. Debbie Herrera has been working on the influenceby Elizabeth GulinoMy Period5 Women On The Effect Of Having A Good First Periodby Elizabeth GulinoADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENT