Nose Picking:Habit or Health Risk?"

General
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Rhinotillexomania is an excessive or compulsive nose picking behaviour that may interfere with daily life or cause harm.

It’s more than just the occasional habit-nose picking becomes persistent and repetitive.

CAUSES:

  1. Behavioural habit: It often starts in childhood and continues unconsciously.
  2. Stress and Anxiety: Nose picking can be self soothing action.
  3. Nasal dryness and irritation: Dry mucosa often leads to nose picking.
  4. Obsessive-compulsive tendencies

Complications:

  1. It might cause Nosebleeds (epistaxis).
  2. Bacteria from the fingers can infect the nose.
  3. Repeated trauma can damage mucosa causing Nasal sores or scabs.
  4. It is responsible for spread of germs.

Management/Prevention

  1. Keep nails short to reduce trauma.
  2. Moisturize nasal passages.
  3. Behavioural techniques like distraction, habit reversal should be performed.
  4. Treat underlying stress or anxiety.

“Have you ever thought about how nose picking affects your health?”

MBH/PS