Why is my boogers yellow

You may call it mucus, phlegm, boogers , snot, or something extra cutesy. During cold or allergy season, for example, it can seem like mucus is clogging up your sinuses, nose, and throat and just trying to ruin your life.

However, mucus does have a purpose — and real benefits. Read on for useful facts about mucus to help you appreciate it. In fact, mucus is any viscous liquid your body produces to cover your organs and line any cavities. Typically, your body can produce a liter of this sticky stuff each day. If the insides of your nose and sinuses are inflamed, it may take longer to get rid of extra mucus.

Normally, your mucus should be clear. If you notice this color when you blow your nose, you should consult a doctor. Remember that the color of mucus can be a broad indication of what is occurring in your body, but should not be considered sufficient for a diagnosis. However, if you are experiencing an unusually high amount of mucus production accompanied by other symptoms, you should consult a doctor.

Book Online. Patient safety is our utmost priority at The Medical Offices of Manhattan. Our staff has exercised diligent efforts to maximize safety measures to make sure you feel comfortable and welcome while visiting us. We Now Offer Dermatology! Facebook Twitter. What is Mucus? Keep in mind that the color of your boogers should not be considered a clear indication of any root cause, but the following colors may offer some clues: White If you are feeling unusually congested with white mucus, it often indicates the early stages of a cold.

Light Green or Yellow Greenish or yellowish-colored snot signifies the presence of enzymes from white blood cells, meaning that your immune system is battling an infection. Dark Green or Yellow This color often indicates a worsening infection. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors.

It's common for mucus to change from clear to white, yellow, or green during a single illness. Many people believe the color of your mucus indicates how sick you are and whether your infection is bacterial or viral, but that's not the case.

Changes in mucus color are a normal part of the natural course of an illness. When germs make you sick, one of the first ways your body fights the infection is by creating extra mucus to try to flush out the invading pathogen. This early mucus is typically clear. A few days later, your body has sent in immune cells to join the fight. They can turn the mucus to white or yellow.

If bacteria are mixed in as well, the mucus could turn green. But it's important to remember that bacteria are present in your body all the time. Some make you sick and some don't. Just because they're in your mucus doesn't necessarily mean they're problematic—or that you need antibiotics to get better. For example, bacterial infection only occurs in between 0. Though less common, it's also possible for your mucus to turn pink, red, brown, orange, or black. Read on to learn what the color of your mucus means, and when it's important to seek help.

Healthy, normal mucus is clear and made up of water, salt, proteins, and antibodies. Your body makes it night and day to protect your nasal passages, putting out about 1. You may have an especially runny nose with clear mucus:. Rarely, watery nasal discharge can result from a leak of cerebrospinal fluid , the fluid that surrounds and cushions the brain, usually due to trauma or certain medical conditions.

Get emergency medical help if you have watery discharge along with:. White mucus is often associated with a cold or other infection that causes a stuffy nose. When you're congested, inflammation in your nose makes it harder for the snot to flow out, and it starts to dry.

This makes it cloudy and thick. It may also turn white due to the presence of immune cells that your body sends to battle the illness. When your snot turns yellow, it means your illness is progressing normally. White blood cells and other cells from the immune system have come to fight the germs making you sick.

Some of them are now exhausted and being washed away by mucus. The texture is likely drier and thicker than it used to be as well. Green, thick snot means your body is fighting a hard battle.

Even more depleted immune cells and waste products are being flushed out. Green mucus isn't reason for immediate concern. But if you're still sick after about 12 days, you could have a bacterial infection and might need antibiotics.