What does the color of your snot say about your health?

Creator: SingleCare
Published: 2023-01-22T18:52:42-05:00

Change in the color of your snot may indicate that something is going on - learn what colors to look for and when to consult your healthcare provider

By Karen Berger, Pharm.D. | Jan. 22, 2023

Whether you are experiencing allergies, a sinus infection, or the flu, there usually comes a time when you are reaching for the tissue box constantly. And when you blow your nose, you might take a peek at what is on the tissue—many people think that different colors of snot have certain meanings. Is it true? Let’s take a deep dive into snot, its potential rainbow of colors (including clear!), and what they can mean. Continue reading to learn everything you ever wanted to know about snot.

What does the color of your snot mean?

Snot, otherwise known as nasal mucus, actually has a job. It acts as a barrier around parts of the body that are prone to infection and helps keep them moist. Think of snot as a defense mechanism—it tries to prevent infections by trapping particles and organisms, keeping bacteria and debris out of the body.

So, if your snot turns green, do you need antibiotics right away? Not necessarily. A change in the color of your mucus may signal that something else is going on—however, this is not the primary way for healthcare providers to diagnose illness or medical conditions.

Let’s dive into the different colors of mucus, and what each color could potentially mean.

What does clear snot mean?

Normal, healthy snot is usually clear snot. Nasal mucus is made up of water, along with salts, enzymes, proteins, antibodies, and some shed immune cells. The body produces up to 1.5 liters of mucus daily, much of which is swallowed unnoticed.

A clear nasal discharge does not always mean that you are not sick. For example, your nasal mucus may remain clear while you have an infection in the sinuses or ears.

Excess clear snot, such as a pesky runny nose, may signal hay fever or allergies, which can often be treated in mild cases with an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Xyzal (levocetirizine) or Claritin (loratadine). You may want to visit an allergist for allergy testing. If you find out what you are allergic to, you may be able to avoid some of your triggers.

Pregnant women also make extra snot—this condition is known as rhinitis of pregnancy, which can often be relieved by nasal saline drops.

What does white snot mean?

When you experience nasal congestion, the mucus loses moisture, causing a thicker and cloudy appearance. This white mucus may signal an infection or cold, and your body makes more mucus and ushers out the enemy cells via white phlegm or snot.

What does yellow snot mean?

Yellow mucus may mean that your body is fighting an infection, and your immune system has kicked up the production of white blood cells (infection-fighting cells), such as neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. These white blood cells are busy at work trying to fight infection and trigger an inflammatory response. Once they are done “working,” dead white blood cells are flushed out as waste products with the mucus, which can show up as a yellow color.

What does green snot mean?

Snot that is a green color may mean your body is fighting hard against a stronger infection. After the white blood cells do their job, they are expelled in the nasal mucus, causing thick, green mucus. Yellow and green are the most common snot colors seen when you have an infection. However, contrary to popular belief, green snot does not always mean that there is an infection present.

What does pink or red snot mean?

Red or pink snot contains blood and can be due to a leaking capillary in the nostril which has ruptured due to dry tissues, irritation (due to excess nose-blowing or using drying nasal sprays), or picking your nose. A small amount of blood mixed with pink or red mucus is generally not cause for concern. If the bleeding is continuous and does not stop when you apply pressure, you should see your healthcare provider.

What does brown or orange snot mean?

Brown snot or orange snot may give you a scare, but generally, a small amount can be old, dried blood mixed with mucus—or something inhaled like dirt, snuff, or cigarette smoke. See your healthcare provider immediately if you have a lot of brown or orange mucus or if you are coughing up brown phlegm (which could signal bronchitis).

What does black snot mean?

Black mucus can signal a few different things. In individuals who do not smoke or use illicit drugs, it may be a sign of a fungal infection. This most often occurs in immunocompromised people (for example, people who have had an organ transplant, have cancer, or take long-term steroid medication or a biologic medicine). In this case, prompt medical attention is required—these infections can be life-threatening or even cause death in immunocompromised people.

People who smoke may notice black snot due to the chemicals. Black snot can also occur if you work in an environment with dust or dirt—this means your body is trying to clear out all the irritants, dust, and dirt.

When to see a doctor

Just looking at the snot color won’t indicate if your infection is bacterial and requires antibiotics—or viral (such as the cold, flu, or COVID-19) and requires rest at home and fluids. Healthcare providers look at the full picture—they’ll consider other clues besides your snot color, such as your symptoms (and how long you have had them), medical history, and other health issues and risk factors.

If you have any of the following symptoms (with or without a mucus color change), it is a good idea to contact your healthcare provider right away:

Difficulty breathing
Facial pain and/or swelling
Dehydration
High fever
Any other concerning or lingering symptoms

Viral infections do not respond to antibiotics. However, you may need an antibiotic for a bacterial infection. Your doctor may decide to prescribe an antibiotic if: