Snot, also known as nasal mucus, is a normal substance produced by your body to trap irritants like dirt and bacteria before they enter your lungs. The color of your snot can provide clues about what’s going on inside your body. Here’s a breakdown of snot color meanings:
Clear or white snot
Clear or white snot indicates normal, healthy nasal discharge. As snot travels down from your nasal passageways, it picks up moisture and becomes thinner and clearer. Having clear snot is a sign your body is working properly to filter out irritants effectively. Some people may have chronic clear mucus and a runny nose due to allergies or nonallergic rhinitis.
Yellow or green snot
Yellow or green snot is the most common color and usually indicates you’re fighting off some kind of respiratory infection. The yellow/green tint comes from an influx of white blood cells, antibodies, and other infection-fighting agents in your mucus. Possible causes of yellow/green snot include:
- Viral infection, such as the common cold or flu
- Bacterial sinus infection
- Allergic reaction
- Environmental irritants
As long as the yellow or green mucus runs thin, it’s usually not a cause for concern. Thick, sticky, or excessive green snot could mean a more serious infection is brewing.
Yellowish-brown or tan snot
Yellowish-brown or tan colored snot can indicate sinusitis (sinus infection). Sinusitis causes increased mucus production and nasal discharge that can dry up in your nasal passages, taking on a thick, glue-like consistency and yellowish/brown color. The tan color comes from trapped inflammatory cells and postnasal drip building up in your nose and hardening.
Pink, red, or brown snot
Pink, red, or brown snot is generally an indication of blood mixing in with your mucus. Some potential causes include:
- Nosebleed
- Burst blood vessel in your nose
- Severe infection
- Chronic nasal irritation
- Allergic rhinitis
- Respiratory diseases like cystic fibrosis
- Foreign object stuck in nose
Bloody snot isn’t necessarily serious if it’s just from an isolated nosebleed, but recurrent blood in your mucus could signal an underlying health condition requiring treatment. See your doctor right away if your snot is pink, red, or brown.
Black snot
Black snot or mucus almost always indicates dried blood, meaning blood was present in your nose or nasal passageways and oxidized after contact with air. The blood itself was likely pinkish or red before drying and turning black. Seek medical care if you have black snot, as the bleeding could be caused by:
- Nose picking
- Nasal infection
- Small ulcer or polyp
- Benign or cancerous tumor
Dark yellow or thick green snot
Dark yellow, thick green snot could point to a sinus infection with pus drainage. Pus is filled with dead tissues, white blood cells, pathogens, and inflammatory fluids expelled by your immune system to fight infection. The color comes from large amounts of white blood cells and antioxidants in the battle against bacteria or viruses in your sinus cavity.
Orange snot
Orange snot could be a sign of a nasal infection or sinusitis, causing inflammation and bloody drainage that mixes with your nasal mucus. Snot appears orange when older (oxidized) blood in your nose or sinuses gets combined with yellowish mucus discharge. See a doctor to identify and treat the underlying infection.
Gray or black snot
Very dark gray or black snot likely indicates old blood from a past nosebleed or sinusitis infection. As blood ages in your nasal passages, it changes color from red to dark brown/black and mixes with your mucus secretions. The gray or black shade results from old blood pigments combining with thick mucus accumulations.
Causes of abnormal snot colors
Some common causes of oddly colored snot include:
- Respiratory infections – green, yellow, or brown
- Allergies – clear, white, yellow, green
- Dryness – yellowish-brown
- Nose picking – pink, red, brown, black
- Nosebleeds – pink, red, brown
- Nasal tumors or polyps – red or brown
- Foreign object – red or brown
- Cystic fibrosis – green or red
- Sinusitis – yellow, green, or orange
When to see a doctor
You should make an appointment with your doctor if you have:
- Blood in your snot more than once (red, pink, brown)
- Consistently black snot over several days
- Thick or excessive green, yellow, or brown mucus lasting over 10 days
- Fever over 101°F combined with abnormal mucus
- Facial pain, headache, or swelling with your mucus
- Vision changes, eye swelling, or nosebleeds
- Snot only in one nostril or noticeably differently colored from each nostril
Your doctor can examine your nose, ask about symptoms, and potentially order imaging tests to determine if an infection, allergy, or other medical condition needs treatment.
Treatments for abnormal mucus colors
Treatments your doctor may recommend based on your snot color include:
| Mucus Color | Potential Treatments |
|---|---|
| Clear or white | Allergy medication, nasal spray, air humidifier |
| Yellow or green | Antibiotics for bacterial infection, antiviral medication, decongestants, antihistamines |
| Yellowish-brown or tan | Antibiotics, steroids, nasal rinses, oral decongestants |
| Pink, red, or brown | Nasal cauterization, medication, surgery if ulcer or tumor present |
| Black | Stopping nose picking, nasal rinses, antibiotic ointments, possible surgery |
| Dark yellow or thick green | Antibiotics, sinus rinses, steroids, pain medication |
| Orange | Oral or nasal decongestants, pain medication, antibiotics, steroid spray |
| Gray or black | Nasal rinses, antibiotics, decongestants |
When to see an ENT doctor
You may need to visit an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physician if you experience:
- Chronic or recurring sinus infections
- Persistent postnasal drip
- Deviated septum or other structural abnormalities
- Nosebleeds multiple times per week
- Reduced sense of smell
- Trouble breathing through nose
- Suspected tumor or nasal polyp
- Need for sinus surgery
ENT doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat. They have specialized tools to examine inside your nasal passages and sinuses for potential problems.
How to prevent abnormal mucus
You can help avoid colored nasal drainage and optimize mucus health by:
- Staying hydrated – Drink lots of fluids.
- Humidifying air – Use a humidifier during dry seasons.
- Avoiding irritants – Stop smoking and avoid dust, chemicals, smoke.
- Treating allergies – Take OTC or prescription allergy medication.
- Not picking your nose – This can cause infections and nosebleeds.
- Taking vitamins – Vitamin C and zinc support immune function.
- Using saline spray – Rinse nasal passages to thin mucus.
- Trying guaifenesin – This cough medicine loosens mucus.
Conclusion
Checking the color of your snot can provide important clues about potential respiratory infections, allergies, and other health conditions. While clear mucus is normal, yellow, green, or brown hues often mean your body is battling sickness. Red, pink, or black snot could indicate bleeding that requires prompt medical attention. With treatment guided by your doctor, you can get abnormal snot colors under control and prevent complications.