Snot – or neater mucus – comes in all kinds of colors. And the color of the mucus almost always says something about what’s going on with you.
Transparent
Clear mucus is mostly water, with proteins, antibodies and dissolved salts. Your nasal tissues produce it 24/7. Most of it flows down the back of your throat to be dissolved in the stomach.
white slime
Your nose has swollen, inflamed tissues that slow the flow of mucus, causing it to lose moisture and become thick and cloudy. This could be a sign of a nasal infection or a cold.
yellow slime
This could indicate a cold or an infection. The yellowish tinge comes from white blood cells rushing to the site of the infection and then being removed after doing their job
“Yellow or green snot can sometimes mean you have an infection,” says Dr. Sindwani v Cleveland Health. “But remember that there are other things that go with that color, including how you feel in it or if you have a fever.” Cold lasts 7-10 days. .
green slime
Your immune system is really fighting and your mucus is thick with dead white blood cells. If you are still sick after about 10-12 days, see your doctor. You may have sinusitis, a bacterial infection that is treated with a course of antibiotics. If you have a fever or are very ill, see a doctor quickly.
Pink or red slime
Your nasal tissue in the nose is damaged in some way – perhaps because it is dry or irritated. “Full-on red can cause a nosebleed,” says Dr. Sindwani.
However, he adds that this color is not always a concern. “A few spots of blood or a pinkish tinge of mucus may not be so bad. It could just be damage or irritation to the inside of your nose. If you are sick and blow a lot or if you rub your nose a lot, it can cause cause a few blood vessels to break, causing you to bleed a little.”
brown slime
This hue could be old blood, but it’s likely something that has been inhaled, such as dirt, snuff, or paprika.
black slime
If you don’t smoke or take drugs, black phlegm can mean a serious yeast infection. “There are some yeast infections that can cause black snot that can be very, very serious,” says Dr. Sindwani. “But luckily they are extremely rare.”
In fact, these infections usually occur in people with compromised immune systems. If you have that, you’re probably already seeing a doctor. If not, make an appointment.