Mr. Zhang is in the prime of life, and his nose hair always grows quickly, often popping out of his nostrils, and he has to check it carefully before going out every day.
Over time, he developed the Xi of plucking nose hair, as long as he saw the nose hair coming out, he would pull it out. But the day before yesterday, my nose became red, swollen and painful, and then I had an unbearable fever and my nose became more and more painful.
Realizing that something was wrong, Mr. Zhang immediately went to the hospital, and after examination, the doctor found that Mr. Zhang's nose hair was about to be plucked out, and his nasal cavity was also covered with blood, and the hair follicles had been damaged and infected, and he was diagnosed with nasal vestibulitis.
In daily life, many people have the experience of being seen with nose hairs flying out, not to mention how embarrassing it is. So why does the nose hair keep sticking out?
1. When people reach middle age, why do their nose hairs always go out?
In fact, nose hair is a protective structure of the human body, one of its main functions is to prevent dust and bacteria from the environment from entering the nasal cavity, and at the same time help to maintain the humidity of the nasal mucosa, thus preventing problems such as dry rhinitis and nosebleeds.
However, each person has different levels of nose hair, and men are generally more likely to have nose hair bulging than women, which may be related to higher androgen levels. Due to the limited nasal space, the nasal cavity may protrude when the nose hair grows more than a certain length.
In general, there are three types of conditions that cause nose hair to be overgrown:
1. Androgens are vigorous
Typically, men with higher levels of male hormones are more likely to experience protruding nose hair. This is because the growth of nose hair, like hair and hair, is regulated by male hormones.
2. Heavy smoking
Heavy smoking can be another factor that can lead to abnormal growth of nose hair. The harmful substances in cigarettes can irritate the nose hairs and cause excessive growth. Not only does this increase the likelihood of protruding nose hairs, but it can also have a negative impact on nasal health.
3. Frequent external stimuli
Irritants such as air pollution and nose picking may affect the nasal mucosa and stimulate the growth of nasal hairs, causing them to flourish and escape. Maintaining good indoor air quality and avoiding frequent nose picking can help slow down the growth of nose hairs.
It is important to emphasize that although protruding nose hair may affect the image, it is not recommended to pluck the nose hair directly, as it may damage the nasal mucosa and even lead to nosebleeds. Maintaining proper length of nose hair and taking a clean approach to your nose can help maintain nasal health.
2. Is whitening nose hair a precursor to aging?
As we age, body hair turns gray to varying degrees, and nose hair is no exception. Some people believe that the whitening of nose hair is a sign of kidney deficiency, but there is some truth to it, but it is not absolute.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the vitality of hair comes from kidney qi, and a lack of kidney qi may lead to graying and boring hair, so the whitening of nose hair may be related to kidney deficiency.
However, the graying of nose hair may also be related to other factors, and it cannot be generalized that it is caused by kidney deficiency:
1. Malnutrition
Hair needs adequate nutrients to maintain normal growth, and a lack of trace elements such as B vitamins, iron, and copper, as well as a long-term lack of vegetable oils may cause nasal hair to turn white.
2. Nasal diseases
Inflammation of the nose may weaken the function of pigment cells in the nasal cavity, resulting in insufficient melanin production, which in turn affects the normal growth of nasal hair, resulting in whitening of nasal hair.
3. Albinism
People with albinism, i.e., vitiligo, can cause whitening of hair and skin all over the body, including nose hair, due to problems with melanin synthesis.
In addition, whitening of nose hair may also be related to factors such as aging, bad lifestyle Xi, and drug side effects. Therefore, if there is a graying of the nose hair, it is best to get checked in time to find the specific cause so that symptomatic treatment can be taken.
3. Can you pluck it casually? How to deal with the longer nose hair
Although plucking nose hair is temporary, the consequences cannot be taken lightly. Frequent nose plucking can lead to a variety of nasal problems that affect the normal function and health of the nose:
1. Dry nasal passages
Nasal hairs help maintain nasal humidity and prevent cold, dry air from entering the nasal passages directly. Excessive trimming or plucking of nose hair weakens this protection, causing the nasal passages to dry out more easily and the nose may feel uncomfortable when breathing.
2. Colds
Plucking your nose hair may increase your risk of catching a cold (acute rhinitis). Effective nose hairs can block virus-carrying air from entering the respiratory tract, but if nose hairs are frequently removed, the virus is more likely to enter the nasal passages, especially for people with poor resistance.
3. Nose allergies
Allergens such as dust and pollen can cause allergic reactions when they enter the nasal cavity, and nasal hair is the first line of defense. Plucking out nose hairs makes it easier for allergens to enter the respiratory tract, triggering constant sneezing, runny nose, and possibly even allergic reactions in the bronchial and lungs, such as asthma.
4. Nasal folliculitis
Like the hair on the skin, nose hair also grows from hair follicles, and frequent nose hair plucking will continue to irritate the hair follicles, causing hair follicle infection, what we often call "boils", and in severe cases, it can also cause swelling and bleeding.
Some people often need to deal with excessively long nose hair for aesthetic reasons, but from a safety point of view, it is recommended to use the "cut" method instead of "plucking", and pay attention to the following 2 details:
1. Cleaning and disinfection of repair tools
Always make sure your nose hair trimming tool is clean and disinfected before using it. Clean your tools with iodophor or alcohol, which can help avoid bacteria infecting your nasal passages and reduce the risk of problems such as redness and nasal boils.
2. Choose a well-lit place
The nasal mucosa is fragile, so it is important to choose a well-lit place when trimming nose hair. Be careful to trim only the exposed part of the nose hair, and avoid trimming it too short so as not to affect the nose function. Adequate lighting can help determine the length of trimming accurately and reduce the risk of damage to the nasal vestibular skin or mucous membranes.
Overall, proper attention to changes in nose hair, proper trimming methods, and attention to diet and lifestyle Xi are all essential to maintain nose health and appearance.
Resources:
[1] "Why do men's nose hair always "scurry" outward?What does the vigorous nose hair imply?".Family Doctor Online.2022-11-05
[2] "Nose hair "runs" out, should it be plucked out or cut off?", Healthy China Chongqing Tour.2022-02-23
[3] "Nose Plucking?Doctor: "You Are Looking for a Disease Without a Disease!", Department of Otolaryngology, Second People's Hospital of Guizhou Province, 2019-02-23
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