Nose-picking -act of inserting a finger into one’s own nostrils with the aim of removing a piece of dried nasal secretion. Nose-picking in public is perceived as a disgusting, bad habit. Nose-picking is practiced by the majority of individuals – regardless of gender, age and cultural background.
Nose-picking usually starts at a very early age. Babies playing around with their little fingers soon discover that they have different orifices in the middle of their faces into which the finger can be inserted. So, basically the first motivation behind nose-picking is because the nose is there to be explored. Only a few years later the child will find out that nose-picking is considered to be a bad habit.
In medical parlance the condition of compulsive nose-picking is called rhinotillexomania. Compulsory nose-picking implies that the person doing it does not have full control over the bad habit, like notorious nail-biters suffering from onychophagia.
Why nose picking?
Itching- Nasal allergy
Boredom
Catching the Parents’ Attention
Complications-
Nose Bleed and Nasal septal perforation
In some cases nose-picking has been identified as the cause of frequent nose-bleeds. In very rare cases, nose-picking can lead to perforation of nasal septum.
What can be done to prevent it?
If caused by crusting, allergy, get treatment. Apply little petroleum jelly.If attention seeking, ignore it.