From black snot to frequent nose bleeds: what your nose can reveal about your health – and when to worry

It’s pretty gross to talk about, but there’s a lot to learn from nose – and what comes out of it.

From what your smell reveals about your brain to what the color of your snot reveals about your lungs, your snout can reveal a whole lot.

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Here we look at the signs of symptoms of six serious medical conditions that you may first notice on your tail.

1. Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

If you have frequent nosebleeds, you may have a genetic condition called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

People with HHT have some blood vessels that haven’t developed properly and can sometimes cause both external (nose) and internal bleeding, according to the NHS.

When to worry

Frequent bouts of bleeding can lead to anemia and other serious health problems, such as strokes.

When people bleed from inside their lungs, it can lead to low blood oxygen levels.

When it happens, it can cause seizures or a headache.

If you think you have HHT it is important that you see your GP.

Although there is no cure, there are effective treatments like taking iron supplements and laser therapy to stop bleeding.

2. Diabetes

Do you find that you can’t smell like you used to?

Diabetes can lead to an impairment of the sense of smell, and while it’s a subtle complication, the effects can be distressing.

The condition causes a person’s blood sugar levels to rise too high.

There are two types, the main difference being that type 1 diabetes is a genetic condition while type 2 diabetes is caused by lifestyle choices such as weight gain.

It can often go undetected and be difficult to spot, as signs can be dismissed as something else.

A French study found that people with type 1 diabetes had a poorer sense of smell than people without diabetes.

They found that the more severe a person’s diabetes complications are, the more likely they are to have an impaired sense of smell.

Other symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, peeing more, fatigue, weight loss and blurred vision.

When to worry

If poorly managed, diabetes can cause nerve damage called neuropathy, which is believed to be the cause of the loss of smell.

If your sense of smell is impaired, talk to your doctor.

Damage from neuropathy can be permanent.

3. Brain disorder

You may smell something that isn’t there.

The odor can be pleasant or unpleasant, but it can also only be smelled out of one nostril.

The condition, known as parosmia, occurs when the olfactory receptors in your nose fail to pick up on smells and relay them to your brain in the way they should, according to the NHS.

When to worry

Parosmia occurs when something goes wrong in the brain.

Sometimes it’s just the result of a virus like Covid and it goes away within a few weeks.

But it can also be triggered by a head injury, medication, seizures, or a brain tumor.

It’s important to see a doctor to rule out something serious.

An impaired sense of smell can in itself pose a health risk.

There is a risk of eating spoiled food or missing out on things like smoke or a gas leak.

4. Infection

If you’ve spotted yellowish snot after blowing your nose, you’re probably a little unwell.

Pharmacist Rita Ghelani said if you notice your feces or snot turning a yellowish tint, it could be a sign your body is fighting an infection.

“The yellow color comes from your infection-fighting white blood cells being excreted with your mucus.

“You’re probably feeling rough and very constipated,” the expert previously told the Sun.

When to worry

Your body will usually clear the infection within a few days.

However, if you are still unwell after a week, your GP may be able to prescribe antibiotics.

5. Fungal infection

Black snot or black spots can be a sign of a serious fungal infection of the lungs, such as aspergillosis.

Aspergillosis is a disease caused by aspergillusa common mold found both indoors and outdoors.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, most people breathe in spores on a daily basis and don’t get sick.

But people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases have a higher risk of developing health problems.

Other symptoms include fever, chest pain, coughing up blood and shortness of breath.

In most cases, however, it’s down to where you live and the air you breathe.

People who live in polluted areas are more likely to see black stuff up their nose than people who live in the countryside.

When to worry

A yeast infection in your respiratory tract is very serious and requires urgent medical attention.

It can cause long-term damage to the lungs.

Your doctor can diagnose your infection and treat it with antifungal medications or refer you to the hospital.

6. Rosacea

If your nose seems to be red all the time, you could have rosacea.

The long-term skin condition causes facial redness and burning, according to the NHS.

When to worry

Over time, rosacea, especially in men, can thicken and redden the skin on the nose, leading to a condition known as rhinophyma, explains the British Association of Dermatologists.

In severe cases, it can change the shape of your nose and even make it difficult to breathe.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for this skin condition, which can lead to low self-esteem in sufferers.