4 Terrifying Reasons You Should Never Pluck Or Wax Inside Your Nose

Written by Shamita Dhingra  • 

Sometimes, it is funny the places where hair makes its appearances. And funnily enough, there are umpteen reasons and ways we find to remove them. Be it the underarms, the chin, the legs or the pubic area, or stray hair in the nipples or ears, hair seems like a great obstacle in the way of attaining the ideal feminine body aesthetics.

Such is the craze of having a silky smooth hairless surface (of course, barring the scalp) that people, and women in particular, leave no stone unturned to ensure that it is impossible to spot any patch of body hair!

But the hair on different parts of our body exists for a reason, as ithas a biological purpose to serve – for example, the eyebrows keep the sweat off our eyes, the hair in the ear canal keeps the dust and debris away, and the ones on the pubes are for cushioning and protecting your lady bits.

And same is the case with nasal hair. You may feel embarrassed if a stray hair starts to peep out of your nasal cavity, but stop and reconsider before you pick those tweezers or waxing strips. Nasal hair is very important and plucking them out can be potentially dangerous.

Read on to find out why you shouldn’t remove nasal hair.

Types Of Nasal Hair

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There are two types of hair-like growth found in the nasal area.

One is the nasal hair called vibrissae that is found at the nasal opening. They trap big dusty particles and prevent the body from inhaling them.

And then there are cilia further in the back of the nose. They are even smaller than the vibrissae. They move around in a rhythmic motion that takes the mucus from the sinuses to the area towards the back of the nose. They are also found in the respiratory lining, where they help to keep the mucus (containing pollutants, germs etc.) away from the lungs.

Why Do You Need It?

It doesn’t matter how embarrassed you feel because of your nasal hair, you need it to keep your respiratory passages clean and free of harmful germs, dust, pollutants, and allergens that are freely flying in the atmosphere. It stops the movement of all the irritants by trapping them and binding them with mucus that is eventually cleared by your body.

Why You Must Not Remove It

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The hair on the surface of the nose protects it from harsh sunlight and injury. The hair inside the nose creates a strong protection for your body by filtering the outside germs and irritants and sending only the air inside.

Moreover, if you feel that your nasal hair is too long for your comfort, you can always trim it. Never make the mistake of plucking or waxing it because:

1. It Can Result In Infections

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When you uproot the hair from the nostrils, it can cause trauma to the skin. The broken skin is ideal for the bacteria to enter and proliferate. This can lead to infections, and being partially internal, it can be dangerous if it starts spreading upwards.

2. It Can Increase The Chances Of Ingrown Hair

When you pluck the hair by its follicle, it can lead to in-grown hair (1). The site of such growth can turn uncomfortable, inflamed, reddish, itchy, and bumpy. It can even turn sore. Spotting and treating an in-grown hair can be a task, especially in an area where it is difficult to spot or reach. Therefore, it is better to trim the hair rather than pull it by its root.

3. Can Affect The Nose-Bridge And The ‘Death/ Danger Triangle’

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Triangle of danger or death begins from the bridge of the nose, extends towards the two nostrils, and ends at the two ends of your lips, forming a triangle.

But have you wondered why it might be called so? It is because if any infection occurs at this place, it can travel easily towards the brain – and that can be fatal (2).

4. Can Result In Brain Infection

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The veins carrying blood to the nose are closely connected to the veins supplying blood to the brain. If the nose gets infected due to the uprooting of the nasal hair, the infected blood can lead to severe complications, such as inflammation, sore blisters, and brain fever.

The process of nasal hair removal comes with its own risk factors and therefore it should be avoided at all costs. What might appear seemingly harmless could turn out to be very dangerous. And that is why, unless it is a clinical matter, you must not try to remove those occasional stray hairs by pulling them off. In case it really gets bothersome, just try to trim them off with a pair of scissors – and be careful of not hurting the delicate skin inside your nose.

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