Why is there blood in my snot?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Blood-tinged nasal mucus occurs when tiny blood vessels inside the nose break, releasing small amounts of blood into your snot. The most common causes are dry air, sinus or upper respiratory infections, allergies, and frequent or forceful nose blowing.

While occasional streaks of blood in mucus are usually harmless, persistent bleeding, heavy bleeding, or blood accompanied by other symptoms may point to something that needs attention. Because causes range from minor irritation to conditions requiring treatment, it's worth understanding what's driving your symptoms before assuming the worst—or ignoring them. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to get personalized insight into possible causes and clear guidance on your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Common causes of blood-tinged mucus include:

Dry air or low humidity
Trauma or injury to the nose
Frequent nose blowing during a cold or allergy
Upper respiratory infections
Nose picking
High blood pressure
Blood-thinning medications

The lining inside your nose is very delicate. When it gets dry or inflamed, small blood vessels can break and mix a small amount of blood with mucus. This is typically not a cause for concern. However, if you notice bleeding is heavy or frequent, you should discuss with a healthcare provider. To better understand your symptoms and determine if you need medical attention, try our free symptom checker.

(References)

Parajuli R. Evaluation of Etiology and Treatment Methods for Epistaxis: A Review at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central Nepal. Int J Otolaryngol. 2015;2015:283854. doi: 10.1155/2015/283854. Epub 2015 Aug 9. PMID: 26346242; PMCID: PMC4546759.
Abrich V, Brozek A, Boyle TR, Chyou PH, Yale SH. Risk factors for recurrent spontaneous epistaxis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014 Dec;89(12):1636-43. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.09.009. Epub 2014 Nov 6. PMID: 25458126.
Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470247/

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