Esther Gómez, a nurse, warns of the mistake many people make that facilitates the entry of germs: "Hair is there for a reason."

A runny nose and colds in spring are common, and they can often be mistaken for allergies. However, Esther Gómez, an emergency room nurse and science communicator, explains in the podcast Animales Humanos that there is a very common habit in Spain that could aggravate the risk of respiratory infection.

Thus, Gómez has explained that removing nose hair (medically known as 'vibrissae'), most often for simple aesthetic reasons, could be a big mistake since it would leave us devoid of that defensive barrier (against viruses, bacteria and other airborne pathogens), and would open the door to infections that can be avoided by leaving those hairs where they are.

Did you know that hair protects us from certain diseases?

The human body is designed in a very specific way, with each element fulfilling a specific function that affects disease prevention and our overall health. Although many people have probably never considered the role of hair on different parts of the body, it does have a role, and it's more important than we imagine.

For example, eyelashes protect the eyes from environmental debris, preventing germs from entering. In other words, they serve as a barrier that's so necessary to preserve vision and prevent wounds or infections . The same goes for nose hair, which many people pluck without realizing they're exposing their bodies to health problems they could avoid by leaving them where they are.

Nose hairs prevent germs from entering.

As incredible as it may seem, and as Esther Gómez explains, "nose hair prevents the entry of bacteria and germs that could cause annoying colds at an untimely pace, as well as excess mucus , which can be avoided simply by leaving the hairs that naturally lodge inside the nose where they are."

If we cut them, we'll be allowing germs present in the environment—thousands of them every day—to enter the respiratory tract unhindered through breathing. Hair establishes a natural filter that protects the body. Maintaining proper nasal hygiene is also important to improve this barrier function.

As the emergency room nurse explains, "those little hairs are there for a reason; they're wonderful, and they're flexible, which is what happens with the cold; it makes them stiff, and then they no longer perform their function properly ." The runny nose that can occur after an infection "is the body's way of switching to plan B, defending itself against bacterial attack ." In these cases, "the body detects that the little hairs are no longer fulfilling their barrier function; they no longer exist, and it generates this mucus to create an alternative protective film."

References

David G. Stoddard, John F. Pallanch, Grant S. Hamilton. 'The effect of vibrissae on subjective and objective measures of nasal obstruction'. National Library of Medicine. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2015 Sep-Oct;29(5):373-7. Accessed online at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26358350/ on April 29, 2025.

AB Ozturk, E. Damadoglu, G. Karakaya, AF Kalyoncu. 'Does nasal hair (vibrissae) density affect the risk of developing asthma in patients with seasonal rhinitis?'. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2011;156(1):75-80. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Accessed online at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21447962/ on April 29, 2025.

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