Rhinotillexomania

rhino=nose, tillexis=habit of picking at something, mania=obsession with something

You can all relax now, I have found for you the very real technical name for it!

I won't go as far as to say that we all do it. That would cause great embarrassment to someone, somewhere. I will say that it's quite prevalent.

A study was conducted and published in the February 1995 issue of the Journal of Psychiatry.

One thousand surveys were mailed out, and 254 were completed and returned to the researchers.

Apparently, "91% stated that they had picked their nose in the past and were still actively practicing this habit. Yet, only 49.2% of the respondents actually thought that nose-picking was common in adults."

Here are more results:

Do it often?

9.2% rate their picking as "more than average."
25.6% actually pick their noses daily, 22.3% do it 2 to 5 times each day, and three people admitted to doing it at least hourly.

For how long?
55.5% spent 1-5 minutes, 23.5% spent 5-15 minutes, and 0.8% (2 people) spent 15-30 minutes each day cleaning their nostrils. One person reported devoting over 2 hours each day to this ritual.

Does it hurt anyone?
18% reported nosebleeds, while 0.8% claimed perforation of the nasal septum from their nose-picking.

Why do it?
82.8% had picked their noses to "unclog the nasal passages", 66.4% had done it to relieve discomfort or itchiness, 35.7% to avoid the unsightly appearance of a booger hanging from their nose, 34.0% for personal hygiene, and 17.2% picked out of habit. 2.1% (five people) claimed to pick solely for enjoyment.

How?

65.1% use their index finger, 20.2% use their pinky, and 16.4% use their thumb. WHAT!?

Most people (90.3%) disposed of the material in a tissue or a handkerchief, while 28.6% used the floor, and 7.6% stuck it to the furniture.

8% of the respondents actually ate the end product. Some reported the material as being tasty in a salty way.

There.

You can finally get this burning question off of your mind.