What is the purpose of nose hair?

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Eyes, ear, nose, tongue and skin are our main sensory organs which acquaint us with various things happening in the surroundings and also their properties. Nose is one of the most important parts of respiratory system as it is the only inlet and outlet of breathing. The oxygen taken in by the inhaling process is very important for cell growth while during exhalation carbon dioxide which is a waste product is released. The two openings of nose constitute hair inside it which is there for special purposes.

What is nose hair?

The hair coming out from the epidermis has a special connection with the nerves.  Hair fiber which we see on the outside also extends internally from dermis to the hypodermis and into the hair follicle. The openings of nose comprise of such hair in the inside, which gets jammed sometimes owing to mucus and also creates a problem of congestion.

What is the function of nose hair?

Nose hair and also the other hair fibers present on our body are present for creating a tough yet flexible restriction. The nasal hair helps in protecting the outer epidermal skin layer from sunlight and small injuries or abrasions. It also performs the specialized function of forming a shield in between the internal body organs and pollutants present in the outside atmosphere. While inhaling, it is quite possible that you can also take in minute particles along with oxygen. Nose hair performs the function of filtering away most of these debris.

How does it contribute towards our well being?

The nose hair executes several actions to protect us from infections. For example, nose hair does not allow harmful airborne pathogens to reach the respiratory tract and save you from air borne diseases. The mucus present in the nose along with nose hair traps the germs and particles and is thrown out by sneezing. Sometimes, irritants still manage to reach the respiratory tract. But the nasal activities help you expel them through sneezing.

What are the other activities carried out by nose hair?

The nose hair also has ancillary purposes. These hair fibers add surface area to the skin and also help in sweat evaporation. There is a network of nerves which surrounds your nasal hair follicle. This network of nerve provides information to your body regarding the surrounding environment.

What can disturb the normal growth of nose hair?

Several outside causes influence the growth of nose hair which can increase the length and thickness of these hairs or decrease their thickness. Many medical treatments, cosmetics and even drugs have been found to have adverse effect on hair follicle due to which such problem arises. Also many times genetic patterns also interfere in their normal growth. If you have no nose hair, then your chances of falling ill are more. And yes, if the hairs of nose grow too long, they too do not serve the purpose as they look bad and are messy. At such time you can use nasal clipper or trimmer to shorten them without reducing their ability to filter dust and pathogens.