Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsYellow PhlegmGreen PhlegmRed PhlegmPink PhlegmBrown PhlegmBlack Phlegm
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Yellow Phlegm
Green Phlegm
Red Phlegm
Pink Phlegm
Brown Phlegm
Black Phlegm
Phlegm color can change when you’re ill or exposed to smoke and pollution.
Normal phlegm is clear. When bacteria, viruses, or foreign substances invade the respiratory system and collect in the phlegm, it maythickenand alter in appearance.
Discolored phlegm related to fighting a minor infection or allergies, will usually clear on its own or with at-home treatment. Dark phlegm and unusual discharge may mean you need to see a healthcare provider for prescription medication or more significant treatment.
Jasmin Merdan / Getty Images
Why Your Body Makes Mucus
Heavy phlegm that’s pale yellow or cloudy white may be related toallergiesorasthma. It can also be a sign of a minor infection.
Allergens and irritants trigger your body to build up the mucus in your nasal passages. As the phlegm accumulates, it may cause a runny nose. The excess mucus will also likely run down the back of your throat (post-nasal drip), causing a cough.
For immediate relief, use saline nasal rinses to thin out phlegm.
Why Am I Coughing Up Mucus?
Phlegm related to an infection can start out yellow but may become a darker green. The color change happens when there are a lot of white blood cells and other debris in the mucus.
A darker green color is commonly a result of a bacterial infection.If your symptoms last for several days and include a fever or sinus pain, see a healthcare provider. While green phlegm may be a sign you need an oralantibioticto treat an infection of the chest or respiratory system, a proper diagnosis is required to confirm this.
Bright red or dark red phlegm is also calledhemoptoicsputum. Bright red phlegm usually means there’s fresh blood in the airway while dark red phlegm means the blood is older.
Common causes of blood in phlegm include:
In more than 90% of cases, the symptoms are mild and go away on their own.
Phlegm that is pink and frothy can be a sign ofpulmonary edema.Sometimes called “wet lung,” pulmonary edema, is a serious medical condition that occurs when the air sacs of the lung (alveoli) fill with fluid.
People who experience pulmonary edema say it feels like drowning as they struggle to breathe and get enough oxygen.
Pulmonary edema requires immediate medical treatment to remove fluid from the lungs and relieve pressure on the heart.Long-term care focuses on healing the underlying cause of the fluid buildup.
Lung infections that cause brown phlegm include COPD andemphysema.
Treating these conditions may allow you to manage the phlegm. Your healthcare provider will help you determine the right options, which may include medications, inhalers, supplemental oxygen, or surgery.
In some instances, dark brown expectoration can be the result of a fungal infection in the lungs.This requires antifungal therapies to clear the infection.
Black or gray phlegm is also calledmelanoptysis. This is a very rare occurrence. The underlying causes may include the following:
Your risk of developing black phlegm is greater if you’re immunocompromised due to other illnesses such as cancer.
See a healthcare provider anytime you cough up black-colored mucus.
When Is Coughing up Blood an Emergency?
Summary
Phlegm is one important type of mucus that plays a role in the normal functioning of your airways.
Changes in the normal clear color of phlegm may indicate an illness or exposure to irritants. Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections along with allergies and smoking can alter the consistency and shade of phlegm that you cough up or blow from your nose.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Temple Health.All of Your Questions About Mucus, Answered.Asthma and Allergies Foundation of America.Nasal Allergies (Rhinitis).Penn Medicine.Yuck! My snot is green: a look at what your mucus says about your health.Pabreja K, Gibson P, Lochrin AJ, Wood L, Baines KJ, Simpson JL.Sputum colour can identify patients with neutrophilic inflammation in asthma.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2017;4(1):e000236. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2017-000236O’Gurek D, Choi HYJ.Hemoptysis: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(2):144-151.O’Gurek D, Choi HYJ.Hemoptysis: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(2):144-151.Liu R, Wang J, Zhao G, Su Z.Negative pressure pulmonary edema after general anesthesia: A case report and literature review.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(17):e15389. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000015389Purvey M, Allen G.Managing acute pulmonary oedema.Aust Prescr.2017 Apr;40(2):59–63. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.013Schäfer J, Griese M, Chandrasekaran R, Chotirmall SH, Hartl D.Pathogenesis, imaging and clinical characteristics of CF and non-CF bronchiectasis.BMC Pulm Med. 2018;18(1):79. doi:10.1186/s12890-018-0630-8Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.What does the color of phlegm mean?Dumais MG, Khodadadi RB, Fida M.36-Year-Old Man With Shortness of Breath, Difficulty Swallowing, and Productive Cough.Mayo Clin Proc. 2023;98(7):1090-1095. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2022.12.023MedlinePlus.Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis.Additional ReadingAmerican Thoracic Society. (2015). What Are the Signs and Symptoms of COPD?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Runny Nose (with green or yellow mucus).Martínez-girón R, Mosquera-martínez J, Martínez-torre S.Black-Pigmented Sputum.J Cytol. 2013;30(4):274-5.Nadel, J.A. (2016). Airway Epithelium and Mucous Secretion.Murray and Nadel’s Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. 10, 157-167.National Health Service. (2015). Coughing up blood (blood in phlegm).Rogers, D.F. (2014). Airway Mucus and the Mucociliary System.Middleton’s Allergy: Principles and Practice.47, 739-753Rubin, B.K. (2002). Physiology of Airway Mucus Clearance.Respir Care. 47(7), 761-8Barnes, P.J., Drazen, J.M., Rennard, S.I. & Thomson, N.C. (2002). Asthma and COPD: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Management. Academic Press : Elsevier
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Temple Health.All of Your Questions About Mucus, Answered.Asthma and Allergies Foundation of America.Nasal Allergies (Rhinitis).Penn Medicine.Yuck! My snot is green: a look at what your mucus says about your health.Pabreja K, Gibson P, Lochrin AJ, Wood L, Baines KJ, Simpson JL.Sputum colour can identify patients with neutrophilic inflammation in asthma.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2017;4(1):e000236. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2017-000236O’Gurek D, Choi HYJ.Hemoptysis: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(2):144-151.O’Gurek D, Choi HYJ.Hemoptysis: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(2):144-151.Liu R, Wang J, Zhao G, Su Z.Negative pressure pulmonary edema after general anesthesia: A case report and literature review.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(17):e15389. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000015389Purvey M, Allen G.Managing acute pulmonary oedema.Aust Prescr.2017 Apr;40(2):59–63. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.013Schäfer J, Griese M, Chandrasekaran R, Chotirmall SH, Hartl D.Pathogenesis, imaging and clinical characteristics of CF and non-CF bronchiectasis.BMC Pulm Med. 2018;18(1):79. doi:10.1186/s12890-018-0630-8Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.What does the color of phlegm mean?Dumais MG, Khodadadi RB, Fida M.36-Year-Old Man With Shortness of Breath, Difficulty Swallowing, and Productive Cough.Mayo Clin Proc. 2023;98(7):1090-1095. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2022.12.023MedlinePlus.Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis.Additional ReadingAmerican Thoracic Society. (2015). What Are the Signs and Symptoms of COPD?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Runny Nose (with green or yellow mucus).Martínez-girón R, Mosquera-martínez J, Martínez-torre S.Black-Pigmented Sputum.J Cytol. 2013;30(4):274-5.Nadel, J.A. (2016). Airway Epithelium and Mucous Secretion.Murray and Nadel’s Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. 10, 157-167.National Health Service. (2015). Coughing up blood (blood in phlegm).Rogers, D.F. (2014). Airway Mucus and the Mucociliary System.Middleton’s Allergy: Principles and Practice.47, 739-753Rubin, B.K. (2002). Physiology of Airway Mucus Clearance.Respir Care. 47(7), 761-8Barnes, P.J., Drazen, J.M., Rennard, S.I. & Thomson, N.C. (2002). Asthma and COPD: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Management. Academic Press : Elsevier
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Temple Health.All of Your Questions About Mucus, Answered.Asthma and Allergies Foundation of America.Nasal Allergies (Rhinitis).Penn Medicine.Yuck! My snot is green: a look at what your mucus says about your health.Pabreja K, Gibson P, Lochrin AJ, Wood L, Baines KJ, Simpson JL.Sputum colour can identify patients with neutrophilic inflammation in asthma.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2017;4(1):e000236. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2017-000236O’Gurek D, Choi HYJ.Hemoptysis: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(2):144-151.O’Gurek D, Choi HYJ.Hemoptysis: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(2):144-151.Liu R, Wang J, Zhao G, Su Z.Negative pressure pulmonary edema after general anesthesia: A case report and literature review.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(17):e15389. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000015389Purvey M, Allen G.Managing acute pulmonary oedema.Aust Prescr.2017 Apr;40(2):59–63. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.013Schäfer J, Griese M, Chandrasekaran R, Chotirmall SH, Hartl D.Pathogenesis, imaging and clinical characteristics of CF and non-CF bronchiectasis.BMC Pulm Med. 2018;18(1):79. doi:10.1186/s12890-018-0630-8Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.What does the color of phlegm mean?Dumais MG, Khodadadi RB, Fida M.36-Year-Old Man With Shortness of Breath, Difficulty Swallowing, and Productive Cough.Mayo Clin Proc. 2023;98(7):1090-1095. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2022.12.023MedlinePlus.Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis.
Temple Health.All of Your Questions About Mucus, Answered.
Asthma and Allergies Foundation of America.Nasal Allergies (Rhinitis).
Penn Medicine.Yuck! My snot is green: a look at what your mucus says about your health.
Pabreja K, Gibson P, Lochrin AJ, Wood L, Baines KJ, Simpson JL.Sputum colour can identify patients with neutrophilic inflammation in asthma.BMJ Open Respir Res. 2017;4(1):e000236. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2017-000236
O’Gurek D, Choi HYJ.Hemoptysis: evaluation and management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(2):144-151.
O’Gurek D, Choi HYJ.Hemoptysis: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(2):144-151.
Liu R, Wang J, Zhao G, Su Z.Negative pressure pulmonary edema after general anesthesia: A case report and literature review.Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(17):e15389. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000015389
Purvey M, Allen G.Managing acute pulmonary oedema.Aust Prescr.2017 Apr;40(2):59–63. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2017.013
Schäfer J, Griese M, Chandrasekaran R, Chotirmall SH, Hartl D.Pathogenesis, imaging and clinical characteristics of CF and non-CF bronchiectasis.BMC Pulm Med. 2018;18(1):79. doi:10.1186/s12890-018-0630-8
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.What does the color of phlegm mean?
Dumais MG, Khodadadi RB, Fida M.36-Year-Old Man With Shortness of Breath, Difficulty Swallowing, and Productive Cough.Mayo Clin Proc. 2023;98(7):1090-1095. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2022.12.023
MedlinePlus.Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis.
American Thoracic Society. (2015). What Are the Signs and Symptoms of COPD?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Runny Nose (with green or yellow mucus).Martínez-girón R, Mosquera-martínez J, Martínez-torre S.Black-Pigmented Sputum.J Cytol. 2013;30(4):274-5.Nadel, J.A. (2016). Airway Epithelium and Mucous Secretion.Murray and Nadel’s Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. 10, 157-167.National Health Service. (2015). Coughing up blood (blood in phlegm).Rogers, D.F. (2014). Airway Mucus and the Mucociliary System.Middleton’s Allergy: Principles and Practice.47, 739-753Rubin, B.K. (2002). Physiology of Airway Mucus Clearance.Respir Care. 47(7), 761-8Barnes, P.J., Drazen, J.M., Rennard, S.I. & Thomson, N.C. (2002). Asthma and COPD: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Management. Academic Press : Elsevier
American Thoracic Society. (2015). What Are the Signs and Symptoms of COPD?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Runny Nose (with green or yellow mucus).
Martínez-girón R, Mosquera-martínez J, Martínez-torre S.Black-Pigmented Sputum.J Cytol. 2013;30(4):274-5.
Nadel, J.A. (2016). Airway Epithelium and Mucous Secretion.Murray and Nadel’s Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 6th ed. 10, 157-167.
National Health Service. (2015). Coughing up blood (blood in phlegm).
Rogers, D.F. (2014). Airway Mucus and the Mucociliary System.Middleton’s Allergy: Principles and Practice.47, 739-753
Rubin, B.K. (2002). Physiology of Airway Mucus Clearance.Respir Care. 47(7), 761-8
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