Why does putting your finger under your nose stop you from sneezing?

Putting your finger under your nose can stop a sneeze because it interferes with the nerve signals that trigger the sneeze reflex.

How Sneezes Work

Sneezing is a reflex action that helps clear irritants from your nose and upper respiratory system. Here's a simplified breakdown of the process:

Irritation: When something irritates the nasal passages (like dust, pollen, or pepper), it triggers nerve endings.
Signal to the Brain: These nerve endings send a signal to your brain.
Sneeze Response: The brain responds by initiating a sneeze. This involves a complex sequence of events such as closing your eyes and forcefully expelling air from the lungs.

According to the reference, when you feel the urge to sneeze and hold a finger under your nose, you're disrupting this process. Specifically:

Interference with Nerve Signals: The act of pressing on the area under the nose can alter or block the nerve signals that are traveling from the nasal passages to the brain. This disruption can prevent the brain from fully registering the irritation, and the sneeze reflex is suppressed.

Step	Description	Effect of Finger
1. Nasal Irritation	Irritants stimulate nerve endings in the nasal passages	No immediate effect
2. Nerve Signal Transmission	Nerve endings send signals to the brain to trigger a sneeze	Finger under nose can disrupt these signals
3. Brain Receives Signal	Brain processes the signal and prepares the body for a sneeze	Reduced signal strength can prevent full sneeze reflex activation
4. Sneeze Response	The body forcefully expels air to clear the irritants	Sneeze prevented, or diminished

Not Always Effective: While this method often works, it’s not foolproof. The effectiveness may vary from person to person, and the intensity of the irritation.
Other Techniques: Other methods may also help stop a sneeze such as breathing through your mouth, pressing on your acupressure points, or trying to relax.