Sometimes soft growths called polyps grow into the nasal passage. They usually start at the openings of the sinuses. Polyps look a bit like teardrops, and they are made of fluid, tissue, and cells from inflammation, all wrapped in a thin lining. They can grow because of infection, allergies, areas where two parts of the nose rub together, or for reasons we do not always understand. When polyps are widespread throughout the nose, it usually means there is a deeper problem with the lining itself.