A 7-year-old boy presents with a 2-year history of nasal itching, sneezing, and clear rhinorrhea. On examination, you note a transverse crease across the bridge of his nose (marked **C** in the diagram), which his mother attributes to his habit of repeatedly pushing his nose upward with his palm. His nasal turbinates appear pale and boggy. Which of the following best explains the clinical significance of the finding marked **C**?