How do I get rid of sebum balls on my scalp?

Author: Gail Will Sr.  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Use a clarifying shampoo: Clarifying shampoos are designed to deep-clean your hair and scalp, removing buildup and impurities. Look for a clarifying shampoo that contains salicylic acid, which helps to break down sebum plugs.

How do I get rid of white balls on my scalp?

There are no effective home remedies for treating white piedra. This type of hair infection requires medical evaluation and antifungal medication.

How do you get rid of sebum lumps?

Medical procedures to remove the bumps include:
  1. Cauterization, burning the lesions off of your skin.
  2. Cryotherapy, using an extremely cold substance to destroy the tissue.
  3. Excision, cutting the bumps from your skin.
  4. Laser skin resurfacing, using a laser to reduce the bumps.

What is the hard white stuff on my scalp?

It's called “dandruff” (pityriasis capitis) when it's on a teenager's or adult's scalp, and “cradle cap” when it's on a baby's. Seborrheic dermatitis can occur in other areas of your body.

How do I get rid of hardened sebum on my scalp?

For those who prefer natural remedies, try rinsing with apple cider vinegar (diluted with water), applying aloe vera, or using tea tree oil to reduce sebum. These remedies can gently clarify and soothe the scalp without stripping essential oils.

Scalp Pimples Removal | 5 Fast and Easy Ways to Get Rid of Scalp Pimples

What are the hard balls of skin on my scalp?

Bumps on the scalp can result from various health issues, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, pilar cysts, hives, or ringworm. Some causes of bumps, such as skin cancer, require urgent medical attention. But often, a person can address the issue at home.

What are the oil balls on my scalp?

Sebum plugs are small, waxy deposits that can form on the scalp when the natural oils produced by your scalp mix with dead skin cells, dirt, and other impurities. They are referred to as "scalp acne" or "follicular keratosis."

What does a sebum plug look like?

What does a sebum plug look like? Sebum plugs usually start out white or yellowish in colour but can turn darker if the pore is open and they are exposed to air. They can occur anywhere on the body, but usually form on the face, scalp, chest and back because that is where we produce the most sebum.

What dissolves excess sebum?

Topical retinoids, isotretinoin, spironolactone, oral contraceptives, and botulinum toxin may help in the reduction in sebum production. However, the risks and benefits of these options, as they apply to you, should be discussed with your healthcare provider.

What are the sand like grains on my scalp?

Sometimes when we touch our scalp with fingertips, especially in case of oily skin and if we are particularly careful, we might feel some very small sand grains. These are nothing but sebum leftovers, dandruff or “pollution” which lie on the scalp and prevent it from breathing properly.

How to remove hard sebum plugs?

6 tips for treating sebum plugs
  1. Cleanse: Use a mild cleanser twice a day, in the morning and evening. ...
  2. Exfoliate: Use chemical exfoliants, such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid rather than physical exfoliants, to gently dissolve dead skin cells. ...
  3. Apply topical creams: Apply topical treatments designed to address acne.

What do sebum bumps look like?

Sebaceous hyperplasia appears as small whitish-yellow bumps, 1 to 3 mm in diameter. The bumps have a centrally placed tiny pit and, in some cases, visible blood vessels. The central pit is surrounded by white-yellow tiny lumps. They are soft to touch.

What are the fluid filled bumps on my scalp?

Bacterial folliculitis.

This common type is a rash of itchy, pus-filled bumps. It occurs when hair follicles become infected with bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus (staph). Staph bacteria live on the skin all the time. And they can cause problems when they enter the body through a cut or other wound.

How do I Decalcify my scalp?

Scalp massage is a simple and effective way to encourage circulation and loosen buildup. Rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar can also help remove buildup and restore your scalp's pH balance. If you prefer a more intensive exfoliation, you can try a scalp scrub or chemical exfoliant.

What are the white dots stuck to my scalp?

Symptoms of Head Lice

Nits (eggs) are tiny white specks attached to hairs close to the scalp. Unlike dandruff or sand, nits can't be shaken off the hair shafts.

How to remove sebum from scalp?

Washing your scalp with warm water is the first step in removing sebum clogs from your head. After that, use a gentle shampoo and massage your scalp with your fingertips. This aids in the removal of all hardened and dried sebum from the scalp. Sebum build-up occurs on the scalp rather than on the hair strands.

What is the best exfoliator for sebaceous filaments?

Use Salicylic Acid

“Salicylic acid is your go-to ingredient if you have sebaceous filaments. It's a beta-hydroxy acid that helps remove excess oil and exfoliate dead skin cells from the skin to keep the pores clear,” says Dr. Zeichner.

What are the little white balls I pick off my scalp?

Piedra is the Spanish word for 'stone' and that is reflected in the appearance of this ailment. You'll find white, grey, or tan, pearly nodules surrounding your hair shaft. These are soft and loosely clump together on your hair. You'll find white Piedra on scalp hair, facial hair, and body hair.

What shampoo is good for white piedra?

In therapeutic terms, the management of white piedra is considered straightforward. In most cases, antifungal shampoos are employed, with 2 % ketoconazole shampoo being considered the most effective.

What are the hard oil balls on my scalp?

Scalp buildup can occur when an oily secretion called sebum accumulates alongside sweat, hair products, and dead skin cells on the scalp. It can have symptoms similar to those of seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, and eczema.

Why can I pick chunks off my scalp?

Flaking of the scalp can be the result of dermatitis, dandruff or psoriasis. Of all types of dermatitis the most likely to peel your scalp are: seborrheic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. A dry scalp can be uncomfortable and if it leads to itching and peeling, you can have a bad feeling about your hair condition.

What is a good scalp scrub?

Our top pick is Briogeo, a clarifying shampoo and scalp-scrub combo treatment that our testers said banished itchy symptoms and flakes for days on end.

Previous article
How do you get rid of brown spot scars?
Next article
What was the 1980s most known for?