What are the white balls coming out of hair follicles?

Author: Dolly Kassulke  |  Last update: Sunday, January 25, 2026

The main symptom of white piedra is the formation of clusters of tiny nodules along the hair shafts. These rock-like structures appear white, gray, or tan. The stone-like depositions are soft, gritty, and easy to remove.

What are the white balls in my hair follicle?

The white bulb at the end of your hair is essentially a bundle of protein, known as keratin. The role of the white bulb is to help the hair follicle root to the scalp, which then allows the hair to grow until it is shed.

Why do I have little white beads in my hair?

It's your hair follicles. Sometimes when you shed a hair from the root there will be a little white bulb at the end of the hair. This happens when the hair is ready to fall out as opposed to breaking. Sometimes the bulb will separate from the hair and stay loosely in the scalp. When scratched it will come loose.

What are these white rocks in my hair?

Piedra is a fungal infection of the hair, characterised by the deposition of small black or white nodules along the hair shaft. These look like small stones, hence the name piedra, meaning 'stone' in Spanish.

What is the white stuff that comes out of hair bumps?

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.

White Bulb on Hair Follicle What Does It Mean?

What are hair stones?

hair stone (countable and uncountable, plural hair stones) (mineralogy) Clear quartz crystal containing coloured filaments caused by impurities. Particular kinds are sometimes known as Venus's hair stone or Thetis's hair stone.

What are the white dots coming out of my hair?

White piedra appears as white or light brown depositions that loosely attach to the tip of a hair shaft and may group to form clusters. The stones, sometimes called concretions or nodules, feel gritty and are easy to remove.

What are the white seeds in my hair?

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. Best places to look for nits: behind the ears and along the hairline at the neck. Itching of the scalp is the main symptom.

What are the white dots around hair follicles?

Staphylococcus aureus folliculitis: Infection of the hair follicle with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is one of the most common causes of folliculitis. Small red or white pus-filled pimples can be seen on the skin. The affected area often gets better (resolves) within a few days and can be cared for at home.

How do you get rid of keratin balls?

Try medicated creams.

Apply a nonprescription cream that contains urea, lactic acid, alpha hydroxy acid or salicylic acid. These creams help loosen and remove dead skin cells. They also moisturize and soften dry skin. Put on this product before moisturizer.

How do you know if you have a dead hair follicle?

Typically, dead hair follicles lead to a smooth patch of bald skin on the scalp – it typically will not look like general hair thinning. Doctors and hair specialists can get a look at your hair follicles by using a microscope.

What kills folliculitis naturally?

Essential Oils. Tea tree oil, neem oil, geranium oil, grapefruit seed oil are very effective in treating folliculitis. Tea tree oil can be added to your shampoo, lotion or body wash. Rub it gently onto the affected area and let it sit.

Is white piedra an STD?

In some patients, the infection appears to be sexually transmitted. White piedra is asymptomatic and manifests as small yellow concretions on the hair shafts. The pathogenesis of this infection is still unclear, but it is likely to result from synergy between the fungi and coryneform bacteria.

Why do I have little hard balls 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.

What are the white eggs in my hair?

Nits are the empty egg cases attached to hair that head lice hatch from. Head lice are a common problem, particularly in school children aged 4 to 11. They're largely harmless, but can live in the hair for a long time if not treated and can be irritating and frustrating to deal with.

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 are the little white balls at the end of my hair?

"The white bulb at the end of the hair is keratin (or protein) and is the same keratin that makes up your skin and nails. A white bulb is not indicative of hair loss," said stylist Carrie Capalbo of Salon YOSHIKO. "It's part of the lining of the hair follicles.

What are the white breaking points in my hair?

Trichorrhexis Nodsa (nodes) are little white dots that can be present throughout the hair shaft, but in my professional experience is more commonly seen on the ends of the hair. Nodes are thickened/ weak points which break off easily and are generally caused by excessive styling and chemicals.

How to get rid of nodes in hair?

Treatment
  1. Gentle brushing with a soft brush instead of aggressive brushing or ratting.
  2. Avoiding harsh chemicals such as those used in straightening compounds and perms.
  3. Not using a very hot hair dryer for long periods and not ironing the hair.
  4. Using a gentle shampoo and a hair conditioner.

What is geode hair?

According to Refinery 29, colorists have been channeling the colorful layers of geodes into a dreamy, iridescent, amethyst sombre (or subtle ombre) for their clients—giving them haircolor that reflects one or two jewel tones when it hits the light.

What is hair chunk?

Chunky highlights are a hair coloring technique that involves creating thick, bold streaks of color in your hair. Unlike traditional highlights that are thin and subtle, chunky highlights are designed to make a statement. They're usually done in contrasting colors to your natural hair, creating a bold and edgy look.

What is silica hair?

Silica is a vital mineral when you are shedding your hair excessively leading to hair loss and it also helps both women and men for lack lustre and thinning hair. It is important to understand how silica works to achieve healthy looking vitalised hair.

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