What is the white bulb coming out of my scalp?

Author: Dr. Devante Effertz  |  Last update: Sunday, April 6, 2025

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. It's important to keep in mind that the white bulb is not the actual hair root, but rather, the protein bulb that is present during a specific phase of the hair growth cycle.

What is the white bulb on my scalp?

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 the white balls coming out of hair follicles?

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.

Why is there white stuff coming out of my scalp?

What is seborrheic dermatitis? Seborrheic dermatitis is a common, noncontagious, easy-to-manage skin condition. This type of dermatitis causes itchy red patches and greasy scales on your skin along with white or yellow crusty or powdery flakes on your scalp.

What is the sebum ball 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."

White Bulb on Hair Follicle What Does It Mean?

Is it okay to pull out sebum plugs?

You've probably heard that squeezing or picking at a pimple is not a great idea, and the same goes for sebum plugs. By squeezing, you can push the contents deeper into the skin or break the pimple open, which allows the bacteria inside the pimple to spread and any bacteria on your hands to enter the pore.

How do you unclog sebaceous glands on your 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.

Why is white stuff coming out of my head?

Experts think the overgrowth of a type of yeast or fungus called malassezia is one of the main causes of dandruff. This yeast lives on your skin naturally and feeds off the oil your skin makes. When your skin is irritated, it will make more oil and skin cells to help soothe the irritation.

Why do I pick at my scalp until it bleeds?

Skin picking disorder is related to obsessive compulsive disorder, where the person cannot stop themselves carrying out a particular action. It can be triggered by: boredom. stress or anxiety.

What is the white blob in hair?

White piedra is a superficial fungal infection of hair caused by Trichosporon species. It presents clinically as white nodules encasing the hair shafts and may lead to increased fragility.

What does trichomycosis look like?

Trichomycosis presents with yellow-white (occasionally red or black), soft, malodorous nodules and sheath-like structures on hair shafts (picture 1A-C).

Why does my hair have little white balls?

The white bulb at the end of your hair is essentially a bundle of protein, known as keratin.

Why am I losing 200 hairs a day?

Several medical conditions result in losing 200-300 hairs a day. Conditions like alopecia areata, radiation therapy, ringworm infection, and excessive scratching or pulling of hair can be the primary reasons behind hair loss.

How do I know if my hair follicles are dead?

One of the easiest ways to see if you have dead hair follicles is by checking your scalp. Do you have any smooth bald patches? In some cases, your scalp may show scarring where the dead hair follicles are.

When I scratch my scalp, white stuff under my nails.?

Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells. It's hard for shampoo alone to wash away your oily scalp issues. And issues like stress and weather can increase the scalp's sebum production, making you even oilier.

Is it bad to pick dandruff off your scalp?

It's not great to pick at your scalp, as it can cause irritation and even lead to infection. Dandruff itself isn't harmful, but it can be annoying and make your scalp itchy.

What happens if you keep picking your scalp?

Picking at your scalp can cause bleeding, infections, and impact daily life. You may find yourself struggling to focus, or avoiding social activities as a result of this behavior.

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.

Why does white stuff come off my scalp?

Hair products, oil, sweat, and dead skin cells can build up on the scalp and then flake off. People may refer to this as “scalp buildup” or “hair buildup.” Scalp buildup can occur at any point in a person's life.

What are the white strings coming out of my pores?

Sebaceous filaments are thin, threadlike appendages that line your sebaceous (oil) glands. They help move an oily lubricant called sebum from the glands to the surface of your skin.

How to remove white buildup on scalp?

How to Get Rid of Scalp Buildup: 6 Expert-Approved Tips
  1. Detox Your Hair.
  2. Pick the Right Products.
  3. Use A Scalp Treatment.
  4. Wash Your Hair Regularly and Thoroughly.
  5. Brush to Mitigate Excess Sebum.
  6. Exfoliate Your Scalp.

What does a clogged sebaceous gland look like?

Sebaceous hyperplasia looks like small bumps (about 3 millimeters or mm, usually ranging from 2 mm to 6 mm). They're usually skin-colored, yellow or brown with a little dent in the center.

Which shampoo is best for sebum control?

Products that provide the solution
  • Scalp Therapies Solv-X Shampoo. This shampoo is designed to address excessive sebum production on the scalp, oily scalp, or acne.
  • Sabal Shampooing Traitant Séboréducteur. ...
  • Botéa Elements Scalp Control Sebum Control Shampoo. ...
  • Kérastase Specifique Bain Vital Dermo-Calm.

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