| Sebaceous filament | |
| Synonyms: | Blackhead (mistakenly) |
| Field: | Dermatology |
| Treatment: | A topical retinol cream will help. |
A sebaceous filament is a tiny collection of sebum and dead skin cells around a hair follicle, which usually takes the form of a small, yellow to off-white hair-like strand when expressed from the skin.[1] [2]
These filaments are naturally occurring, and are especially prominent on the nose.[3] [2] They are typical among those with naturally oily skin and large pores, even if those individuals have ceased to produce acne.[2] They are not a sign of infection or any other ailment including acne,[2] and are commonly mistaken for, though cannot form,[2] blackheads. Expression, or squeezing, is discouraged as sebaceous filaments are a natural part of healthy human skin. As such, squeezing can lead to unintentional unnecessary harm, such as scarring or inflammation. They help to channel the flow of sebum within a given pore, allowing it to seep gradually to the surface. In 1979, David A. Whiting described them in a review in the Western Journal of Medicine as "a loose, porous mass of horny detritus".