Sebum Plug (often mistaken for a parasite or lice egg)

Natural Habitat

Human skin (common on the scalp, face, and nose)

Diet & Feeding

N/A (Not a living organism)

Behavior Patterns

These form when a hair follicle or pore becomes clogged with a mixture of sebum (skin oil) and dead skin cells/keratin. They are often expelled or scratched out from the scalp or pores.

Risks & Benefits

Risk: Purely cosmetic annoyance; sometimes mistaken for lice nits or skin parasites, leading to unnecessary anxiety (delusional parasitosis). Benefit: Normal physiological product of skin function.

Identified on: 2/20/2026