
Community identification
Sebum Plug (often mistaken for a parasite or lice egg)
Keratin plug / Sebaceous filament
- Order & Family
- N/A (Not an insect)
- Size
- 1-3 mm
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.