| Sebaceous filament | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Blackhead (mistakenly) |
 | |
| A 14-year-old with characteristic black kind of sebaceous filaments on the nose | |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
| Treatment | Retinol topical cream |
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] [4] They are typical among those with naturally oily skin and large pores, even if those individuals have ceased to produce acne. [4] They are not a sign of infection or any other ailment including acne, [5] and are commonly mistaken for, though cannot form, [6] 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 horned detritus". [1]
Sebocytes actively participate in innate immunity by releasing cytokines like IL-1α, IL-6, and TNF-α. [7]
