Sebaceous filament
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 hair-like strand. They usually have white or yellow color, and can be expressed from the skin by pinching.[1] These filaments are naturally occurring, and are not a sign of infection or any other ailment. They help to channel the flow of sebum within a given pore, allowing it to seep gradually to the surface. David A. Whiting described them in his review in the Western Journal of Medicine as "a loose, porous mass of horny detritus".[1] Sebaceous filaments are usually only notable around the thin skin of the nose.[2] They are often confused with blackheads, a type of comedo. Unlike blackheads, however, they cannot be removed and are a permanent part of the human skin. They may diminish in old age, as the sebaceous glands begin to produce less sebum.