What Is The Glob Like Structure At The End Of My Plucked Hair?

Posted on Fri, 17 Jan 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 17 Jan 2014 Answered on

Mon, 3 Feb 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Whenever I pluck my eyebrows there is a large black or clear glob that comes out at the end of the hair. Also, I recently just had a lot of random hairs (on my head) turn translucent/shimmery, and when I pluck those hairs there is a large amount of both clear and black glob at the end. is this normal? Grey hair does not run in my family, and I am an otherwise active 30 yr old female, so I dont understand why my hair would already be turning grey, and so quickly too.

Answered by Dr. Geetika Paul (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Hair fall and early greying Detailed Answer: Hi I understand your concern regarding your skin problem and I hope I am able to help you in the same. Your problem is mainly that of premature greying of hair. On plucking the hair, the round structure that you see is the hair follicle bulb. A white hair follicle bulb is not a cause of concern. It just means that the hair had completed its growth phase and now was the time for it to fall. So it is quite normal to have white hair bulbs. The only reason to worry is when the hair fall is in excess. Excess hair fall with white bulbs is called telogen effluvium and can be due to various causes. Any recent illness, surgery , any kind of physical or emotional stress or a change of season are important causes. Now as far as greying of hair is concerned, it is genetic in nature. It can only be partially controlled with medicines. I would advise you to take oral biotin tablets daily once a day. These are a type of multivitamins especially for the hair. You will have to take them daily for atleast three months. These will help both in controlling hair fall and the greying of hair. Dr Geetika Paul

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Geetika Paul (11 minutes later)

What about the black bulbs? Every single hair or eyebrow that I pluck has either a clear / white bulb or a black one.

Answered by Dr. Geetika Paul (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer: hair fall Detailed Answer: Hi again Both the White and black bulbs of hair are part of normal hair growth only. The white hair bulbs represent that the hair had completed its complete hair growth cycle and was ready for shedding while a black hair bulb means that the hair has fallen prematurely which can due to pulling out of the hair or any trauma. But both of these are a cause of concern only when the hair fall is excessive and occurs by itself. Dr Geetika Paul

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar