# What is this thing that came out of my face? \*TMI warning\* **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192 "2006-07-12T15:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andrewhub47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@andrewhub47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewhub47)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/1 "2006-07-12T15:45:13Z")
_Possible TMI Warning!_ This is the second time this has occurred in 4 months, so I am starting to get curious. I just finished shaving last night when I saw a dark spot on my jaw line. Since this was the second time this has happened, I knew what it was. It is a dark, hair-like, “thing” that is under my skin. It goes down into my skin just as if it was a beard hair (I am male). I could only see the top of it barely beneath my skin. Since it grosses me out, I had to get it out. I dug under the skin enough so I could eventually get a hold of it with some tweezers and pull it out. It is ½ a centimeter long. It is about a millimeter thick and solid. Most of it is covered in a fleshy “sheath”, like the root of a hair. Like a hair, it stung a bit to come out, but it did not bleed. I am a very thin guy with a thin face and my wife exclaimed that if it was any longer it would be attached to my bone (my jawbone). Both times it has been on my jaw line, once on the left and once on the right. For those of you who like the gory details, here are pictures: _another TMI warning!_ (the smashed end is where I grabbed it with the tweasers.) [Still in sheath, next to measuring tape](http://img316.imageshack.us/img316/532/hair10xf.jpg) [Out of sheath](http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/8660/hair29lg.jpg) [Compared next to head hair](http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/1445/hair31pa.jpg) (and I have thick headhair) Does anyone know what this is? Any guesses? It is WAY too thick to be a real hair. I first thought it was a ingrown hair, but it is not curled, just thick and solid. It is frustrating and gross to pull this large solid dark thing out of my face, and I wish it would stop. I will probably ask the doctor next time I go in, but I’m curious in the meantime. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/2 "2006-07-12T15:48:12Z")
Just sounds like an ingrown hair to me … but, I didn’t look at the pictures - it’s still early here and, well, I didn’t want to get grossed out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/3 "2006-07-12T15:50:26Z")
Ingrown hair. Or, you’re turning into a [fly.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091064/) ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/4 "2006-07-12T15:55:25Z")
Just a hair. Sometimes on my face a hair will be unusually thick, and sometimes these are ingrown. ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/5 "2006-07-12T15:57:18Z")
I am not easily grossed out and have seen a lot of sick things in my life. This would freak me out if it came out of my skin. I shave daily and ingrown hairs look like thicker versions of hair. I have never seen one like this. What is wrong with you? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/6 "2006-07-12T15:58:34Z")
It is NOT an ingrown hair. At least not any normal ones. Did any of you look at the pics? That thing is freakish. Buddy, doctor, ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/7 "2006-07-12T16:04:27Z")
I have removed similar (but not nearly as thick) items, once or twice. I think what happens is that two (or in your case, more like 7 or 8!) hair follicles get damaged and kind of coalesce to produce a giant Super-Hair™. Yours is quite a big one though… ---
**Author:** ![Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b782af/32.png) [@Clockwork\_And\_Candy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clockwork_And_Candy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/8 "2006-07-12T16:04:58Z")
Why, oh, _why_ did I have to look at the pictures? My eyes… the goggles do nothing! Okay, I guess it could be an ingrown hair-- but I’ve had one before and it hasn’t huge, nor did it have a sheath. Have you had any missing time recently? You might’ve been abducted by aliens. Oh, wait! This is kind of like those weird implant-thingys from **They**. God, that movie was crap. :\ Yeah, it’s prob’ly nothing to worry about, though I’d say it’s a good idea to mention it to your doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/9 "2006-07-12T16:05:53Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > It is NOT an ingrown hair. At least not any normal ones. Did any of you look at the pics? That thing is freakish. > > Buddy, doctor, ASAP. Nah, I get those too, occasionally. It’s kinda cool to squeeze those suckers out. It is just a type of ingrown hair. Sometimes mine can even “unroll” a bit, like a little parchment. The first time I got one, it was disconcertning. I showed my roomate, who could not have been less interested. Mine seem like pimples, until I see the little black top, and then I go to town! ---
**Author:** ![FormerMarineGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/65b543/32.png) [@FormerMarineGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerMarineGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/10 "2006-07-12T16:06:54Z")
> [@Clockwork And Candy](#): > > Yeah, it’s prob’ly nothing to worry about, though I’d say it’s a good idea to mention it to your doctor. Nothing to worry about, it is like an accident on the side of the road, with dead bodies next to the car. You have to look twice, but morbidly so. I am saving that picture on my desktop to keep me awake. There is no way I could fall asleep after looking at those pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/11 "2006-07-12T16:12:20Z")
My husband had one of these. It wasn’t quite that thick, but close. We had to pull it out 3 or 4 times, and then it just went away. It seemed to just be a weird mutant hair. No lasting damage. Good luck with that. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/12 "2006-07-12T16:22:03Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > I have removed similar (but not nearly as thick) items, once or twice. I think what happens is that two (or in your case, more like 7 or 8!) hair follicles get damaged and kind of coalesce to produce a giant Super-Hair™. Yours is quite a big one though… Yeah, it’s not an unusual thing. It is an ingrown hair, but just with several follicles joined together. Happens occasionally with me, too. No need to seek medical advice. (Simmer down, **Anaamika**.) ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/13 "2006-07-12T16:29:10Z")
I am not a doctor, but I’m guessing they might be several follicles of hair growing together. Inspect it a little bit and see if you can’t break it apart and it is comprised of many normal-thickness hairs. I’m guessing the “sheath” you’re referring to is the congealed body oil that we all have to varying degrees. I think that same congealed oil “glues” these several hairs together and makes it appear to be a single solid “thing.” Let us know… ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/14 "2006-07-12T16:33:06Z")
See, people? _That’s_ how you do a TMI thread. Pictures!! ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/15 "2006-07-12T16:49:52Z")
> [@Susie Derkins](#): > > See, people? _That’s_ how you do a TMI thread. Pictures!! The masturbation thread (how often do you…) woulda gone on longer had they heeded your advice! ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/16 "2006-07-12T16:56:31Z")
I’m telling ya! ---
**Author:** ![TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoneyKingofNowhere)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/17 "2006-07-12T17:27:01Z")
This didn’t leave a hole in your face? Did you “unravel” it, or cut into it? For a second there, when I saw your post, I thought you were [Andrewt85](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php?userid=51877) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/18 "2006-07-12T17:53:44Z")
Yep. It’s what I used to refer to as a “stump.” I got a few in my 30s, but haven’t seen one in a few years. I enjoyed digging them out and looking at them! ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/19 "2006-07-12T18:13:53Z")
My husband had one of those once. He’s always pulling ingrown hairs with tweezers (I think he gets the ingrowns from using an electric razor). When he gets a very large one, he has to come show it to me. I agree with the other posters who say it’s an ingrown hair, actually several of them fused together with sebum (that oily, waxy “sheath” you describe). No biggie. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/20 "2006-07-12T18:14:22Z")
Ingrown hair. No biggie, but they can get infected. If so, see your MD. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192.md?page=2)