# 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:** 2
**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, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/21 "2006-07-12T18:17:42Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] 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**.) [/QUOTE] Sorry! It looks scary to me. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/22 "2006-07-12T18:21:15Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] Looks like an ingrown hair to me. And I’ve pulled lots of odd stuff out of patients in my career. Where the heck is **gabriela**? I wonder if she’s done a forensic study of ingrown hairs before. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/23 "2006-07-12T19:24:12Z")
Everybody keeps saying it’s no biggie. People! he has it photographed next to a ruler for scale, and with a normal hair for comparison. That _THING_ looks pretty big to me. Pardon yet another Star Trek reference, but anybody remember the one about that giant cream-horn looking thing that sucked in ships and planets and stuff? That’s the first thing that came to mind when I looked at the photos. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/24 "2006-07-12T19:38:26Z")
[QUOTE=indecisive1] Everybody keeps saying it’s no biggie. People! he has it photographed next to a ruler for scale, and with a normal hair for comparison. That _THING_ looks pretty big to me. [/QUOTE] Meh. It’s an ingrown hair. I’ve seen and treated waaaaay too many in my career. Or do you propose a different theory? ---
**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, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/25 "2006-07-12T19:41:26Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Meh. It’s an ingrown hair. I’ve seen and treated waaaaay too many in my career. Or do you propose a different theory? [/QUOTE] Yes. It looks like the poop thingies from shrimps. I forget what they’re called. So maybe the OP should look and see if his poops are less than they once were. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/26 "2006-07-12T19:49:16Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Yes. It looks like the poop thingies from shrimps. I forget what they’re called. So maybe the OP should look and see if his poops are less than they once were. [/QUOTE] You think his intestines are coming out of his face? 🆒 ---
**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, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/27 "2006-07-12T19:56:45Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] You think his intestines are coming out of his face? 🆒 [/QUOTE] Ya never know. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/28 "2006-07-12T19:58:26Z")
OK, I’m going out on a limb here, and suggesting that maybe it was a clove inserted into his face, like a ham. In that case – he’s cured already! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/29 "2006-07-12T20:01:58Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Meh. It’s an ingrown hair. I’ve seen and treated waaaaay too many in my career. Or do you propose a different theory? [/QUOTE] Ok, but why is it wearing a condom in the first photo? ---
**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, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/30 "2006-07-12T20:05:36Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] Yes. It looks like the poop thingies from shrimps. I forget what they’re called. [/QUOTE] “Dirt vein” is what we always called them in Florida. Not claiming that’s the proper name or anything. ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/31 "2006-07-12T20:09:52Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Meh. It’s an ingrown hair. I’ve seen and treated waaaaay too many in my career. Or do you propose a different theory? [/QUOTE] Maybe it is just a really big weird ingrown hair, or maybe it’s a mindless killing machine that will suck up pet rodents, cats and small dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/32 "2006-07-12T20:16:21Z")
[QUOTE=indecisive1] Maybe it is just a really big weird ingrown hair, or maybe it’s a mindless killing machine that will suck up pet rodents, cats and small dogs. [/QUOTE] The battle is not always won by the strong, nor the race by the swift. But that’s the way to bet. I’m betting on ingrown hair with its follicular sheath intact. ---
**Author:** ![shizaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@shizaru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shizaru)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/33 "2006-07-12T20:20:58Z")
Ugh! It looks like a cable…any chance you’re a cyborg? ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/34 "2006-07-12T20:22:52Z")
I get 'em. That’s a pretty big one I admit, but it’s not something I’d worry about. I had my own theory (no basis in fact or research) that maybe that’s why they’re called “whiskers”… the bundle of hairs together looks like the old “whisk brooms” made from a bunch of straw tied to a stick. You can generally break them apart into individual hairs. ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/35 "2006-07-12T20:50:13Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] The battle is not always won by the strong, nor the race by the swift. But that’s the way to bet. I’m betting on ingrown hair with its follicular sheath intact. [/QUOTE] Anything that has a sheath can’t be entirely trusted. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/36 "2006-07-12T22:04:00Z")
I have no feedback, but deeply admire your scientific spirit in posting photos. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/37 "2006-07-12T22:11:13Z")
I get these too; nearly always right on the jawline - the longer they stay buried in the skin, the thicker and more mutated they seem to get; most of them are thinner than the specimen here (although still 3 or more times thicker than my regular beard hairs, and completely consistent, visually, with the OP’s example. One time, I had one under my chin that didn’t surface at all and just formed a hard, painful lump that persisted for a couple of months; eventually it came to some sort of head and when I dug it out, the object inside was almost exactly like a little bird’s talon. The OP seems to have pulled out a rather exemplary one though; I’d recommend dabbing a little antiseptic on the area where it came out. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/38 "2006-07-12T23:05:52Z")
I get those too, once in a while. Speaking of TMI, it kind of reminds me of that other thread with the pores that ooze a seemingly impossible amount of pus. I had one of those once too. Maybe you could list it on eBay, since you have the pics already. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/39 "2006-07-12T23:10:09Z")
Has the hole in your jawline closed in yet? Keep an eye on it to see if another hair-o-lith grows back. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192/40 "2006-07-12T23:13:15Z")
Maybe a form of Morgellons? [http://www.morgellons.org/](http://www.morgellons.org/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-that-came-out-of-my-face-tmi-warning/364192.md?page=3)