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Can You Tell If This Is An In-grown Hair Or
Question: Can you tell if this is an in-grown hair or a tick or dried blood or something else? It's on my chest and feels dry and rough. I don't think it has legs. I'm going to try to upload a picture.
I'm having trouble uploading the picture. Can I send it as a link to a picture I saved in dropbox?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/urn9f7ubp6mbdeo/IMG_5425.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/urn9f7ubp6mbdeo/IMG_5425.JPG?dl=0
Brief Answer:
It's a little hard to tell
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask a Doctor'. It's a little hard to tell from the picture, but it does look strange and I can't tell exactly what it is. Are you able to remove it? If so, if you can take another picture of it, that might help. Can you see a head on it? It does not look like a tick, but I can't say for sure what it is based on the picture.
If you can send some more pictures, perhaps after removing, please let me know and I can take another look at it.
It's a little hard to tell
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using 'Ask a Doctor'. It's a little hard to tell from the picture, but it does look strange and I can't tell exactly what it is. Are you able to remove it? If so, if you can take another picture of it, that might help. Can you see a head on it? It does not look like a tick, but I can't say for sure what it is based on the picture.
If you can send some more pictures, perhaps after removing, please let me know and I can take another look at it.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Does this make it easier to see? I used my Canon macro lens and got up close. I think it's a hair follicle although the two things at the top look a little like eyes.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ltbchrtjwh7c4ia/Follicle-.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ltbchrtjwh7c4ia/Follicle-.jpg?dl=0
Brief Answer:
Looks like a hair follicle
Detailed Answer:
Yes, that picture is more clear, and it does not look like a tick, it does look like a hair follicle, perhaps covered in sebum.
It looks like there may also be some folliculitis. If you can remove the hair follicle, that should be fine, and I think putting some antibiotic ointment on the area for a few days could help as well.
I hope that helps...
Please let me know if you have any other questions, I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Looks like a hair follicle
Detailed Answer:
Yes, that picture is more clear, and it does not look like a tick, it does look like a hair follicle, perhaps covered in sebum.
It looks like there may also be some folliculitis. If you can remove the hair follicle, that should be fine, and I think putting some antibiotic ointment on the area for a few days could help as well.
I hope that helps...
Please let me know if you have any other questions, I would be glad to discuss it with you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I pulled it out this morning. I wanted to take a picture but it immediately fell down the sink. My only concern is that it came out easily and painlessly, and I thought taking an ingrown hair out would take a while and be painful. Can an ingrown hair come out easily? Maybe it was was loose from my messing around with it the past few days? I did pull on it a few times. This doesn't make you worry that it was a tick, or does it?
Brief Answer:
Not concerned about a tick
Detailed Answer:
No, I still wouldn't be concerned about a tick, it does not have the appearance of any tick I know of, and the fact that it came out easily does not concern me, it may have already been loosened by the inflammation and manipulating it, as you mentioned. I would only suggest using the antibiotic ointment I mentioned before, and watch for any changes in the redness.
Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.
Not concerned about a tick
Detailed Answer:
No, I still wouldn't be concerned about a tick, it does not have the appearance of any tick I know of, and the fact that it came out easily does not concern me, it may have already been loosened by the inflammation and manipulating it, as you mentioned. I would only suggest using the antibiotic ointment I mentioned before, and watch for any changes in the redness.
Please let me know if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help any way I can.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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