What is the Difference Between Ingrown Hair and Keratosis Pilaris

Ingrown hair and keratosis pilaris are two distinct skin conditions. Both these conditions can cause red, raised bumps on the skin. However, they have different aetiologies.

The key difference between ingrown hair and keratosis pilaris is their cause. Ingrown hair is a skin condition where hair grows back into the skin instead of upwards, while keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that causes patches of rough bumps to appear on the skin due to the buildup of the keratin, which clogs hair follicles.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ingrown Hair  
3. What is Keratosis Pilaris
4. Similarities – Ingrown Hair and Keratosis Pilaris
5. Ingrown Hair vs Keratosis Pilaris in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Ingrown Hair vs Keratosis Pilaris
7. FAQ: Ingrown Hair and Keratosis Pilaris

What is Ingrown Hair?

Ingrown hair is a condition that develops when hair grows back into the skin rather than upwards. This leads to redness, inflammation, and sometimes infection of the skin. This condition is normally a result of shaving against the direction of hair growth, from waxing, or any activity that blocks hair follicles. Moreover, symptoms of this condition may include tiny, swollen bumps where people shave, tweeze, or wax, small bumps that look like blisters, small bumps that are darker than the surrounding skin, burning or stinging, itching, and hair in the shape of a loop.

Figure 01: Ingrown Hair

A healthcare provider can diagnose this condition by looking at the skin and asking about hair removal habits. Furthermore, treatment options for ingrown hair include stopping shaving, tweezing or waxing until the condition improves (typically 1 to 6 months), taking drugs that help remove dead skin cells (retinoids), applying steroid creams, antibiotics creams, and cream contacting eflornithine (stop hair growing).

What is Keratosis Pilaris?

Keratosis pilaris is an autosomal dominant genetic condition that affects the skin. It is due to the buildup of the keratin protein on the skin that clogs the hair follicles. The symptoms of this condition are patches of tiny, rough, discoloured bumps on the skin, itchy or dry skin of upper arms, legs or buttocks, irritation of the bumps that causes them to become more discoloured, rough sandpaper like skin around the bumps and worsening of bumps in the winter months.

Figure 02: Keratosis Pilaris

Keratosis pilaris can be diagnosed through family history, physical examination, allergy test, and biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for keratosis pilaris include applying over the counter moisturizing creams, applying prescription-strength moisturizers, exfoliating, laser therapy and general skin care.

Similarities Between Ingrown Hair and Keratosis Pilaris

1. Ingrown hair and keratosis pilaris are two distinct skin conditions associated with hair follicle problems on the skin.
2. These conditions can cause red, raised bumps on the skin.
3. Both do not cause life threatening complications.
4. Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and biopsy.
5. They can be specific topical medications.

Difference Between Ingrown Hair and Keratosis Pilaris

Definition

1. Ingrown hair is a skin condition that develops when hair that’s been removed starts to grow back into the skin.
2. Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that develops when excess buildup of keratin protein clogs the hair follicles.

Genetic vs Non-genetic

1. Ingrown hair is not a genetic condition.
2. Keratosis pilaris is a genetic condition

Causes

1. Ingrown hair occurs after shaving, tweezing, or waxing.
2. Keratosis pilaris is caused by the buildup of keratin which is a hard protein that protects skin from harmful substances and infection.

Signs and Symptoms

1. Signs and symptoms of ingrown hair include raised red bumps that are like little pimples, boil-like sores, itching, and discomfort.
2. Signs and symptoms of keratosis pilaris include painless tiny bumps on the upper arms, thighs, cheeks, or buttocks, dry, rough skin in the areas with bumps, worsening when seasonal changes, and sandpaper-like bumps resembling goose flesh.

Diagnosis

1. Ingrown hair can be diagnosed by questionnaires and physical examinations.
2. Keratosis pilaris can be diagnosed by family history, physical examination, allergy test, and biopsy.

Treatment

1. Ingrown hair can be treated with medications such as steroids, retinoids, antibiotics, exfoliating gels and hair growth stopping creams such as eflornithine.
2. Keratosis pilaris can be treated with creams containing alpha hydroxy acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid or urea, creams derived from vitamin A, laser therapy, and gentle skin care.

The following table summarizes the difference between ingrown hair and keratosis pilaris.

Summary – Ingrown Hair vs Keratosis Pilaris

Ingrown hair and keratosis pilaris are two skin conditions associated with hair follicle problems on the skin. Ingrown hair is due to hair that is grown back into the skin instead of rising up, while keratosis pilaris is due to abnormal keratinization of the upper portion lining of the hair follicle. Ingrown hair is triggered by shaving, tweezing, or waxing wrongly, whereas keratosis pilaris is a genetic condition due to the excess buildup of keratin protein that protects skin from harmful substances and infection. This is the summary of the difference between ingrown hair and keratosis pilaris.

FAQ: Ingrown Hair and Keratosis Pilaris

1. What does an ingrown hair lump feel like?

• Ingrown hairs usually cause bumps, which are often red and itchy and often result in discomfort. The bumps are very similar to pimples. Moreover, this condition also causes boil-like sores.

2. How does it treat an ingrown hair?

• The treatment options for ingrown hair include shaving in the direction of hair growth, using prescribed medications such as steroids, retinoids, and antibiotics, using exfoliating gel, and using hair growth-stopping creams such as eflornithine.

3. What is the main cause of keratosis pilaris?

• Keratosis pilaris is an autosomal dominant genetic condition caused by the buildup of a skin protein called keratin. Too much keratin can block the hair follicles or pores in the skin, which leads to small, hard bumps on the skin.

4. How long does keratosis pilaris last?

• Keratosis pilaris will usually clear up naturally by the time people each age 30. However, this condition can worsen in the winter months when the skin tends to dry out. This condition may also worsen during pregnancy.

5. Is keratosis pilaris a vitamin deficiency?

• Keratosis pilaris is a genetic condition. But keratosis pilaris may be related to to vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A supplements or creams with small amounts of vitamin A may also help treat keratosis pilaris.

 Reference:

1. “Ingrown Hair: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, and Infections.” WebMD.
2. “Keratosis Pilaris.” NHS Choices, NHS.

Image Courtesy:

1. “tend skin 236 tend skin 118” By JoinMeInMyJourney (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

2. “Keratosis Pilaris on Back” By Impetus01 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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