How do you stop pili multigemini?

I was watching Jeopardy one night, and I was scratching my chin while pondering what the capital of Montenegro was (it’s Podgorica, by the way) when I noticed the strangest thing in the world.

It was, as best as I could describe it, a Frankenstein whisker growing on my face.

This thing was nuts.

I kept picking at it, feeling it, and wondering what the heck was going on.

I went to the bathroom mirror and looked at this mega beard follicle sitting squarely on my chin.

How the heck I didn’t notice it until now was beyond me.

But as I sat there looking at this enlarged beard follicle, I was trying to figure out what was going on.

After all, it looked about 3x the size of any other whisker on my face.

So, I did what any man would do – I pulled it out – and I was SHOCKED.

Seriously.

This single follicle was huge!!

But then I noticed something, it wasn’t just a single hair, no, it was like three hairs melded into one.

It was weird.

So, instantly I whipped out my phone and started searching furiously online.

Trying to figure out what this could be and if it was normal.

I went to the WebMD health checker thing, answered a few questions, and found the answer:

Beard cancer (no, not really, but that was the result I was expecting).

Instead, it was this:

Pili multigemini.

…yeah, that’s not a constellation or zodiac sign.

No, its actually a rare phenomenon that happens to a lot of guys (source).

While it can happen anywhere on the body (as evident in this study listed on the NIH website), its most often found on men’s faces (probably because it’s the one area that we see and touch daily).

So, it led me on this hunt of cures, fixes, and just generally, if anything I, or others like me, can do to deal with pili multigemini hairs.

Here’s what I found out:

While Rare, Pili Multigemini Appear To Be Harmless (In Moderation)

A stray pili multigemini likely won’t be a cause for alarm in most men; those who have several of them may think otherwise.

Mentioned in the NIH study referenced above, the 33-year-old man had a broad patch of pili multigemini hairs growing on his back for ten years and was only experiencing itchiness.

So, how should you deal with it?

Best Method For Removing Pili Multigemini Hairs – Plucking, Laser, or Waxing?

Given that they are relatively harmless, most men will simply use their trusty pair of tweezers, remove them, and go on about their day.

If you are thinking about waxing, this is likely going to be overkill, here’s why:

Waxing and plucking are essentially do the same thing:

Rip the hair from the root out of the skin.

Plucking with tweezers is better for spot treatment, whereas waxing is better for broad areas or defining lines (i.e., eyebrows, chest, back, etc.)

However, some men who have a significant bankroll and never want to see a pili multigemini in the same spot ever again may opt for laser treatment.

While we think this is a bit excessive compared to a simple pluck of the tweezers, it’s at the very least a permanent method to rid your face (or anywhere else on your body) from growing a hair in this exact spot ever again.

Are There Preventative Measures To Avoid Pili Multigemini’s From Occurring?

In short, no.

From our research, we couldn’t find any definitive link between shaving, beard care, face creams, etc that may cause an increase in pili multigemini’s from sprouting up.

Some men do claim electric razors increase their occurrence, however, this hasn’t been scientifically tested.

Ingrown or infected Pili Multigemini’s Hurt!

Given that these Frankenstein hairs typically occupy 3 or 4 times the space of a typical whisker, when they become ingrown…boy do they hurt.

Your best bet with pili multigemini’s is to try and use either an alum block or witch hazel regularly.

These post-shave products are astringents and natural antiseptics.

They can play a crucial role in reducing the possibility of infection.

To make it work easier into your shave routine, we would recommend just simply getting an aftershave balm.

This condition, known as pili multigemini, is not usually dangerous or damaging to your hair or skin.

What is pili multigemini?

Pili multigemini is when several hairs emerge from a single hair follicle. It’s most commonly seen in penis owners’ beards and on the scalps of children, but it can happen anywhere on your body where hair grows.

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Researchers don’t know exactly what causes the difference in growth, but it’s thought to be genetic. Pili multigemini tends to run in families.

Because the condition doesn’t usually cause any concerns, researchers think it may be more common than many people realize: We simply don’t notice these overachieving follicles.

A quick primer on hair growth

Hair grows in four distinct phases. The first period, known as the anagen phase, can take 2 to 6 years.

During the anagen phase, the base of your hair follicle plumps up like an onion and begins building a hair. That’s the stage when pili multigemini happens.

For strong and hydrated hair

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Down in the bulb of your follicle, your hair splits into several shafts. Each one is wrapped in its cuticle. Your separate hairs then continue to grow from the same follicle.

During the catagen phase, your follicle shrinks. Your hair breaks away from your follicle base, but remains “rooted” in place. This transitional phase usually lasts from 10 days to several weeks.

The telogen phase marks the end of hair growth. Your hairs remain in place, but new hair growth begins in the same follicle. Telogen generally lasts close to 3 months.

Finally, in the exogen phase (which some researchers say is really the end of the telogen phase), your hair falls out. How long it takes for a hair to be shed depends on where it’s located.

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Your eyelashes, for example, may fall out in a couple of weeks. Your hair on your head could take as long as a year to fall out. It’s considered completely normal to shed between 50 and 100 hairs every day.

Does pili multgemini cause any health concerns?

Most of the time, the only symptom of pili multigemini is the different appearance of these hairs. Some people may notice some itching around their hair growth site.

Folliculitis

In some cases, your hair follicle can become infected — a condition called folliculitis. Painful pustules that look like acne can develop. They’re sometimes called razor bumps when associated with shaving.

Folliculitis often resolves on its own, but it may need to be treated by a healthcare provider if the infection worsens.

When to call a doctor for folliculitis

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it’s important to get treatment from a healthcare provider if:

• you have a fever
• the pustules have a foul odor
• you notice the infection moving to your surrounding skin

What can I do about these hairs?

If you don’t like the appearance of these hairs, there are several ways you can remove them.

Tweezing

Plucking them out with tweezers is an inexpensive option, but because these hairs take up more space, some people may find them more painful to tweeze than ordinary hairs.

There’s no evidence that removing pili multigemini by plucking will cause the same kind of hair to regrow in that area.

Laser hair removal

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If you want a longer-lasting solution, consider laser hair removal (LHR). LHR uses pulses of light to damage hair follicles, so they produce less hair. But the downsides of LHR include:

cost
• discomfort and irritation
• number of treatments involved
• eventual hair regrowth
• risk of changes to skin color

LHR results in a permanent reduction in hair growth, so eventual hair regrowth is not very likely when it’s performed correctly.

Additionally, when LHR is performed properly by a board certified dermatologist, there should be no risk of skin color change.

When performed by inadequately trained individuals, for example in a med spa, the risks may exist, but shouldn’t.

Electrolysis

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For people with very light-colored hair, laser hair removal may not be as effective. Some people with light hair opt for electrolysis.

During electrolysis, a dermatologist uses an epilator to deliver radio waves into your hair follicle, destroying its ability to grow hair.

As with laser hair removal, treatment takes several sessions and can cause some minor swelling and redness or discoloration in the treated zones.

The Food and Drug Administration classifies electrolysis as a permanent hair removal method, but it warns that infection and scarring sometimes occur.

Is there any way to prevent multiple hairs from growing?

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Because researchers don’t know exactly what causes multiple hairs to form, there aren’t any known methods of preventing their growth.

To lessen your chances of developing folliculitis, the American Academy of Dermatologists recommends these practices:

• Shave only when your hair and skin are wet.
• Shave in the direction that your hair naturally grows.
• Use a sharp, clean razor.
• Rinse your blades often as you shave.
• Allow your razor to dry completely between shaves to prevent bacterial growth.

The takeaway

Pili multigemini is the medical name for several hairs growing out of a single hair follicle. Why this growth pattern happens is not yet known, but the condition is usually not a health concern.

In some cases, the overgrowth may lead to:

• irritation
• itching
• infected hair follicles

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Most of the time, these problems resolve on their own, but if you develop a fever or a rash moves to other areas of your skin, it’s important to seek medical attention.

If you don’t like the look of your hairs, it’s OK to pluck them out. To delay regrowth, you could consider laser hair removal or electrolysis, which many health professionals consider permanent.

Hair grows in an astonishing array of:

• colors
• patterns
• dimensions

Pili multigemini is one of the more unusual presentations — and for most people, it’s a completely harmless one.

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