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I've noticed lately that I have a couple of "bumps" on my chest, and looked closer and noticed that they are in grown hairs... any ideas on how to stop getting them or how to un-do em....

It is usually caused by bacteria, especially the type called staph (Staphylococcus). It can also be caused by yeast and another type of fungus. Folliculitis caused by a fungus is most often seen in people who have trouble fighting infections because they have an impaired immune system.


Causes:
Use a hot tub, whirlpool, or swimming pool that is not properly treated with chlorine.
Wear tight clothes.
Use antibiotics or steroid cream for long periods.
Use or work with substances that can irritate or block the follicles. Examples include makeup, cocoa butter, motor oil, tar, and creosote.
Have an infected cut, scrape, or surgical incision. The bacteria or fungi can spread to nearby hair follicles.
Have a disease such as diabetes or HIV that lowers your ability to fight infection

Treatment:
Usually mild folliculitis heals on its own in about 2 weeks. Warm compresses made with white vinegar or Burow's solution may help relieve itching and aid healing. If the infection does not go away, an antibiotic or antifungal cream will usually clear up the condition. Medicated shampoos are available to treat folliculitis on the scalp or beard.

---WebMD

SurfnAsian said
I've noticed lately that I have a couple of "bumps" on my chest, and looked closer and noticed that they are in grown hairs... any ideas on how to stop getting them or how to un-do em....

Ingrown hairs can be avoided by shaving more often, if you shave, at all. Usually, you can pull them up with a sanitary pair of tweezers. If you shave your legs, chest, arms, etc., and have problems with ingrowns shaving more often will help. (The hair won't curl over and grow back in.) Left untreated, they'll usually eventually come out on their own, but, you can often nudge them with a pair of clean tweezers.

Sometimes, if they get infected, and become boils, you need to soak them with a hot, wet, compress, and get the boil to "turn over". The heat and warmth brings the white cells to the surface where you can express them. If a boil is bad, it may require lancing, but, most folks can get them to turn over with heat, and moisture.

If you have acne, a bacterial infection, you may need to get on an antibiotic.

I use a Braun electric razor and for scrubbing a good antibiotic soap and a thing called a Buff Puff...



http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=16491&catid=151&brand=8856&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=151&trxp2=16491&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND

This combination has worked on both my head, neck and any other body part that I'm motivated to shave, for many years...

You can use iodized salt as a scrub in the shower. Don't rub too hard also you might want to consider switching to a natural soap. The general supermarket soap (irish spring and the like) has a lot of chemicals that clog pores and don't leave you clean. This can also cause ingrown hairs. I use www.grandmagees.com it's natural, gay owned and operated and I use it on my face after shaving and no irritation or ingrowns ;-) hope that helps.

Do you shave your chest? If so, why? I think that in most cases this is where the trouble starts.

rugger....yes i shave my chest and my pubes... but the ingrown hairs are usually on my chest, i wash everyday with a scrubby thingee, change my soaps often, but once in awhile i get ingrown hairs, so i was just wondering if any of you RJ guys have had to deal with this, and how...

I like the salt idea also...

steltom saidI use a Braun electric razor and for scrubbing a good antibiotic soap and a thing called a Buff Puff...



http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=16491&catid=151&brand=8856&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=151&trxp2=16491&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND

This combination has worked on both my head, neck and any other body part that I'm motivated to shave, for many years...

Not what I think are ingrown hairs, but something else very odd, always on my chin. It starts as a deep pain, and I know what's coming. About a week later a visible red bump appears, and when I think it's ready I squeeze it, and out pops a giant thick whisker!

I mean it's thick like a toothpick, a little over 1/4" long, perfectly straight, not bent or twisted. Upon examination, it turns out to be a number of smaller hairs all bunched together, like a brush. Anyone ever have that happen to them? Is that also an ingrown hair? I get one about once every 6 months or so.

SurfnAsian saidrugger....yes i shave my chest and my pubes... but the ingrown hairs are usually on my chest, i wash everyday with a scrubby thingee, change my soaps often, but once in awhile i get ingrown hairs, so i was just wondering if any of you RJ guys have had to deal with this, and how...

to go along with what everone is saying about shaving u seem like u might have thick hair (judging from the hair on ur head) so it is not recomended for ppl with thick body hair (like myself) to use any razor with more than 3 blades, that reduces ingrown hairs.

Waxon...
so don't use a razor with more than 3 blades??? so like use one with just two,kinda like a disposable one? cuz right now i'm using the mach 3 vibrating one... hmmmm