white hair/threads on my breast.. What's going on???

Like many of you I only noticed mine under my breast after becoming a mother. I have also notices them around my hip area. I am wondering if it may be caused from overly pesticided cotton? As I have only ever worn cotton underwear. May be time to find some organics. From looking at images of morgallons disease it doesn't seem to have the same look. And only the areas that are always in contact with cotton are affected. 

I have had them on my breasts since my youngest was born eight years ago. A couple of tears ago they started growing along my jaw , under my chin, and the sides of my face. Only recently have I discovered them on my stomach, arms, hips, thighs, and now forehead and temples. So frustrated, but "relieved" to hear others have had a similar experience. About 8 months ago I started a wheat/gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free diet due to a multiple food sensitivities. Because my diet is so limited it is difficult to find a lot to eat and I struggle with my energy levels, sometimes I just don't eat (which I know it's not health...wish I could actually lose some weight though). Anyway, after reading a couple of the previous post, it makes me wonder if it might be a "nutrition thing". Just my 2 cents.

I have them too I am only 15 though and have never had a kid or breast fed.

This post makes me feel so much better about this.  I've got the same problem, I'm 26 and I've never been pregnant.  I've had this issue for at least 4 years if not longer.  I also agree that it is not vellus hair, since that is just peach fuzz and while I do have that it is not the same as the problem we're discussing.  

I think the most logical answer is the bra/pant-line thing, how we all wear them and sweat there etc.  I have them on my breasts and lower stomach/hip area and nowhere else that I am aware of.  I haven't noticed any on my husband and since no one else has mentioned seeing them on men, I'm wondering if it a strictly female thing?  Something to do with our undergarments and maybe even our hormones.  Could even be related to the cotton or other material, maybe it isn't breathable enough or something and it allows bacteria to grow there and causes this issue?  I scrub thoroughly every time I shower but it doesn't seem to impact the quantity of little follicles I find.

I'm not sure about the nutrition thing, but I won't discount it either.  I am a little over my "suggested body weight" but I'm still rather average and I don't think I qualify as "overweight" so I'm not sure it's regulated to just that, either.  I also do not have stretch marks on my lower stomach/hips where these little follicles are, so I'm not sure they're related to stretch marks either.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichorrhexis_invaginata

^ The link provided reads as gibberish to me, I'm afraid, but I do relate to the statement that the little follicles are intermingled with normal hairs and vellus hairs.

I feel better knowing it's not "just me" and also with the theory of the undergarments being largely to blame.  Going to bookmark this page in case anyone remembers to speak to their doctor about it and updates this.  

Does anyone else have a problem where if they pull them out their fingertips start to hurt from pinching against their fingernails so many times?  Maybe I just have too many of them.  I can't usually get them with tweezers, but maybe I'm just not talented enough with tweezers for that.

I'm here looking for an answer just like you but from what i'm reading people seem to think it's to do with breastfeeding, commonly in your 20's, and dieting to name a few, i just have to say that it can't be any of these things!I'm 17 almost 18 and i've had these things between my breasts for years, i know i had them at around 14 so i'm pretty sure age doesn't matter, also, i've never been on a diet, and i'm over weight so dieting and weight doesn't seem to have much to do with it either. The best way i can decribe them are hairs just without the strength.

I have the same thing. never been pregnant, but I've had it since my early 20's.  It doesn't bother me in the least looks wise, I can barely see them, but they are addictive to pull out. There's never any resistance and I can't find any reason on the internet as to why they're there. 

Hello ladies!! I have the same issue, so I began to do more research since no one seemed to have any luck figuring this pesky thing out. I came across this in yahoo answers. It actually IS vellus hairs that have been trapped. Don't worry, it doesn't effect your health, it's just a nuisance. I guess if it's something you really can't take, you can get something similar to a wax done to remove them, however they can easily reoccur. 

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I found this because I was trying to figure out what was going on with me. I have the exact thing on my breasts. For me, I do think that it is hormone-related. I was pregnant almost four years ago and developed gestational diabetes. After I had my daughter I started having hormonal symptoms (patchy, dark areas on skin, acne, overheating, racing heart, always hungry) and these hair on my breasts was another symptom. The only thing I found that helps: diet and exercise.

About two years after my daughter was born I decided to get back in shape and started eating very healthy and exercising. All symptoms went away and the hair disappeared completely. My breasts were smooth again, with NO weird hairs. I go through cycles like that. I get lazy, stop eating right, stop exercising and all the symptoms come back. Go on a health kick again and they all go away. I get so much energy, my skin glows, I look healthier and younger. I'm on a downswing right now and the hairs are on my breast again (I am breastfeeding, btw) so I wanted to know what they are. I feel like due to my experience I know already what it's from and just want to know why it happens.

I think that reading this thread we are getting pretty close to figuring out the cause. It seems to be hormal. Almost all of you mentioned something that is related to your hormones, i.e. pregnancy, breastfeeding, the pill, weight gain, poor diet. Do any of you have symptoms of hypo or hyperthyroidism? Diabetes? Are you overweight? Do you eat poorly? Do you feel tired all the time? I think if we get ourselves back in order the hairs will go away. 

Hi ladies i have the same problem it is very embarrassing especially when they catch the light my heart was broken over until i started to get electrolysis which i can honestly say usthe only permanent solution.recently pregnant which aggrivated the hair and caused it yo worsen but i know ihad it before i was pregnant too. It may be worth your while getting some bloodtests to see if your hormone levels are normal because whem i did it came back thay im producing double tje maximum amount of a hormone you should have called prolactin. My doctor is referring me to an endocrinoligist who's going tp check if i have cystic ovaries and q brain scan to check my pituitary gland. They should be able to prescribe medd to balance the hormones l. In the meantime do NOT pluck the hair just book ifkr electrolysis to remove it permanently just make sure you are getting thr unnderlying condition adresses first. Best of luck!

Im sixteen too..and i noticed these small tiny hair like pojections..its kinda weird and poky..! I cant figure out wat it is..!

I have also had this issue for the past 15 years and unfortunately have developed a problem with tweeting them that has gotten so bad I am trying to find a therapist... Anyway, in doing some googling, I believe I have found an answer, from wiki "A sebaceous filament is a tiny collection of sebum and dead skin cells around a hair follicle, which usually takes the form of a small hair-like strand. They usually have white or yellow color, and can be expressed from the skin by pinching.[1] These filaments are naturally occurring, and are not a sign of infection or any other ailment. They help to channel the flow of sebum within a given pore, allowing it to seep gradually to the surface. David A. Whiting described them in his review in the Western Journal of Medicine as "a loose, porous mass of turned on detritus".[1] Sebaceous filaments are usually only notable around the thin skin of the nose.[2] They are often confused with blackheads, a type of comedo. Unlike blackheads, however, they cannot be removed and are a permanent part of the human skin." At least, it seems to be what these things are in my case, because unfortunately I have become so obsessed with them that I have tried to get to the end of them and have failed every time. At least I have a small amount if relief knowing that they really can't be removed.. All this time I felt like there was something foreign in my body, as I am bigger chested, now I feel a bit like maybe I should exfoliate more or something. Hope this had helped someone, take care.

I was just talking about this same thing. I got them while breastfeeding. This explains it...found on another board
Trichostasis spinulosa
It's called Trichostasis spinulosa. Under magnification it looks like this:
http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7001/6673436631_49b44055e2.jpg

It's a bundle of vellus hairs that have become trapped in the follicle, most likely because the opening has become misshapen (often due to stretching which is why they are often found on breasts).
They are not a health issue, so removal is a cosmetic choice. They are removed in a similar fashion to body hair, such as with forceps or wax strips. After removal, topical treatments can be applied as prevention.

Just to say, I agree with you. I get these on my breasts and on my waist. I wear bras (most of the time :p) and I wear my pants at my waist. This makes a lot of sense :)

same thing here as the other 21 year olds...Has anyone been able to uncover the reason??

Same here! I just turned 22, never pregnant! I notice they are more visible when I come out of the shower. I believe it is a fungus, and is some form of a yeast infection.