Ingrown hairs aren't dangerous, but they can cause discomfort while they last. Ingrown hairs develop when a strand of hair grows underneath the skin instead of growing up through the skin. In some parts of the body, ingrown hairs can be mistaken for a cold sore. Ingrown hairs are typically smaller than a cold sore. They often look like small pimple...

Canker sores, or aphthous ulcers, are shallow white lesions with inflamed pink borders that occur inside the lips and mouth. Minor canker sores are the most common, accounting for about 80% of canker sore cases. These are small sores that cause some discomfort but no scarring. In most cases, minor canker sores heal within a week. Major canker sores...

Like cold sores, pimples are lesions on the skin filled with pus. However, the similarities between these two bothersome conditions end here. Pimples are caused by clogged pores or hair follicles blocked by oil and dead skin cells. The skin becomes red before pimples erupt through the skin. Unlike cold sores, pimples do not resemble blisters. They ...