Bumps on the scalp can result from a variety of health issues, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, pilar cysts, hives, or ringworm. Some causes of bumps, such as skin cancer, require urgent medical attention. But often, a person can address the issue at home.
Bumps on your scalp can be a symptom of a few different health conditions. Most of the time, these bumps indicate an allergic reaction or clogged hair follicles, neither of which is usually a cause for concern.
Scalp buildup occurs when natural oils, dead skin cells, and hair products accumulate on the scalp. Over time, this can create flakes very similar to those that form in other conditions, such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.
Seborrheic (seb-o-REE-ik) dermatitis is a common skin condition that mainly affects your scalp. It causes scaly patches, inflamed skin and stubborn dandruff. It usually affects oily areas of the body, such as the face, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and chest.
You can also use mineral oil or olive oil on your scalp. Let it sit for one hour, then brush out your hair. That may help with dry, crusty patches. If none of that works, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicated shampoos or ointments that reduce scalp inflammation.
Eggs, called “nits,” cling to the hair shafts. These resemble small grains of sand that can be mistaken for dandruff flakes.
Picking at the scalp can put a person at higher risk of infection, scarring, and discoloration of the skin. A person who compulsively picks at their scalp may have a skin picking disorder. Treatment for a skin picking disorder often involves therapy and medication.
A sebum plug can look like a tiny bump under the surface of the skin or it may stick out through the skin like a grain of sand. When a sebum plug forms, bacteria that normally lives harmlessly on the surface of your skin can start to grow within the follicle. Inflammation follows, causing a breakout.
What Does Sebum Buildup Look Like? Sebum buildup appears as white or yellowish oily residue on the scalp. It sometimes produces flakes on the scalp and may be mistaken for dandruff, scalp eczema, or psoriasis.
What can cause sores or scabs on the scalp? Sores or scabs on the scalp are often harmless and clear up on their own. However, they can sometimes be a sign of a condition that may require treatment, such as psoriasis, contact dermatitis, or head lice.
Calcium deposits in the skin often seem to occur without warning. These bumps might be a sign or symptom of a medical condition. The primary symptom of calcinosis is the appearance of firm, pimple-like bumps or nodules on the skin that are white or yellow.
Symptom: Red and White Patches
The most common form of the disease is plaque psoriasis. It looks like areas of thick, swollen, red patches with well-defined edges. On top of these areas are the silvery-white scales.
A type of acne, sebum plugs happen when pores get clogged with sebum and dead skin cells. Sebum is oil your body produces to keep skin moist. Sebum plugs result from hormones and increased stress levels. Sebum plugs usually develop on the face, including the forehead, chin and nose.
Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells. It's hard for shampoo alone to wash away your oily scalp issues. And issues like stress and weather can increase the scalp's sebum production, making you even oilier.
Though you may be tempted to squeeze or otherwise get rid of a sebaceous filament, it's best to leave them alone. Squeezing or picking at sebaceous filaments risks scarring and spreading any bacteria that may be in or around the pore to other parts of your face, causing a breakout.
At first glance, keratin plugs may look like small pimples. They are usually pink or skin-colored. They also tend to form in groups on specific parts of the body. However, keratin plugs don't have the noticeable heads that typical pimples might have.
White piedra is a fungal infection of the hair shaft. This infection is caused by a type of yeast known as trichomycosis, which coats the hair in a white substance. This type of infection can happen to any hair on the body, including eyebrows, eyelashes, mustaches, beards, and pubic hair.
Sebum plugs commonly form on the forehead and chin. And because nose pores tend to be large, when they become even partially clogged, plugs can be even more noticeable. Plugs can also appear on your upper arms, upper back, or just about anywhere you have hair follicles.
Dermatillomania, also known as skin picking disorder or excoriation disorder, is a mental health condition where you compulsively pick at your skin. This can cause injuries, infections and scarring, leading to stress, anxiety and a reduced sense of well-being.
Bad habit or disorder? Compulsive scalp picking falls under the diagnostic category of compulsive skin picking (excoriation disorder) as a qualifier. Behaviors vary in presentation with some occurring with full awareness and intent while other times picking occurs when people are less aware.
Folliculitis signs and symptoms include: Clusters of small bumps or pimples around hair follicles. Pus-filled blisters that break open and crust over. Itchy, burning skin.
Dandruff results from the abnormal proliferation of a micro-organism from the Malassezia family, which is a yeast. This phenomenon causes skin cells in the epidermis to renew much too quickly. They appear in clumps on your scalp, forming large dandruff or patches that fall off or become sticky.
Sebum plugs are in fact small sebum glands, which secrete oil that is so thick that it becomes sebum. Sebum plugs occur in the hair or on the skin surface, because the skin cells are pressed into small pockets in these areas. The spots are quite harmless, and sebum is actually necessary for a number of body functions.
An overproduction of sebum can lead to oily skin. People with oily skin may notice that their pores look larger, and their skin appears greasy or shiny. Excess sebum combined with dead skin cells can form a plug inside the pore, resulting in blackheads and pimples.
If you were to squeeze a sebaceous filament, a white or yellow worm-like structure may ooze out. Or, the filament may not produce anything. Always take caution as trying to extract sebaceous filaments can injure the skin and cause permanent scarring. It can also damage and stretch the pore, making it appear bigger.