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Causes of Hard Scalp Bumps

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Last updated January 5, 2024

Hard scalp bump quiz

Take a quiz to find out what's causing your bump.

Finding a hard scalp bump may be concerning, but in most cases, it’s not serious. Some causes could be a skin condition, injury, infection, or abnormal cell growth.

Hard scalp bump quiz

Take a quiz to find out what's causing your bump.

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Hallmarks of hard bumps on the scalp

You may notice a new bump on your scalp while combing, brushing, or washing your hair — which can be alarming. However, most causes of hard scalp bumps are treated easily, some may require medication and/or evaluation by a medical professional.

Common characteristics of hard scalp bumps

Depending on the cause, hard scalp bumps may present with the following.

  • Large or small
  • Soft or firm
  • Single or multiple
  • Mobile: This means it moves when you touch or press it.
  • Fixed: This means it feels stuck in its location.
  • Tender or not tender
  • Itchy or not itchy

Common accompanying symptoms of hard scalp bumps

Scalp bumps can also present with the following.

  • Redness
  • Pain or tenderness
  • Itchiness
  • Skin that feels hot to the touch in the area of the bump
  • Fever

Duration of symptoms

The length of time that you may experience a hard scalp bump can vary. When monitoring your scalp bump, keep track of its size, color, and any associated symptoms.

  • Temporary: A scalp bump may last for only a few days before it resolves on its own.
  • Persistent: A scalp bump may seem to grow over time or not go away.

Are painful scalp bumps serious?

Hard scalp bumps can be harmless or require treatment.

  • Not serious: A small scalp bump that resolves on its own is not serious.
  • Moderately serious: See a physician if you have a large scalp bump associated with redness or pain, especially if you also have a fever.
  • Serious: See a physician for scalp bumps that grow and feel fixed in place.

What causes hard bumps on the scalp?

There are many potential causes for hard scalp bumps. The following details may help you better understand your symptoms and if and when you need to see a physician.

Infectious causes

Skin infections or those within the body due to bacteria, viruses, or fungi can cause a hard scalp bump.

  • Bacterial skin infections: Your scalp is covered in hair follicles, tiny sacs from which each strand of hair grows. Bacteria can infect hair follicles and lead to folliculitis. An open cut, if exposed, can lead to cellulitis, an infection of the skin and area under the skin. If your skin infection doesn't resolve, this can lead to an abscess or a pocket of pus as your body tries to fight the infection.
  • Viral skin infections: Viruses can also cause small scalp bumps in the form of skin-colored warts.
  • Fungal skin infections: Fungi can cause a variety of scalp infections, including ringworm, which causes an itchy, red, circular rash.
  • Lymph node enlargement: Lymph nodes are small glands where the cells that fight infections live. Lymph nodes can grow in size and appear as single or multiple bumps in your scalp as they respond to an infection due to bacteria, fungi, or viruses.

Traumatic causes

Scalp bumps may be due to an injury to your scalp. Bumping your head may result in swelling or a “knot” to form. This knot is due to blood or fluid collecting under the skin of your scalp and can involve bruising and tenderness.

Abnormal cell growth

Sometimes a scalp bump can be due to abnormal growth of a variety of different cells that make up your body. These cells can include the following.

  • Fat cells: These cells can grow into bumps called lipomas.
  • Pigment-containing cells: Melanocytes can form into a melanoma.
  • Basal cells: These skin stem cells can morph into basal cell carcinoma.
  • Keratin collections: Scalp bumps can also be due to a collection of keratin, the main protein in your skin, and lead to cysts.

This list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have.

Wart

Warts, also called common warts or verrucae, are small, rough, rounded growths on the top layer of the skin. They may appear singly or in clusters.

Common warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and are contagious through direct contact, especially through a break in the skin. They may spread from one place on the body to another simply through touch.

Anyone can get warts but they are most common in anyone with a weakened immune system, as from illness or chemotherapy. Children and teenagers are also susceptible to warts.

Warts often first appear on the hands and fingers, especially near the nails or after any injury to the skin. This is why biting fingernails is a risk factor for warts.

Warts are benign, meaning they are not cancerous. But they can be unsightly and interfere with normal use of the hands, so treatment is often beneficial.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination. Warts in children sometimes go away without treatment, but otherwise most warts can be easily removed in a doctor's office.

Skin cyst

A cyst is a small sac or lump, filled with fluid, air, fat, or other material, that begins to grow somewhere in the body for no apparent reason. A skin cyst is one that forms just beneath the skin.

It's believed that skin cysts form around trapped keratin cells – the cells that form the relatively tough outer layer of the skin.

These cysts are not contagious.

Anyone can get a skin cyst, but they are most common in those who are over age 18, have acne, or have injured the skin.

Symptoms include the appearance of a small, rounded lump under the skin. Cysts are normally painless unless infected, when they will be reddened and sore and contain pus.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination. A small cyst can be left alone, though if it is unsightly or large enough to interfere with movement it can be removed in a simple procedure done in a doctor's office. An infected cyst must be treated so that the infection does not spread.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: skin-colored armpit bump, marble sized armpit lump, small armpit lump

Symptoms that always occur with skin cyst: skin-colored armpit bump

Urgency: Wait and watch

Skin abscess

A skin abscess is a large pocket of pus that has formed just beneath the skin. It is caused by bacteria getting under the skin, usually through a small cut or scratch, and beginning to multiply. The body fights the invasion with white blood cells, which kill some of the infected tissue but form pus within the cavity that remains.

Symptoms include a large, red, swollen, painful lump of pus anywhere on the body beneath the skin. There may be fever, chills, and body aches from the infection.

If not treated, there is the risk of an abscess enlarging, spreading, and causing serious illness.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination.

A small abscess may heal on its own, through the body's immune system. But some will need to be drained or lanced in a medical provider's office so that the pus can be cleaned out. Antibiotics are usually prescribed.

Keeping the skin clean, and using only clean clothes and towels, will help to make sure that the abscess does not recur.

Rarity: Common

Top Symptoms: rash with bumps or blisters, red rash, red skin bump larger than 1/2 cm in diameter, pus-filled rash, rash

Symptoms that always occur with skin abscess: rash with bumps or blisters

Urgency: Primary care doctor

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole. Most s have a black or black-blue area. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole. It may be black, abnormal, or "ugly looking."

You should visit your primary care physician. Surgery is the first treatment of all stages of melanoma. Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation, biologic, and targeted therapies. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.

Lipoma

Lipoma is a word that translates as "fatty tumor," but a lipoma is not cancer. It is simply a growth of fat between the muscle layer and the skin above it.

The exact cause is not known. The condition does run in families and is associated with other unusual syndromes such as adiposis dolorosa, which is similar. Lipomas most often appear after age 40.

Symptoms include a soft, easily moveable lump beneath the skin, about two inches across. A lipoma is painless unless its growth is irritating the nerves around it. They are most often found on the back, neck, and abdomen, and sometimes the arms and upper legs.

It is a good idea to have any new or unusual growth checked by a medical provider, just to make certain it is benign.

Diagnosis is made through physical examination, biopsy, and imaging such as ultrasound or CT scan.

Most of the time, treatment is not necessary unless the lipoma is unsightly or is interfering with other structures. It can be removed through surgery or liposuction.

Rarity: Uncommon

Top Symptoms: skin-colored groin bump, marble sized groin lump, small groin lump

Symptoms that always occur with lipoma: skin-colored groin bump

Urgency: Wait and watch

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common kind of skin cancer. It can develop almost anywhere on the body. It appears as abnormal spots or bumps on the skin. These bumps are often pink, red, or skin-colored and sometimes have a shiny surface. The main risk factor for developing this condition is prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Sun exposure and tanning beds are both sources of UV radiation. People with a history of sunburns, previous skin cancer, and a weakened immune system are at higher risk for this condition.

Most cases of BCC can be easily treated because they grow slowly. Though if not treated, it can spread inside the body. Your provider will do a skin exam and possibly skin sample test, known as a biopsy. Treatment will depend on where the cancer is, its size, and your medical history. Some treatment options include cutting out the bump, freezing it, or using medicated skin cream.

Atypical mole

Moles are growths on the skin. They happen when pigment cells in the skin, called melanocytes, grow in clusters. Certain moles are considered "atypical" because of their size and characteristics, which require careful watching and possibly even biopsy in order to monitor for development into cancer. Atypical moles, also called dysplastic nevi deserve more attention than normal moles.

You should go see your primary care doctor to examine the mole. He or she can determine if next steps are necessary.

When and how to treat hard lumps on the scalp

Treatments for hard scalp bumps can begin at home as long as symptoms are not severe. However, see a physician for further medical treatments if symptoms persist.

At-home treatments

Try the following treatments at home to address your symptoms.

  • Warm and cold compresses: Compresses can help reduce pain and swelling if your scalp bump is due to infection or trauma.
  • Pain medications: Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or aspirin can help reduce pain, swelling, and redness. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also help with pain and fever but does not treat swelling and redness.
  • Fluid intake: If your scalp bump is due to an infection, increase your fluid intake to help fight the infection, especially if you also have a fever.

When to see a doctor

Some scalp bumps are treated with home remedies and others require a physician's care, especially if you notice any of the following.

Change in shape, size, or color of a scalp bump over time

Medical treatments

Your physician may recommend the following treatments.

  • Incision and drainage: If your scalp bump is due to an infection and pus is collecting under your skin, a small hole (incision) in the skin overlying the bump can allow pus to drain.
  • Antibiotics or antifungals: An antibiotic or antifungal in pill or cream/ointment form can fight the infection if the scalp bump is due to a bacterial or fungal cause.
  • Surgery: If the scalp bump is due to abnormal growth of cells, a physician may recommend surgery to remove the bump to determine whether the growth is cancerous or not.

FAQs about hard scalp bump

Why is my scalp bump painful?

The pain you’re feeling depends on the cause of the scalp bump. Scalp bumps due to an infection may cause pain as the body responds to alert you of illness.

When is pain considered serious after bumping my head?

If your scalp bump is due to trauma, such as bumping your head, the pain you’re feeling is most likely the aftermath of the damage to the area in and around the bump. If your pain doesn’t get any better or gets worse, see a physician. If your scalp bump appears after trauma and is associated with severe pain or a headache, see a physician immediately.

Will my scalp bump go away on its own?

It depends. If your scalp bump is due to abnormal cell growth, it might stay the same, grow, or shrink. If it is due to an infection, it might go away on its own as your body fights the infection, or might go away with over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

Do scalp abscesses ever resolve on their own?

If your scalp bump is due to an infection and is causing a collection of pus (an abscess), it might go away, but usually, this requires drainage by a physician. See a physician for any bump that persists or grows over time.

Why is my scalp bump growing?

Your scalp bump may be growing due to fluid or blood collecting in and around the area of the bump. If your scalp bump is due to trauma, swelling around the injured area is common, but this swelling should decrease over time. A scalp bump due to infection may grow as pus collects in the bump under the skin or as lymph nodes enlarge in reaction to the infection. A scalp bump can also grow if abnormal cells or protein (like keratin) build up. These cells can be cancerous or non-cancerous. See a physician for any scalp bump that grows quickly or changes color or shape.

Questions your doctor may ask about hard scalp bump

  • What color is the bump?
  • Any fever today or during the last week?
  • Are you experiencing a headache?
  • Do you feel pain when you touch the bump?

Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions.

Hear what 2 others are saying
Once your story receives approval from our editors, it will exist on Buoy as a helpful resource for others who may experience something similar.
The stories shared below are not written by Buoy employees. Buoy does not endorse any of the information in these stories. Whenever you have questions or concerns about a medical condition, you should always contact your doctor or a healthcare provider.
Cutaneous b-cell lymphomaPosted May 21, 2021 by J.
The hard bumps aka nodules on the top of my head actually turned out to be a rare disease called cutaneous B-cell lymphoma. Diagnosed by two puncture biopsies. No other symptoms and, thankfully, after blood work & a PET/CT scan, it was nowhere else in my body. There is no cure for this. It is chronic and treatments are palliative. This is a slow progressing lymphoma. Hoping that no other symptoms develop such as night sweats, fever, etc., and that it doesn’t spread anywhere else. Testing has drained my HSA and yearly PET/CT scans to make sure it hasn’t spread will cost me $6,600 (that’s my out-of-pocket maximum). It is hard to live in fear that this will eventually get worse. Infusion therapy is somewhere in the $30,000 range. This kills 99% of the b-cells and can last 2-3 years. There is no known cause for these autoimmune diseases.
Any ideas?Posted April 10, 2021 by S.
This past Monday I was going to shave my scalp and noticed no lumps but decided not to shave it as it wasn't too long yet. This is important because starting from let's say noonish I had a headache I could feel slowly coming on, which is strange as they usually come on fast. By 6 I was full-blown headache but wouldn't say I was at a point that I could call it a migraine. As it wasn't that severe, I went to sleep early at 8ish (with a headache) in the hopes I would sleep it off and be ready for work the next morning at 7 am (waking up at 5 to get ready.) Instead, I was woken up from sleep with an intense full-blown migraine, which felt more on the left side but also front and center. It seemed to get progressively worse and started to feel like my head was swelling. I tried everything to find relief from pain, blindly looking for my Magic Bags (supposed to help with headaches) while not noticing they were in front of my face the whole time. Unable to lie down, unable to sit, I resorted to pacing bcuz I don't know why. Eventually attempting a shower with the lights out where I just stood under the hot water and let it soothe my head. It was at this time that I found a bump perfectly centered front scalp. When I mean perfectly centered, I mean it was literally a straight line from my nose. As the night progressed further, I took more and more Tylenol and eventually took anxiety meds and fell asleep after throwing up from the pain. The next day I woke up not with a headache but with more of a hungover drained feeling. I did absolutely nothing all day. I went to the dr Wednesday, still with tension on the left side of my head and pressure on my newly acquired lump. Since then I have a sensitivity to light and a ringing sound periodically in my left ear and pressure behind my left eye/forehead while feeling off-balanced. I have had an ultrasound and the results come back Monday. Symptoms leading up to this event were carsickness any time was in one and being hungry and then eating 4 bites and feeling full. I get results back Monday I'm told but still don't know what to do and I'm worried lump or swelling from lump is quarter-sized.
Dr. Rothschild has been a faculty member at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He currently practices as a hospitalist at Newton Wellesley Hospital. In 1978, Dr. Rothschild received his MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin and trained in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in critical care medicine. He also received an MP...
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References

  1. Skin and soft tissue infections. American Family Physician. 2015;92(6):online. AAFP Link
  2. Folliculitis and carbuncles. Massachusetts General Hospital. Massachusetts General Hospital Link
  3. Cellulitis. U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Updated August 30, 2016. MedlinePlus Link
  4. Abscess. U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Updated May 2, 2016. MedlinePlus Link
  5. Ringworm. American Academy of Dermatology. AAD Link
  6. Melanoma. American Academy of Dermatology. AAD Link
  7. Basal cell carcinoma. American Academy of Dermatology. AAD Link
  8. Cysts. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. AOCD Link