4 Causes of Painful Red Bumps on Your Scalp
When I’m researching online, I’m surprised at some of the stories I hear. But, the ones which cause the most emotional pain are those related to health (i.e. cancer, different conditions, or illnesses with very few treatment options). This topic is something I try and avoid writing about because it’s sensitive in nature, but it’s also important to educate everyone.
The internet is often the only way people become aware of how to protect themselves, and what they can do in terms of treatment.
During my research, I read how many people suffer from painful red bumps on their scalp, so today I’ll be writing about scalp irritation and what causes it. Scalp irritation can cause frequent scarring if not treated properly. Before continuing, I would like to warn you – some do sound harsh.
Let’s explore some causes of the condition.
1. Tinea Capitis
This is also known as ringworm of the scalp, and is responsible for causing red, round bumps on the scalp. Ringworm is caused by a fungus called tinea, which infects the skin and can grow quickly. The only way to stop the spreading is by getting it diagnosed right away and determine how best to control it.
Ringworm bumps are painful, and depending on the seriousness, can fill with pus. The first line of defense would be to visit your doctor to find out how far the fungus has spread, and if a prescription is required. If it hasn’t spread that far, you can control it with antifungal shampoo.
2. Folliculitis
This causes inflammation where the hair follicles begin to grow, and can be very painful. The hair follicle root gets infected by external factors when it’s growing, and this causes inflammation. When not treated, it can lead to a serious infection, causing painful red bumps.
If left for a long time, the condition can progress, becoming Folliculitis decalvans, which permanently scars the scalp and hair follicle region. Your hair around that region will never grow back because of the permanent damage caused to the actual root or follicle. The onset of Folliculitis is said to be brought on by Staphylococcus aureus, which is the bacteria associated with the condition.
To treat it, it must be caught early before permanent damage to the follicle. It does, however, require several antibiotics to cure successfully.
3. Extensions and Braids
According to many doctors, red itchy bumps on your scalp may be due to extensions or tight braids. Both are known to cause hair loss, which leaves an open wound on your scalp, and can result in a serious infection. As you learned above, external factors can damage the hair follicle, causing inflammation, redness, and soreness. If untreated, the follicle root can become damaged, resulting in permanent hair loss.
If you are using extensions or have braids, then it’s important to use antifungal shampoo to avoid getting an infection. You also want to consider how you braid your hair because a tighter braid can cause immediate damage to the root.
4. Hormonal Changes
We all know how hormonal changes can bring on an onset of acne all over our bodies. But, it’s important you treat the ones on your scalp just like you would on your face, and/or back. Anti-acne shampoo is a great way to get started, and during this time, you might want to control your nutrition, too. Redness due to hormonal changes is not dangerous, but it’s important they don’t develop into pus. If they do, it’s important when they pop that the region doesn’t get infected.
If you suffer from serious acne during hormonal changes, then visit your doctor for prescription medication.
Redness, itchiness, and scalp infections can be very scary. For additional help, I’ve provided another resource for causes of itchy bumps on the scalp. Go through the list to check if any apply; you’ll also find treatments on that page. If you suffer from any of the conditions, visit your doctor to find the best course of action.
Featured photo credit: livestrong.com via livestrong.com
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