Causes of Bumps on Head and Neck: The little, annoying bump on the back of the head may be caused by the inflammation of a hair follicle. Often noticed after shaving, the medical term for these bumps on the head is Acne Keloidalis Nuchae (AKN). The small bumps on the back of the head are typically the initial stage of this condition. Prompt treatment is generally recommended to prevent its progression. More severe stages can result in a significant alteration to cosmetic appearance. The exact cause of AKN is unknown. However, medical professionals have noticed that it typically develops in association with an inflamed hair follicle, which has become ingrown. The body’s inflammatory response then causes scarring bumps on the head nape area of the neck. If the situation is not treated, the condition can worsen, causing a keloidal-like mass of tissue on the back of the neck.
How Does AKN Bumps on Back of Your Head?
The bumps on the head is caused by AKN “barber’s rash” forms by a hair follicle, under attack by the immune system, causing an irritating inflammation. These bumps can join together and form larger masses if not treated promptly. Medication alone often fails to cure the condition – rather, it often treats the symptoms causing the bumps on the head, which can disappear for a time, only to reappear again. Laser treatments may result in a possible cure if the condition is diagnosed and treated promptly, while still in a papular stage. Cases beyond these stages often require surgical removal of the affected area on the back of the head.
How it Starts: What Causes Little Bumps on Your Head?
Acne Keloidalis Nuchae is a skin condition consisting of pimple-like lesions on the head. The exact cause is not definite, but medical experts observed an association with shaving close to the skin. Shaving against the direction of hair growth can also be a factor. There could be other factors involved such as genetics and environment. Finally, because it affects men after puberty almost exclusively, it has been theorized that it may have to do with male hormonal activity.
Many times, the hair follicle is targeted by white blood cells sent by the immune system. The area surrounding the follicle swells, causing a bump on the head. It is commonly referred to as razor bumps or barber’s rash, due to the fact that people who developed these bumps on the head can trace the onset back to a visit to the barbershop.
Environment
The environment could play a part in the formation of acne keloidalis nuchae. Shaving with an unsanitized, eclectic razor might to be the main culprit, leading to the inflammation may be caused by AKN, possibly leading to bumps on the head. Another factor could be shaving against the direction of the hair grain. According to medical professionals, over ninety percent of individuals affected by AKN, have had a history of using electric razors for skintight haircuts. The use of razors can provoke the bumps on the head to form, in cases where follicular irritation is the driving factor.
These bumps on your head may be more serious than just a small rash. AKN can progress into more severe stages if left untreated. There is a possibility the condition can reach a tumor-like stage and create lifelong scarring and discomfort.
In addition, certain types of clothing can break the follicle, causing the hair to be attacked by the bodies white blood cells, forming a bump on the head. Collared shirts are notorious for destroying healthy follicles, pushing them into the skin, and trapping them – thus causing a bump on the head when the body sends white blood cells to defend itself.
What Causes Permanent Head Bumps ?: The Body’s Response
New hair growth can trigger intense inflammation most likely from the AKN. The skin reacts by developing bumps on the head, and thick scarring called fibroblasts, which are collagen-producing cells. The immune system attacks the hair shaft. causing inflammatory scarring. This, in turn, causes bumps on the head and nape area.
The immune system can continue to destroy healthy skin tissue, by using neutrophil and lymphatic cells to create hypertrophic scar tissue, forming even more dense plaque. The inflammation can additionally result in drainage and increased creation of sebaceous oil.
AKN is most common in the African, middle eastern, Asian and Hispanic communities. Essentially it affects men of color. Many believe this is due to the prevalence of thick, coarse, and curly hair in these communities, as well as the popularity of shaving the back and sides of the head. The combination of the two, in theory, is that these curly hairs grew into the skin after being cut. This would then prompt the inflammatory response that sets off the chain of events associated with AKN bumps after haircuts.
Why Does a Bump Formed on The Head Keep Coming Back?
A problem many individuals face with AKN is the chronic nature of it. Even though medication may treat symptoms for a temporary period, the bumps typically continue to reoccur.
This is, in part due, to the fact that the immune system cannot tell the new hair follicle from an invading pathogen. The body sends white blood cells to fight off this perceived threat. The follicle becomes under attack. Bumps form as a result. Then, the epidermis repairs itself by creating an abundance of collagen, contributing to a bump on the head. During this repair, new hair growth may become trapped under the thicker keloid-like tissue, once again setting off the chain of inflammatory responses.
These bumps continue to grow and if not treated, will come together and form a tumor-like mass on the infected area. This cosmetic disruption often causes pain, discomfort, and irritation to those afflicted. The positive news in there is a treatment for this chronic, often overlooked condition.
How Can These Bumps on The Head be Treated?
There have been new advancements in AKN treatment. Some of these methods include suppression of the inflammation with antibiotics, and immune modulators, steroid intralesional steroid injections. Larger bumps of AKN present for longer periods of time may not respond to conventional methods. In these cases, a physician may recommend surgical removal. With years of experience and successfully cured patients, Los Angeles dermatologist Dr. Sanusi Umar is a leading expert on diagnosing causes of bumps on the head as well as finding the right treatment for each case. His surgical approach allows his patients the luxury of more discrete scarring and the ability to feel comfortable with short hair once again.
Intralesional steroid injections minimize the swelling and discomfort. The only permanent fixes to this condition are laser treatment and surgery to remove the bump altogether. Hair removal lasers could have a permanent effect if the immune system triggers the hair shaft itself. Laser procedures work by dislodging the hair shaft within the bumps on the head, preventing it from being attacked by the immune system. It is generally only an option when an experienced physician diagnoses hair irritation as the leading factor of AKN’s development.
Video – Los Angeles Dermatologist Dr. Umar Treats Causes of Bumps on Head
Laser AKN Treatment Results
Below is an example of treating the causes of bumps on head with laser therapy. This patient’s early diagnosis and treatment factored into the effectiveness of the non-surgical AKN treatment.
Surgical AKN Treatment Results
Some cases of AKN may require surgical removal for a successful permanent, lasting eradication of the bumps from the condition. In these cases, Dr. Umar executes his signature excision method for a scar that heals along the back hairline for cosmetically acceptable results.
Contact Dr. Umar for free using the button below!
Frequently Asked Questions – Causes of Bumps on Head
What are the causes of bumps on head and neck areas?
There could be several causes of bumps on head and neck areas. One of the most overlooked is Acne keloidalis nuchae. This condition can manifest when a hair follicle becomes inflamed. Marked as apathogen by the body’s white blood cells as a defensive measure against pathogens. The inflammation then causes a bump on the head. Other causes might also include benign or cancerous tumors. So it is of the utmost importance to see a qualified physician if you find bumps on the back of the head.
Why does a bump form on your head and keep coming back?
An AKN bump, or a cluster several AKN bumps, may continue to reoccur when the body’s immune system continues to attack the hair follicle and shaft. Many experts believe this response is one of the main causes of bumps on back of head and neck areas. However, it is important to see a physician to have your bumps diagnosed properly and to refrain from self-diagnosis. There could be other causes of bumps on head.
Is there a way to remove these little bumps on your head?
The first step is to get a proper diagnosis. If the diagnosis is Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN), the permanent removal options for the bumps will include:
- laser therapy (for the early stages of the condition)
- Surgical removal: Often, the only curative treatment what causes bumps at the back of the head is the surgical removal of the affected tissue. Dr. Umar, a pioneer in the successful treatment of this condition, has developed a unique excision method for more cosmetically acceptable scars.
Further Reading
Click here to learn how Ving Rhame’s infamous scar may be related to acne keloidalis nuchae.