A bump on back of head bone may be hard, soft, small or large in size. Also, they can be either painful or painless depending on the causal agent of your condition. Explore facts, causes, pictures, signs, and symptoms of a lump on back of head bone. Furthermore, learn how to get rid of them with the help of medical treatments and home remedies.
Signs and Symptoms
It is common to develop a bump on the back of your head. The bump can occur on the surface of your skin or underneath the skin. The bump under the skin might develop typically on the bone of your head (skull) or just over the skin tissue that lines the skull.
According to the structure of your head, the back of the skull has a natural lump like structure called an inion of the head. This bump is a part of the bone that provides the surface area where the back of your head sits on the neck muscles.
However, the back of your head can develop abnormal lumps or bumps that appear in various forms. They can be small, large, few or numerous. In addition, the abnormal bump on the back of the head might be either painful or painless.
The common signs and symptoms that may accompany a bump on back of head bone include the following:
- Small or large bump on the back of the head either on the right side or the left side
- Few or numerous bumps on the back of the skull
- Redness, tenderness, and inflammation of the skin on the back of the head
- Painless or painful lump under the skin at the back of the head
- Soft, hard, or bony bump that protrudes at the back of your head
- Domed shaped lump like a hump above the neck on the back of the head
- Fluid-filled blister, sores and itchy open wounds on the back of the head
The bump on the back of your head may also accompany other symptoms such as severe headaches, fever, chills, and others. In case you notice the above symptoms, it is advisable to seek the help of your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Causes of Bump on Back of Head
The back of your head can develop strange bumps due to various causes. These causes can lead to the harmless or more serious condition. Harmless bumps at the back of your head are usually painless and they cannot advance into health complication.
Occasionally, the back of your head can develop chronic bumps that are caused by a serious health condition such as cancer and severe injuries. This requires you to go for diagnosis and medical treatment by visiting your doctor.
The possible common causes of a bump on back of the head include:
1. Injury to head
Bumps on back of your head can appear as a consequence of physical injuries. Hitting your head on a hard surface or object can damage your skull tissue that can lead to a painfully swollen bump to the affected area.
Some of the incidences that can lead to injuries and bumps on the back of your head are:
- From falling down due to accidental sliding
- Getting an accident crash in a vehicle
- Colliding heads during sports
- Sudden and hard hit or punch on back of your head
- Heaving object falling to your head such as stone and metals
- Violent hit during an altercation
Head injuries can result in minor or major damage to your scalp. Minor injuries can lead to external blood clot bumps to the affected area. The minor bumps of injuries can last few days on your head and heal without complications.
Unlike minor injuries, serious head injuries can lead to large bumps at the back of your head that can hurt so much. More dangerously, bleeding might occur to your brain. This can lead to serious brain damage that can lead to a chronic health condition.
In case the back of your head gets an injury that subjects you to unconsciousness, it is advisable to visit your medical doctor to curb internal bleeding.
2. Exostosis on the back of the head
Exostosis is a condition that is characterized by the growth of cartilage bone to the existing one. A hard bony growth can develop on the back of your head as a result of exostosis. This condition can occur anywhere on your body. However, it rare develops on the bone of the head.
The condition of having an exostosis bump on back of head is totally painless and harmless. if the bump is becoming bothersome, you can remove it surgically by visiting specialist in the field of surgery to help you in treatment.
3. Ingrown hair bumps
Ingrown hair bumps are also called razor bumps. There are small slightly itchy raised spots that can develop on the back of your head near neck after shaving. These bumps occur when the shaved hair curls or grows sideways insides its follicle underneath the skin.
The bumps of ingrown hairs are totally harmless and it can go away on its own within few weeks. Sometimes the ingrown hair bumps can be infected by bacteria and develop into painful bumps on the skin that require medical treatment.
4. Folliculitis
Sudden painful bump on back of head can occur due to folliculitis. This is an inflammation of the hair follicle due to bacterial or fungal infection. Folliculitis can result in soreness of the skin with itchy bumps that may contain pus.
You can develop this condition on your head if you are exposed to risk factors that encourage folliculitis. Risk factors of folliculitis include:
- Ingrown hair bumps due to close shaving
- Swimming in pools that are contains harmful bacteria and fungi
You can manage this skin condition by using suitable anti-biotic and medicated creams or shampoos. Alternatively, you can avoid risk factors that encourage folliculitis.
5. Epidermoid cyst
These are small painless hard bumps that can develop under your skin surface on your scalp. These bumps can also develop at the back of your head on either left side or right side. Epidermal cysts may take your skin color or appear yellowish.
The epidermal cysts are caused by the trapped keratin underneath the skin surface. These bumps on your under your skin can go away on its own without treatment.
6. Lipoma
A painless soft bump on back of head could be a lipoma lump. This is benign skin bumps that develop from the fat deposit. They usually develop slowly under your skin to form a painless raised bump. Lipoma bumps are a harmless condition that does not require treatment.
7. Insect Bites
The development of sudden painful bumps on the back of your head could be insect bites. Head lice and mites are common insects that can lead to the development of small red itchy spots back of your head near headline.
8. Keloid on back of the head
Keloid is a scar-like bump that can develop on the back of your head. These bumps develop from the overgrowth of skin tissues in an area that has a scar after an injury or surgical wound. According to Mayo Clinic, doctors attribute that Keloid is encouraged by genetic factors and often develop to the individuals with dark skin tone.
9. Cancer
Basal cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that can lead to the development of malignant bumps under your skin. This condition might be the reason behind the formation of a chronic red or pink bump on back of head.
Cancer is a chronic condition that can advance into health complications. In case you notice that your skin has thickened with hard bumps that look worrisome, you can consult your medical doctor to help in diagnosis and treatment.
10. Seborrheic keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis is a skin condition that is characterized by noncancerous bumps that look similar to warts. These bumps typically show up on head and neck. This condition might look similar to cancerous condition but it is totally harmless.
If you get worries from these bumps, you can go for surgical treatment that can help to remove the bump.
11. Pilar cyst
Pilar cyst is a type of harmless bump that can develop under your skin slowly. These bumps often develop on the scalp but they can as well show up to other parts of your skin. A Pilar cyst can range in size from a small bump to large lump.
These bumps are neither painful nor harmful. However, you can remove it surgical due to the cosmetic reasons.
12. Pilomatrixoma
This is a common skin condition that can lead to the formation of a bump on back of head and other parts of the body. This condition can occur in both adults and children (infants, toddlers or babies). Your scalp can develop this condition due to calcification of cells under the skin tissue.
13. Boil infection
A red painful pus-filled bump on back of head could be a boil, furuncle or carbuncle. It can occur when the hair follicle is infected by bacteria. You can manage boil infection by draining out the pus from the bump and take the prescribed antibiotics.
14. Other skin infections
You can develop a bump on the back of your head due to other rare skin infection such as chickenpox, rubella, ringworms, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and others.
Hard Bump on Back of Head
A hard bump on the back of your head can occur on the surface of the skin, under the skin surface or on the bone. The hard bump can be in a form of thickened skin tissue or bony like structure depending on the causal agent.
The common conditions that may lead to hard bump on the back of your head include:
- Exostosis: This is a bony growth bump that can develop of the back of your head bone.
- Cancer: the cancerous bumps are thickened skin tissue that appears like hard growth to the affected area.
Sometimes hard bumps on your skin might be symptoms of the cancerous condition. it is advisable to visit your doctor to help in diagnosis and treatment in case your head develop hard bumps that appear worrisome.
Painful Bump on Back of Head
Painful bumps on the back of your head may be either severe are mild. A severe itchy or painful bump on the back of your head could be an indication of a serious health condition that needs you to seek the help of your doctor.
The conditions that are usually associated with painful bumps on the back of head include boils, serious injuries, insect bites, folliculitis, and cancer. For the case of a painless bump, it can occur due to lipoma, exostosis, pilar cysts, epidermoid cyst, ingrown hair cyst and keloids.
Small Bump on Back of Head
What conditions can lead to small bumps on the back of my head? This is a common question that many people do question. If this is your interest, you should understand that the back of your head can develop tiny or small bumps due to various conditions.
The common skin condition that can result in the development of small bumps on the back of the head includes insect bites, ingrown hair bumps, folliculitis, Pilar cysts, and Epidermoid cyst. Already we have discussed these conditions in details under causes of bumps on the back of the head.
Large Bump on Back of head
In rare cases, the back of your head can develop large or big bump than normal. This lump can appear on right side or left side at the back of your head. Sometimes it can show up at the center of the occipital bone.
The conditions that may result in the formation of large or big lump on the back of your head include exostosis, lipoma, keloid, and cancer.
If the back of your head has a large bump that makes your head feel discomfort, you can seek the help of the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Home Remedies
You get rid of small, few and mild bumps on the back of your head using natural home remedies. Try the following treatments:
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is one of known medicinal herb that you can use as a home remedy to treat various skin problems including a bump on the back of the head. The herb has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to cure bumps on your head.
How to use:
- Get a lukewarm water on a basin
- Wash the affected skin area and pat dry it
- Use your hands to apply the Aloe Vera cream or gel to the affected area
- Allow it to stay on your skin for more than 15 minutes before you rinse it off
- Repeat this treatment three times daily for few weeks until the bump on the back of your head go away
2. Apple cider vinegar
You can use apple cider vinegar as a remedy that can help to treat bumps on the back of your head. This reagent has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to cure lumps on your skin at the back of the head.
How to use:
- Get a ½ cup of apple cider vinegar
- Soak a clean cotton ball in cider vinegar solution
- Carefully apply it to the affected parts of the skin on your head
- Rinse it after about 20 minutes
- Repeat this treatment two times daily until the bumps on the back of the head clear away
3. Lemon juice
The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of lemon juice make it an excellent home remedy that can help to cure a bump on back of head.
How to use:
- Get 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
- Soak a cotton ball into the juice
- Apply it directly to the affected area of your head that has a bump
- Allow it to dry before you rinse it off with warm water
- Repeat this procedure three times daily until the bump on the back of your head clear away
4. Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to treat bumps on the back of your head. The reagent can also help to soothe itchy bumps on your skin.
How to use:
- Get 2 teaspoons of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution
- Soak the cotton ball into the solution of hydrogen peroxide
- Apply it to the affected skin area that has a bump
- Repeat this steps three times in a day for few weeks until the bump go away
5. Salt solution
You can use the salt solution as a remedy that can help to treat bumps on the back of your head. Salt has natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to relieve bumps on the back of your head region.
How to use:
- Mix 2 teaspoons of table salt into one cup of warm water
- Use a cotton ball to apply the salt solution to the affected skin area that has a bump
- Allow it to stay on your skin for about 20 minutes before you rinse it off
- Repeat this treatment twice daily for few weeks until the bump on the back of your head clear away
6. Essential oils
Applying essential oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil and Neem tree oil to the bump on back of head is an effective home remedy. The essential oil has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory abilities that can help to cure bumps on your head.
How to use:
- Wash your head with warm water and pat dry it with a towel
- Dab the oil to the affected skin area that has a bump
- Allow it to stay on your skin for the whole day or night before you rinse it off
- Repeat this procedure twice daily until the bump on the back of your head clear away
Medical Treatment
You can use medical treatment method to remove chronic large bumps on the back of your head that is likely to be caused by serious health conditions such as cancer and major injuries to the head. Visit your doctor to help you in diagnosis and treatment.
The doctor may determine the main cause of bump on the back of your head using the suitable diagnosis methods before giving you the appropriate treatments.
Some of the common treatment methods that your doctor may use to fix your health condition include:
- Oral medication: the doctor may prescribe for you antibiotics, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory drugs that can help to relieve the swollen bump on the back of your head.
- Medicinal creams: This includes medicated creams or ointments that can help to cure bumps on your skin.
- Surgical procedure: To remove malignant chronic or cancerous bumps on the back of your head
- Laser treatment: It involves the use of a strong beam of light to control the growth of cancerous bumps on the skin.
When to see a Doctor
It is advisable to see your doctor over a bump on back of head when you notice the following conditions:
- The bump on the back of your head has persisted for more than three weeks without going away
- When the bump on the back of your head develop to a large or big lump like a hump that looks worrisome
- If the bump on your head causes severe pain or itchiness that you cannot withstand
- If the bump on the back of the head is associated with other strange symptoms such as headaches, fever and other
- The bump is characterized by thickened skin and it can bleed easily if something touches
Sources and References
- Bump on back of the head: https://www.healthline.com/health/bump-on-back-of-head
- Signs and symptoms of bumps on the back of the head: https://symptomchecker.webmd.com/multiple-symptoms?symptoms=headache%7Clump-or-bulge%7Clump-or-bulge%7Cswelling&symptomids=115%7C148%7C148%7C5&locations=2%7C2%7C12%7C2
- Causes of bumps or lumps on the back of the head: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/sores-head-scalp#1
- Cancer of the head and neck: https://www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet
- Cause of swollen bump on the back of the head: https://www.livestrong.com/article/189902-causes-of-red-painful-bumps-on-the-scalp/
- How to get rid of a bump on the back of the head: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/intracranial-hematoma/expert-answers/head-injury/faq-20058442
- Bumps on the back of head treatment: http://www.bumpscentre.co.uk/treatment
- Home remedies for bumps on the back of the head: https://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-swelling-head-injury-goose-egg.html
