Tenderness of the Scalp: Causes & Reasons

Warning: Do not use in emergencies, if pregnant, if under 18, or as a substitute for a doctor’s advice or diagnosis. Learn more

Possible Causes for Tenderness of the Scalp

Cervico-Occipital Neuralgia

Scalp tenderness. Pain when moving the neck. [epainassist.com]

Some migraines or cluster headaches Spondylosis of the cervical facet joints A tender or painful scalp, which may be a sign of an inflamed nerve The Occipital Nerve Block [cedars-sinai.edu]

Symptoms include tender scalp, pain when moving the neck, sensitivity to light, pain behind the eye, burning pain that starts at the base of the head, and pain on one or both [healthresearchfunding.org]

Temporal Arteritis

He has a moderate headache and some mild tenderness along his scalp arteries. His ESR is 110 and his CRP is 150. [web.archive.org]

Erythema and the affected artery become evident as a hard, pulsating, tender bulge under red or cyanotic skin. Scalp gangrene may also be present. [dermis.net]

It is characterized by a necrotizing panarteritis with granulomas and giant cells, which produce unilateral headache and tenderness in the scalp over the temporal or occipital [dermis.net]

Perifolliculitis Capitis Abscedens

An eight-year-old Ethiopian male child, resident in Khartoum, Sudan presented with tender progressing fluctuant nodules and alopecia on his scalp for nine months. [khartoumspace.uofk.edu]

On examination, flesh-colored tender fluctuant nodules with scarring alopecia were noted on the scalp. [article.sapub.org]

On examination, flesh-colored tender fluctuant nodules with scarring alopecia were noted on the scalp (Figure 1). [priory.com]

Migraine

[…] on your scalp, neck and shoulder muscles What is a migraine? [colonialhealthcare.com]

People may also experience tenderness of the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles, the Mayo Clinic outlines. [globalnews.ca]

In elderly people, a headache with tenderness of the scalp or temple may be due to temporal arteritis, in which blood vessels in the head become inflamed. [mirror.co.uk]

Skull Fracture

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 3-year-old right hand dominant male presented with a non-tender parietal scalp swelling of a 1-year duration. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Sometimes there is also tenderness over bruising or mild swelling of the scalp. [patient.info]

Head Trauma

Sometimes there is also tenderness over bruising or mild swelling of the scalp. [patient.info]

Carbuncle

It is more common in black men, but can affect any race Large, tender fluctuant swellings develop, which progress to produce extensive destruction of hair follicles and scarring [pcds.org.uk]

[…] scarring alopecia Refer to the related chapter on Folliculitis decalvans for more information Dissecting cellulitis This is an uncommon, chronic inflammatory condition of the scalp [pcds.org.uk]

Acute Mastoiditis

These drain adjacent areas of the scalp and may become enlarged for any reason, sometimes with tenderness. [rrnursingschool.biz]

Folliculitis Decalvans

This was associated with tenderness and occasional pustules. Closer examination showed scarring of the scalp with loss of follicular orifices. [catteke.xyz]

What you should be alert for in the history Folliculitis decalvans is a chronic inflammatory disease of the vertex of the scalp characterized by painful tender follicular [dermatologyadvisor.com]

Folliculitis decalvans more commonly affects the top and back sections of the scalp. [dermcoll.edu.au]

Ingrown Hair

Pain on shaving; pruritus of shaved areas, irritated “razor bumps” Tender, exudative, erythematous follicular papules or pustules in beard area (less commonly in scalp, a. [5minuteconsult.com]

Brain Concussion

A brain concussion is a still incompletely defined syndrome of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that causes a spectrum of symptoms without evident structural damage to the brain. A headache, cognitive deficits, emotional instability, sleep disturbances, and an overall change in mental state after trauma are highly[…] [symptoma.com]

Epidural Hematoma

Epidural hematoma Other names Extradural hematoma, epidural hemorrhage, epidural haematoma, epidural bleeding Epidural hematoma as seen on a CT scan with overlying skull fracture. Note the biconvex shaped collection of blood. There is also bruising with bleeding on the opposite side of the brain. Specialty[…] [en.wikipedia.org]

Brain Contusion

Abstract The study was undertaken to analyze intracerebral expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in man in order to compare the findings with previous experimental data regarding the pathogenesis of secondary brain injury. Contused brain tissue biopsies were[…] [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Penetrating Head Injury

Penetrating head injury is a frequently fatal condition in which various objects penetrate the skull and damage the brain parenchyma. The clinical presentation depends on the site and extent of the injury, but the overall prognosis is much poorer compared to injuries caused by blunt force trauma. The Glasgow[…] [symptoma.com]

Extracranial Giant Cell Arteritis

[…] of the scalp, cough, throat pain, tongue pain, and weight loss. [southerncross.co.nz]

It occurs in up to 20% of patients. 4,5 Other symptoms and complications from cranial arteritis include tenderness of the scalp and temporal areas, claudication of the tongue [mdedge.com]

[…] of the scalp (usually over the inflamed arteries of the sides of the head). [medicinenet.com]

Giant Cell Aortic Arteritis

The most common symptoms of GCA include persistent, throbbing headaches, tenderness of the temples and scalp, jaw pain, fever, joint pain, and vision problems. [vasculitisfoundation.org]

The scalp may be tender in these reddened areas, and the temporal arteries may appear twisted and knotted under the scalp. Some people may also have trouble chewing. [rarediseases.org]

Giant cell arteritis frequently causes headaches, scalp tenderness, jaw pain and vision problems. Untreated, it can lead to blindness. [mayoclinic.org]

Tinea Favosa

[…] s'identifier aide English Rechercher un concept terminologique arbre Maladies de la peau Dermatoses du cuir chevelu Infections de la peau Mycoses Mycoses cutanées Infection Mycose Teigne Teigne tondante Processus pathologiques Maladie Pathologie de la peau Maladies de la peau Infection Infections de la peau Mycoses[…] [termsciences.fr]

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

He has a moderate headache and some mild tenderness along his scalp arteries. His ESR is 110 and his CRP is 150. [bestbets.org]

GCA patients may complain of fatigue, headache, and tenderness of the scalp. There is often particular pain around the temporal and occipital arteries. [clinicaladvisor.com]

Rheumatoid Arteritis

Giant cell arteritis frequently causes headaches, scalp tenderness, jaw pain and vision problems. Untreated, it can lead to blindness. [mayoclinic.org]

thickened with reduced/absent pulsation Scalp tenderness Transient or permanent visual loss (partial or complete) in 20% patients Visual field defect Relative afferent papillary [icid.salisbury.nhs.uk]

Physical examination is remarkable for right scalp tenderness and range of motion is limited due to pain and stiffness. Neurological testing is normal. [medbullets.com]

Tension Headache

[…] on your scalp, neck and shoulders Sometimes, loss of appetite Tension headaches are considered chronic if they occur 15 or more days a month for at least three months. [ucsfhealth.org]

[…] on the scalp, neck and shoulder muscles Tension headaches are divided into two main categories: episodic tension headaches and chronic tension headaches. [humanitas.net]

[…] include: Mild to moderately intense pain, lasting from 30 minutes to as long as an entire week Tightness or pressure across your forehead or on the sides and back of your head Tenderness [ucsfhealth.org]

Juvenile Temporal Arteritis

Symptoms specifically related to the inflamed arteries of the head include: Headaches, often severe Tenderness of the scalp or temples Double vision Temporary or sustained [arthritis.org]

[…] in scalp area The National Institute of Health also reports nearly 40 percent of also patients with temporal arteritis will experience respiratory problems or nerve pain [susanbakermd.com]

I have been suffering from a tender scalp, neck and shoulder pain and sudden onset depression alongside headaches in the temple for 1 week. [patient.info]

Cranial Neuralgia

Symptoms Patients suffering from occipital neuralgia may experience: Tenderness in the scalp Pain when moving the neck Pain radiating from the base of the head to the scalp [kcampbellmd.com]

One may also experience aching or burning, bilateral pain in the head, pain in the eye, neck pain, light sensitivity and a tender scalp. [columbianeurosurgery.org]

Often there are tender areas of the scalp overlying the occipital nerve. Sometimes a CT scan or MRI may be necessary to rule out other causes. [paindoctorfortlauderdale.com]

Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

Typically, a few short, brittle hairs remain within the scarred expanse.[9] Patients commonly complain of mild dysesthesia (pruritus, tenderness) in the affected area.[7,10 [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

CCCA typically begins and remains most severe on the crown or vertex of the scalp, gradually expanding in a centrifugal fashion [Figure 1].[8] The affected scalp is in parts [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

] The disease generally progresses slowly, but longstanding or severe disease can result in hair loss covering the entire crown of the scalp.[11] This is in contrast to nonscarring [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Optic Nerve Infarction

Temporal artery or scalp vessel tenderness is common, with nodularity and decreased pulse, whereas scalp necrosis is a rare occurrence. [entokey.com]

CLINICAL FEATURES-SYSTEMIC OCULAR  new onset of headache in older  Scalp tenderness,jaw claudication  Fever, anorexia, wt.loss,malaise  Polymyalgia rheumatica(proxim [slideshare.net]

Other distinguishing features of AAION include a history of jaw claudication, scalp tenderness, weight loss, headache, and fatigue. [glaucomatoday.com]

Kerion

A 9-year-old boy (Patient 1) with no past medical history presented to the pediatric emergency department with a 1-month history of tender erythematous lesions on his scalp [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

On examination, there was an erythematous, mildly tender, boggy swelling overlying her occiput (Panel A). [nejm.org]

scalp extending down up to the nape of the neck. [ijdvl.com]

Cicatricial Alopecia

Some people may feel burning, tingling, or tenderness of the scalp. [naturallycurly.com]

In other words, itching, burning, pain, and tenderness have cleared, scalp redness, scaling, and/or pustules are no longer present, and the hair loss has not extended. [bernsteinmedical.com]

Clinical evaluation of the scalp is also important. Symptoms of itching, burning, pain, or tenderness usually signal ongoing activity. [rarediseases.org]

Tinea Capitis

This is due to hair broken off near the scalp. Some patients develop a kerion, which is a boggy, tender swelling of the scalp that can drain pus. [dermindy.com]

Some children develop a kerion, which is a boggy (soft), tender swelling of the scalp that can drain pus. [summitmedicalgroup.com]

Other symptoms associated with severe tinea capitis are fever and large, tender lymph nodes in the neck. How is Tinea Capitis diagnosed? [dermindy.com]

Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

[…] of scalp Uncontrolled, life-threatening hypertension (high blood pressure) can cause optic nerve swelling, which results in symptoms similar to AION. [umiamihealth.org]

Your doctor will ask you about symptoms of giant cell arteritis such as fever, headache, scalp tenderness, jaw pain, weight loss, loss of appetite and fatigue. [pennmedicine.org]

Common signs and symp tom s may include general fatigue, weight loss, fever, temple pain, neck pain, pain on chewing, scalp tenderness when combing their hair, headache, anemia [eyeassociates.com]

Fibular Dimelia-Diplopodia Syndrome

[…] hair Hirsutism/hypertrichosis/Increased body hair Hypersensibility of scalp/scalp tenderness Hypotrichosis/atrichia/atrichiasis/scalp hairlessness Lanugo Premature greying [readbag.com]

[…] front)/widow peak Low hair line (back) Albinism (hair) Alopecia Decreased body hair/axillar/pubic hairlessness Decreased hair pigmentation/hypopigmentation of hair Dense scalp [readbag.com]

Postauricular Lymphadenitis

Signs: Occipital or Suboccipital nodes (base of skull, below occiput) Suboccipital Lymphadenopathy may causes Headache Drainage Pattern Back of Scalp and Head Lymphadenopathy [fpnotebook.com]

Parvovirus - Posterior auricular, posterior cervical, occipital Rubella - Posterior auricular, posterior cervical, occipital Salmonella – Generalized Seborrheic dermatitis, scalp [emedicine.medscape.com]

Trypanosomiasis (Winterbottom's Sign) Lymphangioma Congenital lymph malformation presenting by age 2 years (50% found at birth) Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease Benign, self-limited tender [fpnotebook.com]