Small, white painless bump on scalp, bald spot

Hello, a couple of months ago, I noticed what I thought was a pimple on the back of my head when I was cutting my hair. I cut my hair short so when I noticed a bald spot I figured that the machine cut closer to the skin there. I've noticed this pimple has not gone away and upon closer inspection using a mirror, it does not appear to be a pimple at all. I stopped cutting my hair for a while and I've noticed that hair isn't growing in that spot at all and that it has grown to about the size of a dime. It's painless and it is the same color as the rest of my skin. I'm concerend that it will continue to grow and that the hair will never grow back. Any ideas?

[concerned305]

Anyone?

[concerned305]

Wow, what a great "community" /sarcasm

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
One of the possibilities for such a lump with overlying hair loss is a pilar cyst. Pilar cysts manifest as smooth, mobile, asymptomatic swellings, often in the scalp. Overlying hair loss may be noted. The definitive treatment is surgical excision of the cyst. My sincere advice would be to consult a dermatologist.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[concerned305]

Dr. Kaur, thanks for your reply. I saw a dermatologist and he diagnosed it as alopecia.  He injected some anti-inflammatory in my scalp and prescribed some lotion. It seems there are some areas in my scalp where it is beginning to occur as I feel small pimples in several areas now.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Alopecia can be due to stress, fungal infections, alopecia aereata, hormonal imbalance(overproduction of dihydrotestosterone and thyroid hormones irregularities),malnutrition, telogen effluvium and sebum plugs on skin.

My sincere advice is to consult a trichologist and get these possibilities ruled out. In the meantime take care of your diet and eat a healthy nutritious diet. There is no shampoo which can tackle alopecia.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.