Bump on the back of the head: Causes and when to consult a doctor Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What can cause a bump on the back of the head Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA and Hana Ames — Updated on August 23, 2022A bump on the back of the head has many possible causes, including injuries, cysts, fatty growths, inflamed hair follicles, and bone spurs. Bumps on this part of the body can be hard or soft, and they can vary in size. Injuries are a common cause of bumps and lumps on the back of the head. As forceful blows to the head can lead to brain injury, it is important for a person to watch for symptoms of concussion. People with a concussion or another severe head injury should seek medical attention. Some other causes of bumps on the back of the head may also require a person to contact a doctor. This article explores some possible causes of a bump on the back of the head. It also explains when to speak with a doctor. Pictures Injury An injury is a common cause of a bump on the back of the head. Possible causes of head injuries include:falling backwardimpacts or collisions during contact sportsviolencehitting the head against the headrest of a car seat in a traffic accidentother types of accident A blow to the back of the head can cause a scalp hematoma, which is where a collection of blood just beneath the skin forms a semisolid bump. People sometimes refer to these bumps as “goose eggs.” Treatment People can usually treat minor head injuries at home with rest, over-the-counter pain relievers, and ice packs. However, more serious injuries can cause a concussion. A severe concussion can lead to dangerous complications if a person does not receive treatment. The symptoms of concussion can include:confusiondizzinessfaintingnausea and vomitingproblems with walking or balancea severe headacheslurred or affected speechvision problemsloss of consciousness People with symptoms of concussion should seek immediate medical attention. It is advisable for anyone who has hit their head very hard or been in a serious accident to go to the emergency room even if they do not yet have symptoms of concussion. A doctor can perform tests to rule out concussion and other brain injuries. Pilar cyst Pilar cysts are skin cysts that usually develop on a person’s scalp but can also occur on the neck. Doctors sometimes refer to pilar cysts as trichilemmal cysts. These cysts are smooth, dense lumps containing a buildup of keratin, the protein the body uses to make hair and nails. Pilar cysts usually grow slowly, and they typically vary between several millimeters and a few centimeters in diameter. Pilar cysts are more common in females than in males and can sometimes run in families. Treatment Pilar cysts are generally harmless and asymptomatic, but they can sometimes be painful. If a cyst is not causing symptoms, treatment may not be necessary. However, if a pilar cyst is leading to discomfort or other problems, a doctor may recommend surgically removing it. Learn more about pilar cysts. Lipoma A lipoma is a soft, fatty growth that can develop underneath the skin. Lipomas can occur anywhere on the body, including the back of the head and neck. These bumps can vary in size, but they are not usually painful. A lipoma will typically feel soft and rubbery, and it may move around when a person presses down on it. Doctors do not fully understand what causes lipomas, but they occur most often in people aged 40–60 years and are slightly more common in males than in females. Treatment Lipomas are generally harmless and usually do not require treatment. However, if a lipoma becomes very large or is causing a person problems, a doctor may recommend surgical removal. Doctors may also suggest removal if they are uncertain whether the bump is a lipoma. Learn more about lipomas. Bone spur A bone spur, also known as exostosis, is a bony outgrowth that can develop around a joint. Bone spurs most often grow in the:neckkneeshoulderlower backfoot or heelfingersbig toe Bone spurs feel like hard, immovable lumps. Although they are not always tender, these growths may cause pain if they rub against or put pressure on bones, tissues, or nerves. They can develop near the affected joints in people with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis causes degenerative changes in the cartilage and bone in the joints, where bone spurs form during the process. Treatment Bone spurs do not usually require intensive treatment. If they are causing a person pain or other problems, a doctor may recommend:pain relieversmaintaining a moderate weightphysical therapy In some cases, they may advise surgery to remove the bone spur. Scalp acne Acne develops when the hair follicles become clogged with a buildup of skin cells and sebum, which is an oily, waxy substance. As the scalp consists of many hair follicles, acne can also develop on the scalp and around the hairline. The American Academy of Dermatology Association notes that some hair care products can also cause scalp acne. Treatment Although the acne can resolve without treatment, some people may require medicated products. Learn more about how to treat and prevent scalp acne. Scalp folliculitis Scalp folliculitis is a condition in which hair follicles on the scalp become inflamed. The inflammation can cause a pus-filled bump that may resemble a pimple and can grow larger. The symptoms of folliculitis can include:itchinginflammationsorenessa white head on top of the bump Infection may occur in the affected follicles. Treatment At home, people can apply a warm compress to help reduce inflammation and drain the pus. They can also apply an antibiotic ointment and wash their hair with anti-dandruff shampoo. A doctor may recommend oral antibiotics or prescription creams or ointments for people with more severe scalp folliculitis. Learn more about scalp folliculitis. Ingrown hairs An ingrown hair occurs when a hair that is unable to grow out correctly grows back under the skin instead. If hairs become ingrown, they can cause raised, inflamed, itchy spots on the skin. These may occur if a person shaves their head. They are more likely to occur in people with curly hair. Treatment Most ingrown hairs will resolve without treatment, but a doctor may prescribe antibiotics if an infection develops. To minimize the risk of infection, people should avoid picking at the ingrown hair. Learn more about how to deal with an ingrown hair. Epidermoid cysts An epidermoid cyst is a benign cyst consisting of cheese-like keratin inside a distinct sac wall. These cysts are common and not cancerous. Epidermoid cysts often have a visible punctum, which is a small central opening. They are the most common type of cutaneous cyst. Treatment A dermatologist may be able to remove the cyst. If they manage to remove it in whole, with the sac wall intact, it is unlikely to grow back. Learn more about epidermoid cysts. Skull base tumors In rare instances, a bump on the back of the head can be a bone tumor. One of the more common types of cervical spine tumors is a chordoma, which is a tumor that can grow from the bones at the base of the skull. However, in comparison with all bone cancer types, a chordoma is rare. Small chordomas typically do not cause noticeable symptoms. However, the symptoms of larger chordomas may include:walking and balance difficultiesheadacheshearing problemsvisual disturbances It is possible for chordomas to spread to other parts of the body. Treatment The treatment for a skull bone tumor will depend on multiple factors, including whether the tumor is benign or cancerous, the size of the tumor, the location of the tumor cells, and other individual variables. When to contact a doctor It is important to contact a doctor if the bump on the back of the head:seems to be getting larger or is worseningis causing severe pain or other problemsis producing pus or dischargeis warm to the touch, or the surrounding area is discolored People who have been in a serious accident or sustained a severe head injury should go to the emergency room. It is also important to seek immediate medical attention if any of the following symptoms occur following a head injury:loss of consciousness, lethargy, or seizuresdizzinesspersistent vomitingclear or bloody discharge coming from the ears or nosedifferent sized pupils in the eyesslurred speech, confusion, or memory lossbalance or walking difficulties Summary Injuries are a common cause of bumps on the back of the head. People can usually treat mild head injuries at home. However, people with severe head injuries or symptoms of concussion should seek immediate medical attention. Other causes of bumps on the back of the head can include cysts, fatty growths, acne, inflamed hair follicles, epidermoid cysts, and bone spurs. People should contact a doctor about any bump that is causing problems or seems to be getting larger or worse. Last medically reviewed on August 23, 2022DermatologyEmergency MedicinePain / Anesthetics 13 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Acne-like breakouts could be folliculitis. (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/bumps-and-growths/folliculitisAl Aboud, D. M., et al. (2022). Pilar cyst. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534209/Are your hair care products causing breakouts? (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/causes/hair-productsChordomas. (2021). https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bone-cancer/types/chordomasConcussion signs and symptoms. (2019). https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_symptoms.htmlIngrown hairs. (2019). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ingrown-hairs/Kunimatsu, A., et al. (2017). Skull base tumors and tumor-like lesions: A pictorial review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5540006/Lipoma. (2018). https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/lipomaOsteophyte (bone spur). (2019). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteophyte/Understanding chordoma. (n.d.). https://www.chordomafoundation.org/learn/understanding-chordoma/Varghese, E., et al. (2017). Occipital spur: Understanding a normal yet symptomatic variant from orthodontic diagnostic lateral cephalogram. https://casereports.bmj.com/content/2017/bcr-2017-220506Varghese, R., et al. (2022). Pilar cysts of the head and neck: A case report. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9085713/Weir, C. B., et al. (2021). Epidermal inclusion cyst.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532310/FEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O. — By Rachel Nall, MSN, CRNA and Hana Ames — Updated on August 23, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageWhat is this pain in the back of my head?Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, MD Learn about five causes of pain in the back of the head. We also look at the triggers and treatment options for each of these headache types.READ MOREWhat to know about bumps on the skin Bumps on the skin can be harmless, but they can also indicate severe conditions, such as skin cancer. 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