Skin cancer on the scalp can appear as a new or changing mole or wart, a bleeding scab that doesn't heal, a scaly patch, or a scar.
the appearance of this skin cancer on the scalp can be quite varied. Most appear as a brownish or black spot with darker irregular colors and borders. A helpful clue is the appearance of a few darker mole or one that appears to be changing. Although most are dark, some rarer forms can appear as a firm pinkish red lump.
While rare, a small lump on the head can sometimes be a sign of a malignant tumour. Cancerous head lumps are typically hard and painless to the touch, often growing steadily over time.
A cancerous lump is usually hard, not soft or squishy. And it often has angular, irregular, asymmetrical edges, as opposed to being smooth, Dr. Comander says. In order for you to feel a cancerous lump, it probably has to be rather large and closer to the surface of the skin.
Pilar cysts are relatively rare benign cysts that grow from your hair follicles. Most pilar cysts surface on your scalp (head), but they can appear on your face, neck, arms and legs. Pilar cysts are sometimes called trichilemmal cysts or wens. Healthcare providers use surgery to remove cysts.
Depending on what kind of cancerous growth is on your scalp, it can look like anything from a bumpy, wart-like growth to a flat, sore-like lesion.
Over the years, the genetic material of cells becomes irreparably damaged and produces lesions like these on the scalp. The lesions, called actinic keratosis, may later become cancerous. These pre-malignant lesions (brown) are actinic keratoses. They are scaly and rough, and there is evidence of bleeding.
Emerman says patients who've suffered a head injury should visit the Emergency Department immediately if they: Lost consciousness or became confused/disoriented after they were injured. Suffered the injury at a high speed (car or bike accident, a steep fall, etc.) Are vomiting or feel nauseated.
Sarcoma can cause a visible lump or swelling in a bone or soft tissue. The lump may vary in size, texture and appearance depending on the specific subtype of sarcoma and its location. Additionally, subcutaneous or superficial sarcoma may cause noticeable changes in the skin, such as discoloration or puckering.
A shiny, skin-colored bump that's translucent, meaning you can see a bit through the surface. The bump can look pearly white or pink on white skin. On brown and Black skin, the bump often looks brown or glossy black. Tiny blood vessels might be visible, though they may be difficult to see on brown and Black skin.
Cancerous head lumps are usually hard and painless to the touch. In many cases, the mass appears spontaneously, then steadily grows in size.
Stage I Melanoma
This is a noninvasive stage, which is also called melanoma “in situ,” meaning “in its original place.” With stage I melanoma, the tumor's thickness is 1mm or less. This tumor may or may not have ulcerated, and it isn't yet believed to have spread beyond the original site.
Use a comb or your fingers to part a section of your hair and then use the hand mirror to examine your scalp. As you carefully look at your scalp, notate any red or scaly patches, pigmented moles, pink blemishes or raised moles, as these can all be signs of skin cancer.
Changes in your head and neck skin are the most obvious signs of skin cancers of the head and neck, such as new growths, sores that don't heal, or changes in existing moles (size, shape, color). BCCs often look like flesh-colored round growths, pearly bumps, or pinkish patches of skin.
Stage I (1) Head and Neck Cancer
Stage I describes a very early stage of cancer. The tumor is not more than two centimeters. The cancer has not reached the lymph nodes.
Pilar cysts usually form around the hair follicles on the scalp. They are not contagious and are usually harmless. When infected, they can cause pain or discomfort. A doctor can prescribe medication for this.
Melanomas tend to be uneven and asymmetrical. Border: Melanomas often have an irregular, jagged border, whereas normal moles have a smooth border around the edge. Color: Normal moles tend to have even coloration. Melanomas are often uneven in color and sometimes contain different shades of brown, black, or pink.
As a general rule of thumb, benign lumps are soft, moveable and located in the superficial or fat layer of skin. They can grow to be large and painful but will decrease in size over time. In some cases, benign lumps may grow too big and pose a problem to supporting tissue, nerves and blood vessels1.
Bumps that are cancerous are typically large, hard, painless to the touch and appear spontaneously. The mass will grow in size steadily over the weeks and months. Cancerous lumps that can be felt from the outside of your body can appear in the breast, testicle, or neck, but also in the arms and legs.
A soft tissue sarcoma lump on the outside of the body can appear suddenly as a rounded mass beneath the skin, usually on your arm, leg, chest, or torso. It can be soft or firm and grows noticeably bigger in weeks and months after it is first discovered.