Folliculitis
Small tender bumps, sometimes with a white head, each centered on a hair. Often clusters where a style sits tight.
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Inflammatory · condition 13 of 18
Bumps on Your Scalp: What They Are and When They Matter
Start here if you are feeling bumps and do not know what they are.
Clinically reviewed by Dr. Nina Ross, NDServing all of Metro Atlanta
Quick answer
Bumps on the scalp are a symptom, and the five common explanations behave very differently. Small tender bumps centered on a hair are usually folliculitis. Greasy flaking with irritated skin points to seborrheic dermatitis.
Read the full answer
Firm bumps at the nape that harden over time suggest acne keloidalis nuchae. Bumps after a cut or a fade are frequently ingrown hairs. A soft, smooth, movable lump under the skin is most often a cyst.
What matters for your hair is whether the same follicles are inflamed month after month, because sustained inflammation is what costs density. Start by identifying which one you have. We read scalp bumps at 200x at Nina Ross Atlanta in Sandy Springs, serving all of Metro Atlanta.
- Bumps are a symptom with five common causes.
- Months of inflammation is what costs density.
- Identify the type first.
Start here
Which bump is it?
Seborrheic dermatitis
Bumps sitting in greasy flaking with itch. The scale is the giveaway.
Acne keloidalis nuchae
Firm bumps at the nape and back hairline that harden and can join together. This one costs hair if it runs unchecked.
Ingrown hairs
Bumps appearing after a cut, fade or razor, where curved hair re-enters the skin.
Cysts
Soft, smooth, movable lumps under the skin rather than at the follicle opening. Usually not tender unless irritated.
What you might be noticing
Symptoms in your words, and ours
Tap the one that sounds like you to see why it happens and how we figure it out.
01Little sore bumps with a hair in them
Follicular pustules✋🏾
Why it happens
A sore bump centered on a hair is the classic sign of folliculitis, commonly linked to bacteria, yeast or buildup at the follicle opening.
How we figure it out
We read the bump at 200x to see whether it looks bacterial or yeast-driven, since each needs different care.
02Flaky patches with bumps
Inflammatory scale with papules✋🏾
Why it happens
Bumps sitting in greasy flaking are commonly linked to seborrheic dermatitis.
How we figure it out
We clear the scale and read the same area again, so we can see what the follicles underneath are doing.
03Hard bumps at the back of my neck
Firm papules at the occipital hairline✋🏾
Why it happens
Firm bumps at the nape that harden over time are commonly linked to acne keloidalis nuchae, especially with close cuts and fades.
How we figure it out
We read the nape at 200x and count follicular openings, because this type can cost hair if it runs unchecked.
04Bumps right after a haircut
Post-grooming ingrown hairs✋🏾
Why it happens
Bumps right after a cut are frequently ingrown hairs, where curved hair re-enters the skin.
How we figure it out
We look at the hair and follicle at 200x to confirm it is ingrown hair and look at what in the cut is triggering it.
05A soft lump under the skin that moves
Epidermoid cyst✋🏾
Why it happens
A soft, smooth, movable lump under the skin is most often a cyst, sitting below the follicle opening rather than at it.
How we figure it out
We confirm it is separate from the follicles and read the surrounding scalp for anything else going on.
What causes it
What is actually driving it
- 01
Inflammation at the follicle
Bacteria, yeast, friction or an ingrown hair all set off the same follicular inflammation, which is why the bumps look similar to you.
- 02
Occlusion and buildup
Product, sweat and covered hair create conditions the follicle reacts to, especially at the nape and hairline.
- 03
Grooming trauma
Close cuts, razors and repeated tension irritate the follicle opening. This is mechanical, and it is fixable.
What we see that others miss
When scalp bumps signal hair loss
What matters is whether the follicle opening is still there.
At 200x we count follicular openings in the affected area and compare them to an unaffected area on the same scalp. When openings are missing where bumps have been recurring, inflammation has already cost you follicles.
That finding changes the plan from comfort to preservation, and it is the reason recurring bumps get read rather than waited out.
How we treat it
What care looks like here
Identification comes first, because folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis and keloidal bumps need different care. We read the bumps at 200x, clear buildup with deep scalp cleansing where it is contributing, settle the inflammation with light-based therapy, and re-check the same area. If the bumps have already cost you density, we say so and show you.
- 01Identify the type at 200x
- 02Clear buildup and settle inflammation
- 03Re-check the same area
Red Light Therapy
Low level light used to calm scalp inflammation and support the growth phase.
One visit. Real answers.
The $99 Hair & Body Discovery
No prepOne visitYour time, your pickNo judgmentServing all of Metro Atlanta
- One-on-one scalp health session with a certified trichologist
- 200x magnification read of your scalp, on screen, while you watch
- A full-body biofeedback scan
- Your Hair & Body Discovery Report, delivered the next day
Our promiseYou'll leave actually seeing what's happening, your scalp at 200x, the systems behind it, with your report the next day. If you don't, the $99 is on us.
Fully HSA/FSA eligible. 0% financing for qualified applicants.
You are welcome here
We are well-versed in us.
Bumps along the nape and fade line are extremely common with textured hair and get dismissed as razor bumps or a hygiene issue. Neither is a diagnosis, and neither is true.
Relaxers, braids, locs, weaves and heat. Share your full hair history. It is welcomed, never judged.
10 years of specialized care2,500+ clients seenNo judgment
Related conditions
Often confused with this
Scalp Folliculitis
Tender, sometimes pus-filled bumps sitting right on the follicle.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Greasy flaking and itch that keep the scalp inflamed.
CCCA
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. Starts at the crown and spreads outward, quietly.
Questions, answered
Honest answers before you commit
Are scalp bumps serious?
Most are treatable and not dangerous. What matters is how long they have been active, because months of inflammation around the same follicles is what puts hair at risk.
How do I tell folliculitis from ingrown hairs?
Folliculitis bumps are centered on a hair coming out of the follicle. Ingrown hairs show up after a cut or razor, where a curved hair has turned back into the skin. At 200x the difference is clear.
Why do I get bumps only at my nape?
The nape takes close cuts, friction from collars and sweat, and tension from styles pulled back. Those are common triggers for folliculitis, ingrown hairs and keloidal bumps there.
Can I pop them or use a scrub?
It is better not to. Popping and scrubbing can spread irritation to nearby follicles and leave marks, especially on deeper skin tones.
When should I come in?
If bumps keep returning in the same spots, have lasted more than a few weeks, or are hardening at the nape. Those are the signs worth reading early.
Let's find out what your hair is trying to tell you.
You'll see it, or the $99 is on us. Serving all of Metro Atlanta.
Nina Ross Atlanta, 8735 Dunwoody Place, Suite 290, Sandy Springs, GA 30350. Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.