A tender spot on the head can be a surprising and sometimes concerning experience. This localized sensitivity can range from a dull ache to sharp pain upon touch. While often prompting worry, head tenderness stems from various sources, most of which are not serious. Understanding common causes can help alleviate concern.
Everyday Reasons for a Tender Spot
Minor impacts are a frequent cause of localized head tenderness. Even a slight bump or pressure from headwear can result in a sore spot. The scalp’s rich nerve supply makes it sensitive, so minor trauma can feel significant.
Muscle strain and tension can also lead to tender points. Poor posture, stress, or jaw clenching often contribute to localized muscle tension, manifesting as tenderness on the scalp or temples. This discomfort often feels like a tight band or pressure.
Hair-related issues are another common, non-serious cause. Tight hairstyles, like ponytails or braids, can pull on hair follicles, leading to irritation and tenderness. Prolonged pressure from headbands or sleeping positions can also irritate follicles, resulting in a sore spot.
Skin and Scalp Conditions
Inflammation or infection of hair follicles, known as folliculitis, can cause small, tender bumps. These may appear as red spots or white-headed pimples, sometimes with itching, burning, or pus. Folliculitis can result from bacterial or fungal infections, or irritation from certain hair products or frequent scratching.
Cysts, such as sebaceous cysts, can develop under the skin and become tender, especially if inflamed or infected. These noncancerous sacs are filled with an oily or cheesy substance and can cause discomfort during activities like combing hair or lying on a pillow. If a cyst becomes warm, red, painful, or swollen, it may indicate infection.
Contact dermatitis, an inflammatory skin condition, can also lead to tender patches. This reaction occurs when skin contacts an irritant or allergen, such as certain hair dyes or shampoos. Symptoms include an itchy rash, redness, swelling, and sometimes blisters or dry, scaly skin that can be tender.
Localized skin infections, including boils or cellulitis, can cause redness, swelling, and tenderness. These infections often involve bacteria and may present as a painful, pus-filled lump or a spreading area of inflammation.
Nerve and Muscle-Related Causes
Occipital neuralgia involves the occipital nerves, which run from the upper spinal cord through the back of the head to the scalp. When these nerves become inflamed, pinched, or injured, it can cause sharp, shooting, or electric shock-like pain, often felt at the base of the skull, behind the ears, or across the scalp. The scalp in the affected area may become extremely sensitive, making simple actions like brushing hair painful.
Tension headaches can manifest with tender points on the scalp or temples. These headaches are described as a dull, aching pain or pressure, with common tenderness in the scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles. Muscle contractions in the head and neck, often linked to stress or poor posture, contribute to this tenderness.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, involving the jaw joints below the temples, can cause referred pain and tenderness. TMJ issues can lead to pain in the jaw, ear, and temple areas, sometimes extending to the sides of the head. Headaches associated with TMJ dysfunction may feel dull and aching, similar to tension-type headaches, and can worsen with jaw movement.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many causes of a tender spot are benign, certain symptoms warrant medical evaluation. Consult a healthcare professional if tenderness persists for more than a few days, worsens, or significantly interferes with daily activities like sleeping or work.
Accompanying symptoms can indicate a more serious underlying issue. These include fever, chills, redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge from the tender area. Neurological symptoms like vision changes, weakness, numbness, confusion, or a severe headache (especially a sudden “thunderclap” headache) necessitate urgent medical attention. A recent head injury, particularly if it involved loss of consciousness, should always be evaluated. Individuals with a history of certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune diseases or recent infections, should seek prompt advice if they develop new or worsening head tenderness.