I look at the top of my son’s head and I see hair. It is not that he has a lot of hair, but just enough to look like a normal toddler. But look close, really close into his scalp and you will find some weird things going on. There are hairs growing in odd directions or they don’t seem long enough to be called “hair.” The truth is that there are tiny bumps on his head with hair coming out of them.
This is a condition more commonly known as “keratosis pilaris.”
These keratin plugs are dense clusters of dead skin cells that look like tiny bumps. The hair follicles in the bump have become plugged with hardened or clogged sebum and broken down tissue, called keratinocytes, which cause them to stick out from the skin in clusters of tiny papules.
They look a lot like goosebumps, and I would be happy if they were as easy to get rid of! But the good news is that they are harmless: keratosis pilaris usually fades with age or changes in climate, such as cold weather where you don’t wear shorts anymore or the heat where your skin becomes dry and flaky.
I’m sorry, but you’re not looking at the hair on my son’s head. You are just seeing clumps of dead skin cells that look like they might be tiny hairs because it was cold outside or hot in our house all day long.”
“But we’re not talking about the hair on his head here, right? Hair grows underneath those little raised bumps. Those are called keratosis pilaris. Keratosis Pilaris look like little bumps on the skin, and they usually look a lot like goosebumps – but unlike goosebumps which are caused by cold weather or emotions, these will not go away for long periods of time. These bumps often disappear as people get older.”
“Keratosis Pilaris is common on the tops of arms, and sometimes also around our ears.”
“I would recommend using a moisturizing lotion to keep your skin from getting too dry. You can look for one with urea or lactic acid in it – that will help soften up those dead cells so they’re not as noticeable. And you can look for a body wash with salicylic acid in it, that will help dissolve the dead cells so they’re not as noticeable.”
“You might also want to look into an exfoliant – something like St. Ives Apricot Scrub or Aveeno Positively Radiant Facial Exfoliating Cleanser. Those will help get rid of the dead cells that cause those bumps.”
“If you look at your son’s head, do any particular spots look like they have more hair than others? That could be where he started to develop a larger bald spot – and it might also mean there are some skin tags on his scalp as well.
“Skin tags are benign (non-cancerous) growths of the skin that look like a small, round bump. They’re more common in parts of your body where skin rubs against other skin – such as underarms and on the neck.”
“They can be cut off with scissors or treated with liquid nitrogen to freeze them off. They can also be pulled away with pliers, but you should see a doctor first to make sure this is the best option for your son.”
“Keep in mind that while skin tags might look like something more serious at first glance, they are actually harmless and will most likely go away on their own without any intervention or treatment.”
“If they start to look infected or irritated, consult a doctor. They may prescribe an antibiotic cream.”
My son is two-and-a-half and has skin tags on his head. His dad told me about them when I was washing my hair one day, saying that the doctor said they look like warts. I was surprised because my son has never been to the doctor, but it’s true that his head is a little bumpy in some spots.
I don’t want my son to look like he has warts, but I also would prefer not to take him to a doctor if that’s all it is. He’ll be going soon for his two-year checkup and I can ask then. In the meantime.
