Scabs on your scalp, even just a single one, can be cancer, says Dr. Janet Prystowsky, a board certified dermatologist in New York, NY, with over 25 years’ experience.
“The most dangerous scab you can find on your scalp is from skin cancer,” she says.
“Any scabbing condition on the scalp that does not respond to usual treatments within a month should be re-evaluated and potentially biopsied.
“Skin cancer of the scalp (including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma) is frequently mistaken for one of the more common scalp problems.
“Delay in diagnosis leads to a larger and more serious skin cancer.
“Even though hair should be able to protect the scalp from the sun, frequently skin cancer may appear in part lines or areas where the hair was cut short during childhood. It can occur anywhere on the scalp, however.”
Squamous cell carcinoma, like basal cell carcinoma, is intimately linked to cumulative sun exposure.
This is why this cancer typically appears in areas that have received heavy exposure to the sun.
Balding men are especially prone to these non-melanoma skin cancers unless they’ve habitually worn hats or sunscreen on their scalps when outdoors.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common cancer in the world, and the most likely cancer to grow on a scalp.
This cancer, which is almost always non-fatal, will start looking scabby if left untreated for long enough.
They are slow growing and can easily be brushed off as nothing to worry about in their early stages, especially if they’re located where a person would not readily see them, such as on the scalp.
A squamous cell carcinoma is more dangerous, in that it can metastasize to distant parts of the body. These, too, can look like a scab.
Actinic keratosis; Source: skincancer.org
A precancerous condition called actinic keratosis often develops on scalps that have received a lot of sun exposure over the years.
If left untreated, these can start looking scabby (though predominately red/pink).
About 10 percent of these atypical growths, if left untreated, morph into squamous cell carcinoma — which can be fatal.
The American Cancer Society estimates that squamous cell carcinoma kills about 4,000 people in the U.S. every year.
This is why if you see any kind of scab development on the scalp that has a progressive nature — get it checked by a dermatologist.
In combination with her focus on early skin cancer detection and removal, Dr. Prystowsky provides a wide range of revitalizing and rejuvenating treatments.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Dermatology11
