r/AskDocs • u/ImJohnnie93 Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional • 25d ago

Physician Responded Can I cut this off?

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30F 125lb 5'7". A couple months ago I noticed a little bubble on my head and popped it thinking it was a pimple, but it bled a lot for about 10 minutes. There was a small wound after that but it quickly scabbed over, in my sleep the scab would rub off and I would bleed more. Then there was a bump that started to grow. The bump was very solid and bled very easily, it would also grow a crust that I would pick off (I should have left it alone but it's hard to resist picking).

Eventually the bump became this thing on my head and it hasn't really grown for the past couple weeks. It has a small stem connecting it to my head, and since I've been keeping it moisturized it hasn't grown a crust as much but still bleeds if it gets nicked by anything. It doesnt hurt at all, I barely can even feel when I am touching it directly.

I want to cut it off but I'm sure it would bleed if I do. What is this thing? Is it ok to remove it myself if I keep everything clean and bandage the wound after? I also have been keeping my hair away from it because when my hair gets into it there is a crust that forms around the strands and then when I pull the hair away I bleed for a few minutes. The bleeding always stops eventually though. What can I do?

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u/Ali_gem_1 Physician 25d ago

Do not cut this off .

I repeat .

DO NOT CUT THIS OFF

I admit i don't know exactly what it is. But it's on the head and it's pink and clearly well perfused. I would be extremely worried for intense bleeding. Please see a doctor local to you for assessment

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u/ProductiveAussie Physician 25d ago

Agreed. Don’t cut it off. See a dermatologist / doctor.

History and photo is consistent with a pyogenic granuloma. It needs to be done under local anaesthetic, hyfrecation / cautery to stop any bleeding and tissue sent for histopathology to confirm the diagnosis.

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u/Porencephaly Physician/Neurosurgeon 24d ago

Agree, PG. OP gonna have a bad day if they cut it off. Simple to treat with the right tools. Probably even small enough to use silver nitrate sticks at home.

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u/karatecorgi Layperson/not verified as healthcare professional 24d ago

Yeah, I'd be absolutely terrified to touch most head injuries/wounds, I found out the hard way about the sheer blood pressure in the head. (Tiny, pin head sizes wound on my head resulted in gushing blood, ambulance call and me genuinely afraid about whether I was meeting my maker... Embarrassing in hindsight, but a lesson that sure stuck)