Warning gross pic. What is this???

[Birdnerd]

Posting for traffic, was on antibiotics as thought it was infected. It's gotten a bit better and hair is growing back in the centre. It scabs up and I can't stop picking as I have a picking disorder. I need it gone asap and am now on antifungal medication. It started out as a spot then the scab got bigger.

If you're picking it could you have developed impetigo? If you can't get to your GP a pharmacist might be able to help.

I know this probably isnt helpful but you need to stop picking it. I'm a picker as well and I know how hard it is to leave things alone but that's a big old wound. Can you braid your hair over it so you can't pick at it maybe?

I did wonder that, I had a video call initially with doctors and she saw it. I'm so embarrassed as I would like a haircut if they open in July.

I'm going to cut my nails as short as possible

You do really need to stop picking it. If you continue and it scars the hair may never grow back. Its probably fungal. My son had something similar years ago and he now has a very small scar which you can only see if his hair is very very short. But it wasn't as big as the patch you have. We had prescription cream we had to apply.

I had an area in my scalp ( at the back ) which stayed for ages due to me picking it.
What stopped me was reading that you eventually damage the hair follicles so that area will go bald.
Yours would be really noticeable. So stop .

I get them every few years around the same area on my scalp either side. I wondered if its ringworm but that wouldn't start as a spot would it? Hopefully the antifungal pills will help but I will go speak to a pharmacist tomorrow. Just wondered if anyone else gets this.

No it’s not ringworm, google ringworm if you need to reassure your self.
Do you have other coping mechanisms other than picking or pulling?
It looks like it will recover if you give it a chance.

Also please don’t worry about the hairdressers, they are a bit like doctors in that they have seen it all and won’t judge. You could always explain in advance that you have a sore spot on your scalp, they really won’t be put off by it.

Get yourself a big blusher brush and rub the area with that every time you have an urge to pick it

Maybe ask when lockdown is relaxed if this could be psoriasis? I’ve had scalp psoriasis for years, but it was always downplayed as dry skin/eczema etc. I self diagnosed and was referred by my GP eventually to a rheumatologist who’s confirmed it. Steroid scalp lotion has transformed my life, much less itchy scaly scalp.

If you've been prescribed antibiotics and antifungals, has your doctor not given you an idea what it might be?

I agree with @Highlandcathedral - It looks exactly the same as the ones I get on my head, which do flare up every now and then but usually in the same places.

Thank you everyone

You've got to stop picking. I do it too when I'm stressed. The only thing that works for me is a physical barrier so i have to wear a headband on my head whenever i know the picking is more likely - bored, distracted etc. And find something else to do. I also got some cheap hair extensions and pinned them onto the area so if i felt like doing it i was touching the fake hair not my own.