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It's not going to heal but it's not good to pick that much. Nothing I put on them helps. They are like little rocks.

July 17, 2025
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Answer Summary

Members connected over the frustrating experience of hard, rock-like sores with blackened blood on top that seem to have a core underneath,... Read more

Members connected over the frustrating experience of hard, rock-like sores with blackened blood on top that seem to have a core underneath, with several describing them as nodules filled with fluid or keratin that resist topical treatments. Several members shared their approaches, including steroid injections for scalp nodules, prescription antibiotic ointments like Mupirocin, careful removal of hardened tops with a dermablade followed by layered treatment with steroids and moisturizers, and daily preventive moisturizing routines to stop the nodules from forming in the first place. A recurring theme was the unpredictable and exhausting nature of these lesions, the risk of infection like cellulitis if they are not managed properly, and the importance of working closely with a dermatologist to develop a personalized treatment plan while being patient and gentle with your skin.

MyPrurigoTeam

Yes, this is a common experience with prurigo nodularis. The nodules can appear dark or black, especially on darker skin tones, and may have blood on top when scratched. These firm, rock-like bumps are characteristic of PN and can feel like they have a hard core underneath. While it's tempting to try to remove the "core," Show Full Answer

Yes, this is a common experience with prurigo nodularis. The nodules can appear dark or black, especially on darker skin tones, and may have blood on top when scratched. These firm, rock-like bumps are characteristic of PN and can feel like they have a hard core underneath. While it's tempting to try to remove the "core," picking at the nodules can lead to:
- Infection
- Deeper wounds
- More scarring
- New nodules forming
- Delayed healing

It's important to work with a dermatologist who can prescribe appropriate treatments like topical medications, immunosuppressants, or other therapies that can help manage these stubborn lesions without causing additional damage.

July 17, 2025
A MyPrurigoTeam Member

Mine clear if the hardened top is carefully removed with a dermablade then steroid applied, then Vaseline, then moisturizer, then nothing. One approach each day in a cyclic fashion. To me, it seems like my skin is trying to purge something in SOME of these demon spots...it's altogether variable and diabolical. My scalp went from feeling to my fingertips like a corn cob. To just a few. I have a funky mix of lesion types. Raised flattened obling, linear dermal and subdermal...I alters my home made treatments based on location lesion type and adequate medical advice and approach thrown in... ugh.

October 13, 2025
A MyPrurigoTeam Member

Lehet jobb lenne ha hozzá sem nyúlnánk. Én nem tudom de van olyan sebem, ami nem fáj, nem bántom nem kenem és meggyógyúl. Ez ritka, de már rengeteg mindent kipróbáltam. Vigyázz magadra Cathy924. Ölellek.

August 5, 2025
A MyPrurigoTeam Member

Hi Tina, I have had steroid injections for the nodules in my scalp. They were painful but successful. I wish that there was a tried and true method to eliminate the hardness of them. I treat mine immediately with my prescription topicals so that they do not progress to that stage. I read on this website that the nodules are composed of keratin. I moisturize my skin every day with the hope that moisturizing will prevent the keratin from developing.

August 4, 2025
A MyPrurigoTeam Member

I've been given Dermovate, Dovonex & moisturise every day with Epimax. I agree that the hardness & rock like quality of the spots/nodules is quite bizarre & are impenetrable to creams. You could ask if they could be cut out -as they do in a biopsy but I don't know how willing a Derma would be to do this.

August 4, 2025

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