Scalp Itching, Skull Has Sunk and Skin appears to be burned

July 2013, I had a right cranial clipping. Even now, I have a lot of itching in the area of the surgery. Over time my skull has sunken over time. I have a knot or bump over my right eyebrow. My skin looks burned. I covered that side with my hair.

Have others experienced these post surgery issues?



I had the skull sinking, and in April had it repaired with a cranioplasty. Even though it is cosmetic (to some degree) the insurance company paid for it because of the MRI showing missing areas of skull. I had the uneven ups and downs around the sinking area and they smoothed those out (sort of). The surgeon’s skill at repairing the skull bone is the cause of bumps or dents, but it might also be the cement they used to fill in the cracks, or if they used a titanium plate to cover the skull. In my case the cement had deteriorated, as well as the surrounding bone, since I have osteoporosis. But I am 20 years out from the craniotomy and aneurysm rupture, so it’s more understandable than you being 2 years out. It’s worth a call to the neurosurgeon to find out what they think. If you dont know, I would ask that they describe in depth how they fixed the skull, what products they used, what the condition of the bone was in before they closed. I didn’t have the skin changes you describe or the itching. I wonder if you are allergic to something they used? if it bothers you, it is worth reporting. MY hair has thinned over the years, so covering it wasn’t working!

Thank you for your reply this is so helpful. I an being referred by my surgeon for an assessment. I have a titanium plate to cover the skull and I have several allergies. I will probably have to coordinate between my specialists (dermatologist, neurosurgeon and cosmetic surgeon). Oh, last month I was diagnosed with having Oseoporosis.

I was given Neurotin to help with the itching....I hope that will help because it is very irritating.

I will post updates as I move forward to resolve this issue. Thank you again, Sigmund.



Olive said:

Thank you for your reply this is so helpful. I an being referred by my surgeon for an assessment. I have a titanium plate to cover the skull and I have several allergies. I will probably have to coordinate between my specialists (dermatologist, neurosurgeon and cosmetic surgeon). Oh, last month I was diagnosed with having Osteoporosis.

I was given Neurotin to help with the itching....I hope that will help because it is very irritating.

I will post updates as I move forward to resolve this issue. Thank you again, Sigmund.

I had itching scalp but was coiled endovascularly, tresomme' with vitamin e shampoo helped, dr recommended head and shoulders so I alternate,tc xoxo

I get itchy head and I was coiled last September , I thought I would change my hair products but it wasn’t making any change, I thought it might b the Kepra I’m on , I will try what u said , thanks take care

where they cut me it left a very wide scar that looks burnt and I too had a problem with itching for about a year and half and I was told it was due to the nurves having having to heal

I'm almost 4 years out from a clipping. I had that sunken skull look on my forehead. I was consulting with a nutritionist at about 2 years after the surgery. She suggested that scar tissue might be inhibiting the nerve growth/re-connecting and the sunken look could be muscle atrophy. She said an enzyme called serrapeptase can slowly dissolve scar tissue and allow healthy tissue to grow in its place. It seemed pretty unbelievable to me, but I agreed to try it. It worked. I got a little bit of that weird tingling feeling like when my initial swelling had gone down. Then my forehead evened out. I was pretty amazed and delighted. That's not to say that it is perfect. What I think is a borehole still looks like a divet. And recently I've had some sort of cold/flu that has made my forehead on that side sort of sensitive and sore.

Thank you, so much, for your reply, Troy. Everyone tells me, including my neurosurgeon, that they do not notice the craters (lol) on the side of my scalp and the one on my forehead but to me they seem very noticeable. I will give the serrapeptase a try. If it worked for you maybe there is a chance it will do the same for me.

Troy said:

I'm almost 4 years out from a clipping. I had that sunken skull look on my forehead. I was consulting with a nutritionist at about 2 years after the surgery. She suggested that scar

tissue might be inhibiting the nerve growth/re-connecting and the sunken look could be muscle atrophy. She said an enzyme called serrapeptase can slowly dissolve scar tissue and allow healthy tissue to grow in its place. It seemed pretty unbelievable to me, but I agreed to try it. It worked. I got a little bit of that weird tingling feeling like when my initial swelling had gone down. Then my forehead evened out. I was pretty amazed and delighted. That's not to say that it is perfect. What I think is a borehole still looks like a divet. And recently I've had some sort of cold/flu that has made my forehead on that side sort of sensitive and sore.

I am 4.5 months from front cranial clipping. I too have the itching and use Polysporin. It seems to work. I have a large dent & the titanium plate stings sometimes. It is still sensitive. Be careful with the sun and keep a hat handy. My scar looks like it is sunburned too. I was told this is normal. Good luck to you and hopefully the itching will go away.

Olive,

I read of your consultations with great interest. I see those posts were made about a year ago. Have you posted a follow-up anywhere since then? I am in the same boat as you with my crater (I like that description better than dent) and I am eager to hear if you have made progress on this situation.

~many thanks



Olive said:

Thank you for your reply this is so helpful. I an being referred by my surgeon for an assessment. I have a titanium plate to cover the skull and I have several allergies. I will probably have to coordinate between my specialists (dermatologist, neurosurgeon and cosmetic surgeon). Oh, last month I was diagnosed with having Oseoporosis.

I was given Neurotin to help with the itching....I hope that will help because it is very irritating.

I will post updates as I move forward to resolve this issue. Thank you again, Sigmund.

Troy, thank you for sharing your approach. It would never have occurred to me to consult with a nutritionist! Would you kindly PM me with contact information for the person who helped you? Also, if you could post a link to the serrapeptase product you used, along with how much you took, for how often, for how long before you started seeing improvement, that would be super helpful.

~many thanks

Troy said:

I'm almost 4 years out from a clipping. I had that sunken skull look on my forehead. I was consulting with a nutritionist at about 2 years after the surgery. She suggested that scar tissue might be inhibiting the nerve growth/re-connecting and the sunken look could be muscle atrophy. She said an enzyme called serrapeptase can slowly dissolve scar tissue and allow healthy tissue to grow in its place. It seemed pretty unbelievable to me, but I agreed to try it. It worked. I got a little bit of that weird tingling feeling like when my initial swelling had gone down. Then my forehead evened out. I was pretty amazed and delighted. That's not to say that it is perfect. What I think is a borehole still looks like a divet. And recently I've had some sort of cold/flu that has made my forehead on that side sort of sensitive and sore.

My son is now 14 and was 9 when he had his. He has only ever complained of it itching in the area but not the other symptoms you named.

i have the itching, not sure why since i had endovascular fixes, dr said head and shoulders shampoo and i also use tresemme w vitamin E, it does help, tc