I have pain on my scalp - approximately where the male pattern baldness is located. It usually lasts all day. When I lie down on my side, it goes away - so I sleep well. If I go swimming, the cool water alleviates the pain immediately. I've had every test, MRI, CT scan, X-Rays,etc. and no doctor can find the cause. I've had nerve blocks and have seen doctors from Boston to San Francisco - even the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. The other day, I saw a dermatologist who told me I had pre-cancerous lesions in that area and she used liquid nitrogen on them. The pain stopped and has been better for a few days. However, each day, it gets a little worse. She says these lesions don't ever cause pain (in her experience). I am now suspecting that the pain is caused by nerve endings. All comments are welcome.....

Is there any change if you touch or massage it? better/worse?
Does it hurt more with touch or pressures?

Do you have any other pain anywhere?

No, and I don't have Diabetes.

Could be nerve pain from a post herpetic virus, VZV or HSV-1. Those virsues tend to like hide in the occipital and trigeminal nerves. The post herpetic neuralgia is usually a burning type of pain. I know because I have been battling it for 4 months now.

Hve you docs run a IGM and IGG tests for the herpes zoster, Hsv-1 and vzv viruses. If the IGM is elevated then you have had a recent infection. And they do not always come with a rash or cold sore by the way.

Thanks! I have had this pain for nine years now - nothing recent. I intend to call a specialist in neuropathy in Boston for an appointment and will mention what you told me. The pain is not a 'headache' type of pain but I don't know if I would describe it as burning either. It feels very sensitive to the touch and when I use a brush or comb, it feels worse. That's why I think it's in the nerve endings. Funny, though, I don't feel a thing when I lie down on my side to sleep.

I have PN in my feet but I get scalp pain too. But only on about three occasions so far, triggered by exposure to heat (strong light bulbs in one case !) or the sun. It lasted from a hour to a few days at worst.

It feels like the nerve endings. A feeling of tenderness and random pin-prick like sensations at variuos points around my "bald spot".

Thankfully in my case it has not been permanent to date.

Yes, when I go into my garage (hot) or out in the hot sun (San Antonio), I get instant pain.