A horn growing on a human head is typically a cutaneous horn, which is a projection of compacted keratin, similar to an animal’s horn, but without a bony core. These horns are often found on sun-exposed areas of the body and can be benign, precancerous, or cancerous.
- What it is: A cutaneous horn is a hard, conical growth on the skin, composed of keratin.
- Appearance: They can vary in size and shape, but often resemble animal horns.
- Location: They commonly appear on the face, ears, nose, forearms, and back of the hands.
- Causes: While the exact cause is unknown, sun damage and cell aging are thought to play a role.
- Types: They can be benign (most common), precancerous, or cancerous.
- Importance of medical evaluation: Due to the possibility of underlying cancerous or precancerous conditions, it’s crucial to have any cutaneous horn evaluated by a healthcare professional.
Cutaneous horns, also known by the Latin name cornu cutaneum, are unusual keratinous skin tumors with the appearance of horns, or sometimes of wood or coral. Formally, this is a clinical diagnosis for a “conical projection above the surface of the skin.”[1] They are usually small and localized but can, in very rare cases, be much larger. Although often benign, they can also be malignant or premalignant.[2]
Signs and symptoms
The lesion at the base of the keratin mound is benign in the majority of cases. Malignancy is present in up to 20% of cases, with squamous-cell carcinoma being the most common type. The incidence of squamous-cell carcinoma increases to 37% when the cutaneous horn is present on the penis.
Cause
The cause of cutaneous horns is still unknown, but it is believed that exposure to radiation can trigger the condition. This is evidenced by a higher rate of cases occurring on the face and hands, areas that are often exposed to sunlight. Moreover, there is a higher prevalence in Asian countries with a warm climate. Other cases have reported cutaneous horns arising from burn scars.[4] As with many other wart-like skin conditions, a link to the HPV virus family, especially the HPV-2 subtype has been suggested.
Removing a cutaneous horn
The most common treatment for cutaneous horns is removal. The type of treatment you receive will also depend on if the growth is cancerous or noncancerous. Your recovery time will vary depending on the size of the growth and its type.
Treatment for noncancerous cutaneous horns may include:
- removing the growth
- freezing the growth with liquid nitrogen
- scraping and burning the growth
Treatment for cancerous cutaneous horns may include:
- removing the growth through surgery
- scraping and burning the growth
- using radiation therapy
- using chemotherapy
- using topical medicine to stimulate the immune system
Scarring is possible and often happens after removing a cutaneous horn. The size of the growth influences the amount of scarring.
In some cases, the cutaneous horns can reappear or grow back after removal.
Preventing a cutaneous horn
Although there are no clear preventive measures that can stop cutaneous horns, avoiding exposure to the sun and using a high SPF-sunscreen may reduce your risk. Learn more about choosing a sunscreen.
