Many people experience tingling in their face at some point in their lives. Usually, it is transient, but it also feels mysterious, since it happens so rarely.
The purpose of this post is to run through some common and rare causes of facial tingling so you can learn more about what could be behind it. Of course, for a full diagnosis, always speak to your doctor.
Common Causes
So, what are the common causes of a tingling face?
Facial Nerve Problems
Facial nerve issues are perhaps the most common cause of tingling on the face. If they are disrupted in some way, it causes them to send dysregulated signals to the brain, leading to twitching and other issues.
You’ve probably experienced facial numbness after sleeping at a funny angle all night. This tingling usually goes away in less than an hour as blood returns to the affected tissue.
Poor Circulation
You might also experience facial nerve issues if you have a history of poor circulation. If blood can’t get to the face temporarily, it restricts circulation which, again, leads to tingling sensations.
The best way to deal with this problem is to change positions. Once you hold your head at a different angle, the tingling will usually go away quite quickly.
Anxiety Attacks
Another thing you’ll want to look into is anxiety attacks. These can be a common cause of facial tingling because of how they affect nervous signalling throughout the body.
Anxiety attacks usually affect the hands, feet, and face, primarily because of hyperventilation. You can reduce the effects of this through deep breathing and reducing your rate of activity, allowing your body to return to baseline.
Anxiety attacks are quite common, so you’ll need to manifest how they affect you in your life. They may come with other symptoms, like excessive sweating or being short of breath a lot of the time.
Vitamin Deficiency Issues
You could also run into facial tingling and numbness problems if you have vitamin deficiency issues. A lot of people are low on key vitamins like B12 and B6, which can cause problems with the face if left untreated.
You’re most at risk for a deficiency issue if you have a poor diet and don’t get enough magnesium. Therefore, always try to eat a variety of healthy, whole foods every day.
If you can’t get that, then choose a supplement. Supplementing B12, for example, is particularly important because many people have absorption issues and can’t get enough into their systems via the usual routes.
Pay particular attention to vitamin deficiencies if you have a medical condition that affects your stomach. Again, you can’t use what you can’t absorb.
Cold Or Sinus Issues
Another cause of a tingling face is cold and sinus issues. If you have allergies or persistent infections, they can lead to tingling near the cheeks and forehead.
With colds, the usual remedy is to simply wait for them to go away. Eventually, your body will clear out the virus and you’ll be back to normal.
However, with sinus infections, you may need to be more proactive. These can be stubborn, and it can be challenging to root them out, especially if they come back.
Therefore, go to see your ENT specialist and see what they say. Often, they have advice on what you should do when you get home, and what to avoid.
Migraine
Finally, you may find that migraines lead to facial tingling sometimes. That’s because migraines are associated with broader sensory disturbances, often before the headache passes.
If you’re having a migraine, you may be able to reduce symptoms by drinking ginger tea or taking powdered ginger. Ginger is pretty much the only spice ever discovered to ameliorate symptoms naturally, with minimal side effects.
Rare But More Serious Causes Of Facial Tingling
Unfortunately, some of the causes of facial tingling are more serious. While they are rare, they could be affecting you.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigerminal neuralgia is a chronic condition that leads to sharp, electric-shock-like sensations in the face. Usually, it affects areas like the cheeks and jawbone, but can also spread to the forehead. If you have these symptoms, go to your doctor for a proper diagnosis to tell you what you might have.
Multiple Sclerosis
Tingling or numbness in the face can also be a sign of multiple sclerosis (MS). This condition affects the nervous system over time, slowly damaging it, and leading to other symptoms, like difficulty walking.
These days, you can learn how to test for MS or multiple sclerosis at home. Watch out for things like muscle weakness, vision problems and a general feeling of fatigue.
Stroke
Stroke can also lead to numbness and tingling in the face. Usually, it starts at one side and moves to the other.
If you notice these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or phone for an ambulance. Health practitioners will often provide you with blood thinning drugs or injections to clear the clot and ensure that everything keeps working as it should. If you act fast enough, you may be able to prevent additional damage to the brain.
Infections
Some serious infections can lead to a tingling face, like shingles and lyme disease.
Shingles is essentially a reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox, but in adults. It can remain dormant for a long time, and then cause a burning pain in the face, followed by a rash.
Lyme is a bacterial infection carried by ticks. Again, the toxins that these bacteria release can cause facial tingling and numbness in some people, especially as the condition develops.
Autoimmune Conditions
Finally, some autoimmune conditions can lead to facial tingling. Usually, these involve damage to the nerves, often via inflammation.
If you have facial tingling, when should you seek help from a doctor?
The most important time to seek medical help is when tingling sensations come on suddenly and are accompanied by other symptoms. However, if you notice tingling that won’t go away, even after several days, then see your physician.
Discover more from The Cameron Journal
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
