Published on: 4/28/2025
When it’s hot, your skin’s nerves may become extra sensitive, leading to a pins-and-needles feeling because heat and sweating can trigger nerve signals.
Our skin has many tiny nerve fibers that help us feel different sensations. When you’re in a hot environment, your body works hard to cool down, and you sweat. This extra heat and sweat can make your nerve fibers act in a way that sends mixed signals to your brain, which might feel like pins and needles. In some people, this response is even stronger if they have a condition like small-fiber neuropathy, where the small nerves are more sensitive. The burning, itching, or tingling you experience might be due to these nerves reacting more when you’re hot. If these sensations are mild and only happen when it’s very warm, they are often not a serious sign. However, if you notice the pins-and-needles feeling happening often, lasting a long time, or coming with other symptoms like pain or weakness, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor. They can help figure out why it’s happening and suggest ways to make you more comfortable.
(References)
Flores S, Davis MD, Pittelkow MR, Sandroni P, Weaver AL, Fealey RD. Abnormal sweating patterns associated with itching, burning and tingling of the skin indicate possible underlying small-fibre neuropathy. Br J Dermatol. 2015 Feb;172(2):412-8. doi: 10.1111/bjd.13576. Epub 2015 Jan 18. PMID: 25597261.
Tihanyi BT, Ferentzi E, Beissner F, Köteles F. The neuropsychophysiology of tingling. Conscious Cogn. 2018 Feb;58:97-110. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2017.10.015. Epub 2017 Oct 31. PMID: 29096941.
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