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Published on: 4/28/2025

Why Do I Feel a Needle Prickling Sensation on My Skin Surface When I Get Hot?

When you get hot, increased blood flow and heat can make your nerves more sensitive, causing a needle-like prickling sensation on your skin.

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Explanation

When your body heats up, the nerves in your skin can become extra active. Heat can change how nerve fibers work, making them send more signals than usual. This extra nerve activity might feel like tiny needles prickling your skin. In some cases, similar sensations occur in a condition called erythromelalgia, where warmth can trigger burning, painful, or prickling sensation due to nerve dysfunction. The way heat affects your skin may be similar to how certain chemicals, like those released during inflammation or increased blood flow, interact with nerve endings. These interactions can lead to a heightened response, making even small stimuli feel more intense. If the needle-prick feeling happens only occasionally and is mild, it might not be serious. However, if the sensation becomes very frequent, severe, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s important to speak with your doctor for further evaluation and proper management.

(References)

  • Stucky CL, Mikesell AR. Cutaneous pain in disorders affecting peripheral nerves. Neurosci Lett. 2021 Nov 20;765:136233. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136233. Epub 2021 Oct 1. PMID: 34506882; PMCID: PMC8579816.

  • Leroux MB. Erythromelalgia: a cutaneous manifestation of neuropathy? An Bras Dermatol. 2018 Jan-Feb;93(1):86-94. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20187535. PMID: 29641704; PMCID: PMC5871369.

  • LaMotte RH, Shimada SG, Green BG, Zelterman D. Pruritic and nociceptive sensations and dysesthesias from a spicule of cowhage. J Neurophysiol. 2009 Mar;101(3):1430-43. doi: 10.1152/jn.91268.2008. Epub 2009 Jan 14. PMID: 19144738; PMCID: PMC2666414.

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