What could be the cause of numbness on the right side of my face?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Right-sided facial numbness may result from several underlying conditions, including carotid artery disease, sinus infections or inflammation, and small strokes (transient ischemic attacks) affecting the brain. Nerve compression, migraines, and multiple sclerosis are also possible causes. Because facial numbness can signal a serious neurological event, prompt evaluation is important.

Since these causes range from minor to life-threatening, identifying the likely source of your symptoms early can help you decide how urgently to seek care. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what may be causing your facial numbness and get clear guidance on your next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn what may cause right-side facial numbness Discover if your facial numbness needs urgent care Find out if numbness could signal stroke See OTC options for facial numbness relief Find a doctor for facial numbness causes Understand medically valid home remedies for numbness Check likely causes of one-sided facial numbness

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Explanation

Facial numbness can happen for different reasons. One possible cause is a problem with the carotid artery, which is a major blood vessel in the neck that supplies blood to the brain. Issues with this artery can lead to facial numbness and other symptoms.

Another cause could be the silent sinus syndrome. This is a rare condition where changes in the sinus can lead to pressure changes, causing facial numbness.

Lastly, small strokes in the brain, specifically in an area called the pons, can cause numbness on one side of the face. These are known as lacunar strokes and they affect small, deep areas of the brain.

If you experience facial numbness, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider to find out the exact cause and get the right treatment. You can start by using a free AI symptom checker to help identify what might be causing your symptoms.

(References)

Francis KR, Williams DP, & Troost BT. (1987). Facial numbness and dysesthesia. New features of carotid .... Archives of neurology, 3827688.
Tribich S, Mahoney CJ, & Davies NW. (2018). Silent sinus syndrome: an unusual case of facial numbness. Practical neurology, 30030411.
Brigo F, Tomelleri G, Bovi P, & Bovi T. (2012). Hemiparesthesias in lacunar pontine ischemic stroke. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 21910003.

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