Facial Tingling

About the Symptom

Weird feeling in the face, like numbness, tingling, prickling, itching, or burning. Paresthesias can occur due to various conditions, such as nerve damage or anxiety.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Numbness or abnormal sensation over face

Possible Causes

Generally, Facial tingling can be related to:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) disease in which the immune system attacks parts of the brain and spinal cord. The direct cause of MS remains unknown, but certain risk factors have been identified such as low vitamin D levels, tobacco smoking, exposure to UV radiation, childhood obesity, and infection with the virus that causes mononucleosis. The disease tends to affect young people more commonly as well as people living in higher latitudes. MS typically occurs in "attacks" which can include but are not limited to painful eye movements, blurry vision in one eye, numbness or weakness in hands or feet on one side, or double vision.

• Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)

  Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare condition in which the immune system damages the spinal cord and the optic nerves.

• Tolosa Hunt Syndrome

  Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome is a rare condition characterized by severe headaches behind the eyes, decreased and painful eye movements typically in just one eye. The exact cause is unknown, but it may be related to inflammation in certain areas behind the eye.

• Osteomalacia / Rickets
• Piriformis Syndrome

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Facial tingling may be related to these serious diseases:

• Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)

  Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare nerve disorder where a person's own immune system attacks their nerves. GBS can cause symptoms ranging from mild (arm/leg numbness or weakness) to severe and life-threatening (inability to breathe, abnormal heart rhythm, very high/low blood pressure). The prognosis is generally good. Over half of people fully recover and 80% can walk independently at 1 year. However, a minority of people may have permanent nerve damage or need a ventilator to breathe, and the overall death rate ranges from 3% to 7%.

• Bell's Palsy
• Cerebral Infarction
• Orbital Blowout Fracture
• Hypocalcemia

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Are you experiencing any abnormal facial sensations?
• When did you first notice the abnormal facial sensation?
• Which of the following best describes how your abnormal facial sensation appeared?
• How is your abnormal facial sensation now?

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