What Causes Tingling in Face? Conditions, Symptoms, and More (2024)

Tingling in the face is a symptom that can be the result of many different conditions. Some of these conditions may be mild or treatable at home, whereas other causes may require medical treatment or even emergency care. Tingling in the face may feel like a prickling or crawling sensation, or light, moving pressure on or under the skin. Other people may experience it as a more painful or irritating sensation.

While some people may experience tingling in the face temporarily, in some cases chronic paresthesia can occur.

This article will explain some causes of tingling in the face, as well as additional symptoms and how these causes may differ. It will also discuss some treatment options and some frequently asked questions about the symptom.

Face tingling can be due to paresthesia. This refers to a prickling or burning sensation that often occurs in the limbs, although it can occur elsewhere. Some may refer to paresthesia as “pins and needles.”

The feeling of numbness or tingling can occur due to something affecting the function of the nerves or brain, such as injury or pressure, or an imbalance in the body’s chemicals.

Nerves are bundles of fibers that form connections to tissue all over the body. They help to communicate and coordinate sensations, movement, and other stimuli.

Many different conditions and causes can impact the nerves.

Sometimes, tingling in the face can occur due to an allergic reaction.

For example, tingling or itching in the face or mouth is a possible response to a food allergy.

Other symptoms which may help to indicate an allergic reaction include:

• swelling of the face, mouth, throat, or other body areas
• difficulty swallowing
• wheezing or difficulty breathing
• lightheadedness or dizziness
• hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing or itchy eyes
• a rash that is raised, itchy, or flushed

While mild allergies, such as mild cases of hay fever, are treatable with over-the-counter medication, a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis is a medical emergency.

Seek immediate medical care for symptoms such as a swollen throat or mouth, difficulty breathing or speaking, a tight chest, and feeling faint.

Sometimes, migraine headaches can cause a tingling sensation that affects the face.

A tingling or numb sensation that starts in a hand and moves up toward the face may be a warning sign of migraine symptoms. It can also happen during or after an episode of migraine.

Tingling in the face may occur on the same side of the head and body where you experience other migraine pain. Additionally, as some migraine types cause temporary weakness or paralysis, this may also cause weakness in the face.

These symptoms are a medical emergency, as they can resemble other serious conditions.

Seek emergency care for symptoms such as one-sided pain or temporary weakness. If clinicians determine your symptoms are the result of migraine, not a life threatening condition such as a stroke, they can then prescribe treatment for pain relief.

A stroke or TIA can occur when there is a lack of blood flow to an area of the brain.

The type of symptoms may depend on the type of stroke and the part of the brain it affects. Signs of a stroke or TIA can sometimes include weakness, pain, or tingling in the face or body, particularly on one side.

The onset of these sensations and other symptoms may be sudden.

Learn more about transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke.

When nerves experience damage, this can cause feelings of pain, numbness, or tingling in the area that the nerves connect to. Clinicians refer to this kind of nerve damage as neuropathy.

There are many different possible causes of neuropathy, which can include:

• diabetes
• physical injury to the nerves
• infection, for example from shingles, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, HIV, and Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source COVID-19
• certain cancers and benign tumors
• side effects of certain medications and chemotherapy drugs
• disorders of the kidneys, liver, or thyroid
• autoimmune diseases
• blood and vascular conditions, as they can increase the risk of stroke
• hormonal imbalances
• chronic alcohol overuse
• nutritional or vitamin deficiencies or imbalances
• exposure to toxins
• other nerve conditions, such as Bell’s palsy

MS is a progressive autoimmune condition that affects the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.

One symptom of the condition is sensations such as numbness or tingling in different parts of the body, which may affect the face.

Sensations such as numbness or tingling are often an early sign of MS. These sensations can occur in different areas of the body and may get progressively worse over the course of a few days.

Treatment for MS aims to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Learn more about multiple sclerosis symptoms and treatment.

Fibromyalgia refers to a condition that causes pain all over the body. It can also present further symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep difficulties, and increased pain sensitivity.

Pain, prickling, or tingling sensations can be Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Governmental authority Go to source a symptom of fibromyalgia. This tingling or a numbing sensation may also affect the extremities, such as the hands or feet.

Treatment for fibromyalgia includes managing any pain with medication, exercise, therapy, and techniques to improve stress and sleep.

You may feel tingling in the face if you experience anxiety or a panic disorder. A tingling or numb sensation can occur during a panic or anxiety attack, and it may affect different areas such as the hands or face.

Other symptoms of anxiety or an anxiety attack can be both physical and psychological, such as a feeling of dread or panic, fast heart rate, trembling, or nausea.

Effective treatment options to improve anxiety can include therapy and medication.

Other causes may possibly lead to a tingling or numb sensation in the face.

Some people say they have experienced numbness or tingling in the face following facial surgery and other medical treatments, stress, environmental or weather factors such as exposure to cold air, and fatigue.

You may also experience tingling or the sensation of “pins and needles” in the body due to pressure on the nerves.

Additionally, doctors may not always be able to identify the precise cause of tingling in the face.

While some causes of tingling in the face may be mild, other causes can include more severe conditions that require medical treatment.

Contact your doctor regarding any new symptoms of tingling in the face. Your doctor may perform tests or consult your medical history to determine the underlying cause of the symptom.

Seek emergency medical care for any symptoms of stroke or severe allergic reaction.

Below are some frequently asked questions about tingling in the face.

Tingling in the face can be an effect of anxiety.

As anxiety can produce symptoms of numbness or tingling as part of the body’s response to stressful input, some believe that tingling in the face relates to stress.

If you are experiencing tingling in the face, contact your doctor to rule out any other severe conditions.

Tingling in the face is not one of the principal symptoms of dehydration.

Seek immediate medical care for signs of severe dehydration, such as fatigue, disorientation or dizziness, infrequent urination, or a weak pulse.

While many vascular and blood conditions can cause neuropathy, high blood pressure itself does not cause damage to the nerves.

However, high blood pressure that does not receive effective treatment for a long period of time is a risk factor for stroke, which can cause face tingling.

Tingling in the left or right side of the face can occur as some conditions present symptoms that affect the body unilaterally, meaning on one side.

For example, if the left or right side of the face is tingling, this can be the result of conditions such as migraine, shingles, or Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Tingling in the face is a symptom of nerve dysfunction. It may feel like a prickling, moving, or “pins and needles” sensation under the skin. It may also feel painful or numb.

While some state that they experience tingling in the face due to more mild or benign conditions such as cold temperatures, other causes include serious medical conditions, such as MS, stroke, or allergic reaction.

Additional causes of tingling in the face can include anxiety attacks, infections, and underlying medical conditions such as diabetes.

Contact your doctor for any persistent or inconvenient symptoms of tingling in the face. Seek immediate medical care for signs of stroke and severe allergic reaction.