It’s no secret that facial pain can be incredibly disruptive. It can keep you from enjoying life, work, and even the simplest tasks. What makes it so frustrating is that there are so many potential sources of facial pain. It can be difficult to determine exactly what is causing it. Facial pain feels different from other sources of pain because it’s just right there in such a prominent portion of your body.
If you suffer from a painful condition in your face, knowing what causes it and how to deal with it is essential. The first step is working with a doctor who specializes in this area. Your doctor can often identify the cause of your pain and prescribe effective treatment options. However, you can also do some things at home or see a psychologist for help with stress management.
Causes of Facial Pain
There are several causes of facial pain. Some of the most common include:
- Trauma is usually caused by an accident or injury to your face. It can be caused by falling or hitting your face, but it can also be caused by repetitive motions such as rubbing your face on a towel.
- Dental problems can cause facial pain in addition to other symptoms such as toothaches, earaches, and jaw aches.
- Tumors are a rare cause of facial pain. They may be benign or malignant, but even a benign tumor can cause facial pain. Tumors that occur in the face include neurofibromatosis, which causes tumors to grow on nerves causing a condition known as lipomas which look like lumps on the facial skin.
- Dermoid cysts are usually found in the nose or ear, but they can also occur in other facial areas, including lips and eyelids, cheekbones, and forehead. They typically contain a small amount of fluid and are generally painless. They usually grow slowly, but some can augment and cause facial pain.
- Scar tissue forms over a wound and can be incredibly painful. Burns or cuts to the face can cause it, but it is not frequent. It causes pain on one side of the face, but this can vary from person to person.
- Facial nerve palsy is a rare condition usually caused by injury or surgery to the facial nerves. It causes weakness in the facial muscles and can cause pain when you smile or frown. Some people may also experience drooping of the eyelid on one side of the face.
- Infections cause swelling under the skin on your eyelids, nose, and mouth (mucous membranes). Strep throat is one of the most common types of infection of this type. The swelling and pain can be so grievous that you cannot open your eyes or even move them.
- Sinusitis is usually a result of allergies that cause congestion in the sinuses above the eyes. It can also be caused by colds or flu, but it is not very common.
Facial Pain Treatment
There’s a lot that can be done to help with facial pain. Doctors may choose a number of different options. They include:
- Treating underlying infections - Treating underlying conditions is the first step to treating facial pain. If you have a facial bacterial infection, your doctor will treat it with antibiotics.
- Restoring blood supply - The blood supply to the skin of your face is minimal, which means that it can be easily blocked. This is why so many people with facial pain have a history of blocked blood supply nosebleeds. Your doctor may recommend an injection into one of the facial nerves to help restore the blood supply.
- Stretching and strengthening muscles - Stretching and strengthening exercises are usually recommended for people with facial pain caused by muscle weakness or spasms. These exercises can be performed at home by using a unique device, or you can see a physiotherapist if you prefer.
- Rest - A complete rest from all strenuous activity can help to relieve facial pain caused by swelling and inflammation around your eyes, nose, and mouth (mucous membranes). Rest can also reduce facial muscle spasms that can cause facial pain.
- Ice packs – Ice packs applied to swollen areas may help reduce swelling and relieve facial pain caused by swelling and inflammation around your eyes, nose, and mouth.