Numbness is a partial or total lack of sensation in a part of the body resulting from any factor that interrupts the transmission of impulses from the sensory nerve fibers, and is often accompanied by tingling.
Causes and Symptoms
The feeling of pins and needles or numbness might be caused by the blood supply being restricted. This sensation is not as common for the face as it is for the feet and hands. The facial nerves located on the sides of the face can be pinched from sleeping on one side of the face too long, and can cause numbness on the side you slept on. This is temporary due to nerve compression and usually disappears after a short time.
Supplying nerve messages to the face, the fifth cranial nerve in the spine could be affected causing numbness in the face, attributed to an injury to the face or head.
Shingles, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, can cause a painful, tingling, burning, or warm feeling with orwithout a rash usually on one side of the face near the eyes. Antiviral drugs will relieve symptoms and duration.
Food-specific allergies may contribute to tongue and mouth sensations such as tingling and itching including medication side effects.
Reduced blood supply, peripheral artery disease (PAD), atherosclerosis, and frostbite can cause numbness and tingling.
Multiple sclerosis, diabetes, stroke, tumors, trigeminal neuralgia, lupus, under-active thyroid, migraine are other medical ailments connected with face numbness.
Being deficient in vitamin B12 for maintaining healthy nerve cells can contribute to the condition as can distorted potassium, sodium, or calcium (electrolytes) levels.
Home Remedies
-- Incorporate vitamins and calcium supplements each day. The B-vitamins are helpful with nerve functions, especially B12. Have more dairy such as yogurt, cheese, and milk products. Include eggs, lentils, beans, peas, nuts as natural supplements for easing facial numbness.
-- For improving blood circulation to the face perform face and neck exercises for reducing numbness. Chewing gum is a great exercise for using face muscles.
-- Take walks, and short bursts of exercise for blood circulation. Take the stairs. Pace when on the phone.