Face Pain - Facial Pain

Facial pain refers to pain or discomfort in the front of the head. The face includes the eyes, nose, mouth, forehead, cheeks, and chin.

What is going on in the body?

Pain in the face can occur for many reasons. It can be mild or severe, and involve any area of the face. Most causes of facial pain are not life threatening, but a few are serious.

What are the causes and risks of the condition?

There are many possible causes of facial pain. Common causes include:

Other causes are also possible. Sometimes, no cause can be found.

What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?

When a person complains of facial pain, the healthcare provider will ask questions about the pain, such as:

How is the condition diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with the history and physical exam. Further tests may be ordered. For instance, a blood test called an erythrocyte sedimentation rate is usually ordered if temporal arteritis is suspected. If a tumor of the saliva glands is suspected, a CT scan or MRI may be ordered to look at the gland.

What can be done to prevent the condition?

Prevention is related to the cause. Regular brushing and flossing of the teeth can help prevent cavities. Skin cancer protection measures such as avoiding prolonged sun exposure and using sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer. Many cases cannot be prevented.

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

Long-term effects are related to the pain and the cause of the pain. If severe pain occurs, which may happen with trigeminal neuralgia, a person may be unable to perform normal activities.

Pain due to trauma or injury usually goes away as the injury begins to heal. The injury may cause no long-term effects, or may cause permanent deformity of the face. Temporal arteritis can cause blindness in some cases.

What are the risks to others?

Facial pain is not contagious and usually poses no risk to others.

What are the treatments for the condition?

For usual pain, such as that from injury, over-the-counter pain medications are often used. If the pain is unusual, such as that from migraine headaches or nerve pain, treatment of the cause is needed to relieve the pain. Antiseizure medications, such as carbamazepine, are often used to treat nerve pain, such as that from trigeminal neuralgia. Antimigraine drugs, such as sumatriptan, are often used to treat migraine headaches.

If an infection is present, antibiotics may be needed. If a serious injury occurs, surgery may be needed. If a tumor or cancer is the cause of pain, the provider may recommend surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

All medications have possible side effects. For instance, aspirin can cause stomach upset, allergic reactions, and ulcers. Antibiotics can also cause allergic reactions and stomach upset. Any surgery carries a risk of bleeding, infection, or allergic reactions to anesthesia.

What happens after treatment for the condition?

Pain medication can be increased, changed, or decreased if needed. Those with an injury often heal and need no further treatment or monitoring. Those with a tumor or cancer may need regular monitoring for years after treatment.

How is the condition monitored?

Any change or response to treatment can be reported to the healthcare provider. Other monitoring depends on the cause. For instance, those with a tooth cavity will need to have regular dental visits to watch for further cavities.

Author:Adam Brochert, MD
Date Written:
Editor:Smith, Elizabeth, BA
Edit Date:09/18/00
Reviewer:Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
Date Reviewed:07/02/01

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