8 causes and how to get relief

Eyebrow pain or tension can be due to various causes, including headaches, infections, or conditions affecting the nerves in the face.

In this article, we look at eight possible causes of eyebrow pain, as well as the treatment options for each.

Share on PinterestMigraine, trigeminal neuralgia, and glaucoma are some possible causes of eyebrow pain.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that causes sharp, intense pain in areas of the face. The trigeminal nerve connects the brain to the face, allowing a person to sense touch and changes in temperature.

Trigeminal neuralgia usually affects just one side of the face, but in rare cases, it can affect both sides.

Some people with this condition may experience a stabbing pain or pain that feels like an electric shock. Others may have a constant aching or burning sensation in the face.

Glaucoma occurs when excess fluid builds up in the front of the eye and damages the optic nerve. It can cause severe pain around the eyebrow and eye.

Other symptoms of glaucoma include:

• blind spots in the vision
• blurred vision
• headaches
• nausea or vomiting
• seeing rainbows or halos

It is vital to receive treatment for glaucoma. Without treatment, it can cause permanent vision loss.

Migraine can cause pain around the eyebrows, eyes, and temples. A migraine episode can last from 4 hours up to several days.

Symptoms of a migraine episode can include:

• intense head pain
• a throbbing sensation
• nausea and vomiting
• increased sensitivity to light and sound
• pain that increases when a person moves

Learn more about the differences between migraine and a headache here.

Share on PinterestA cluster headache may cause red, teary eyes and a runny nose.

A cluster headache is a severe headache that can reoccur between one and eight times a day and last from 15 minutes to 3 hours each time.

People may experience a stabbing pain, often either behind the eyebrow or eye or around the temples. This pain and other symptoms usually affect one side of the head.

Symptoms of a cluster headache include:

• red, teary eyes
• a runny or stuffy nose
• a flushed or sweating face
• a drooping eyelid
• one smaller pupil
• restlessness
• being unable to lie still

According to the American Migraine Foundation, tension headaches are the most common type of headache, and they can last from anywhere between 30 minutes and 7 days.

Pain may spread to the eye, eyebrow, and temple. Symptoms of a tension headache include:

• mild-to-moderate pain on both sides of the head
• increased sensitivity to either light or sound
• tenderness in the neck muscles

Shingles is a condition that affects the nerves. It occurs in localized areas, usually on one side of the body. These areas can include the face and neck.

The symptoms of shingles include:

• a very painful rash
• fluid filled blisters
• shooting pain
• tingling or numb sensations
• burning
• itchiness
• fever and chills
• nausea
• headaches
• loss of vision

People should see their doctor immediately if they have blisters on their face, especially if they are close to the eyes.

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the nasal cavities. It can create a lot of pressure in the face, and people may feel pain around the eyebrows, nose, forehead, and cheeks.

Symptoms of sinusitis include:

• a blocked or stuffy nose
• a cough
• thick, yellow, or green mucus from the nose
• mucus that drips down the back of the throat

Sinusitis can be either acute or chronic. The symptoms of acute sinusitis usually go away within a week or 10 days. If the symptoms show no improvement with medical treatment and last longer than 12 weeks, a person may have chronic sinusitis.

Giant cell arteritis, or temporal arteritis, is a condition affecting the blood vessels along the side of the head.

Inflammation of these blood vessels can cause pain in the face and other symptoms around the head and neck, such as:

• pain in the jaw
• double vision or temporary loss of vision
• a fever
• tenderness on the scalp
• tenderness around the temples
• severe headaches
• dizziness
• difficulty swallowing or a sore throat

According to the Arthritis Foundation, people over the age of 50 years, particularly Caucasian women, are more likely to develop giant cell arteritis.

Treatment for eyebrow pain depends on the underlying cause:

• Headaches and migraine episodes: Taking pain relievers, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest and sleep can help.
• Severe or frequent migraine episodes: A doctor can prescribe medications for pain and other symptoms.
• Cluster headaches: A doctor may recommend medications or an oxygen mask to prevent a cluster attack.
• Shingles: Rest, a cool compress, and calamine lotion may help soothe symptoms of shingles until the infection passes. Adults over the age of 50 years can get a shingles vaccine.
• Glaucoma: Taking daily eye drop medication can help prevent vision loss in people with glaucoma. Beta-blockers and alpha-agonists also work to reduce fluid buildup in the eye.
• Sinusitis: People can take decongestants and nasal sprays to treat sinusitis. Pain relievers, plenty of rest, and proper hydration can also help reduce symptoms.
• Trigeminal neuralgia: A doctor may prescribe medications or recommend surgery, which usually involves damaging the trigeminal nerve to stop the transmission of pain signals.
• Giant cell arteritis: Corticosteroids can effectively treat the symptoms of giant cell arteritis. A longer course may be necessary to keep inflammation levels low.

Share on PinterestA person with eyebrow pain should talk to their doctor if they experience sudden, severe headaches, drowsiness, or nausea.

A person should see their doctor if their eyebrow pain is severe, does not go away, or occurs alongside other symptoms.

People with eyebrow pain should seek medical care straight away if they also have the following symptoms:

• severe pain or swelling in the face
• swelling or redness around the eyes
• confusion or feeling disorientated
• a sudden severe headache
• drowsiness
• a fever
• a rash
• nausea and vomiting

People should speak to a doctor if they have symptoms of any of the following conditions:

• shingles
• giant cell arteritis
• severe or frequent migraine episodes
• trigeminal neuralgia
• glaucoma

If symptoms of sinusitis carry on longer than 10 days or do not improve with treatment, a doctor can help.

People may experience pain behind or around the eyebrows for many reasons. Blocked sinuses or headaches can lead to increased pressure and pain around the eyebrows, which should pass once the cause resolves.

In other instances, eyebrow pain is due to an underlying condition, such as glaucoma.

If people have frequent or severe pain around the eyebrows or notice other symptoms, they should see a doctor.

8 causes and how to get relief

Eyebrow pain or tension can be due to various causes, including headaches, infections, or conditions affecting the nerves in the face.

In this article, we look at eight possible causes of eyebrow pain, as well as the treatment options for each.

Share on PinterestMigraine, trigeminal neuralgia, and glaucoma are some possible causes of eyebrow pain.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that causes sharp, intense pain in areas of the face. The trigeminal nerve connects the brain to the face, allowing a person to sense touch and changes in temperature.

Trigeminal neuralgia usually affects just one side of the face, but in rare cases, it can affect both sides.

Some people with this condition may experience a stabbing pain or pain that feels like an electric shock. Others may have a constant aching or burning sensation in the face.

Glaucoma occurs when excess fluid builds up in the front of the eye and damages the optic nerve. It can cause severe pain around the eyebrow and eye.

Other symptoms of glaucoma include:

• blind spots in the vision
• blurred vision
• headaches
• nausea or vomiting
• seeing rainbows or halos

It is vital to receive treatment for glaucoma. Without treatment, it can cause permanent vision loss.

Migraine can cause pain around the eyebrows, eyes, and temples. A migraine episode can last from 4 hours up to several days.

Symptoms of a migraine episode can include:

• intense head pain
• a throbbing sensation
• nausea and vomiting
• increased sensitivity to light and sound
• pain that increases when a person moves

Learn more about the differences between migraine and a headache here.

Share on PinterestA cluster headache may cause red, teary eyes and a runny nose.

A cluster headache is a severe headache that can reoccur between one and eight times a day and last from 15 minutes to 3 hours each time.

People may experience a stabbing pain, often either behind the eyebrow or eye or around the temples. This pain and other symptoms usually affect one side of the head.

Symptoms of a cluster headache include:

• red, teary eyes
• a runny or stuffy nose
• a flushed or sweating face
• a drooping eyelid
• one smaller pupil
• restlessness
• being unable to lie still

According to the American Migraine Foundation, tension headaches are the most common type of headache, and they can last from anywhere between 30 minutes and 7 days.

Pain may spread to the eye, eyebrow, and temple. Symptoms of a tension headache include:

• mild-to-moderate pain on both sides of the head
• increased sensitivity to either light or sound
• tenderness in the neck muscles

Shingles is a condition that affects the nerves. It occurs in localized areas, usually on one side of the body. These areas can include the face and neck.

The symptoms of shingles include:

• a very painful rash
• fluid filled blisters
• shooting pain
• tingling or numb sensations
• burning
• itchiness
• fever and chills
• nausea
• headaches
• loss of vision

People should see their doctor immediately if they have blisters on their face, especially if they are close to the eyes.

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the nasal cavities. It can create a lot of pressure in the face, and people may feel pain around the eyebrows, nose, forehead, and cheeks.

Symptoms of sinusitis include:

• a blocked or stuffy nose
• a cough
• thick, yellow, or green mucus from the nose
• mucus that drips down the back of the throat

Sinusitis can be either acute or chronic. The symptoms of acute sinusitis usually go away within a week or 10 days. If the symptoms show no improvement with medical treatment and last longer than 12 weeks, a person may have chronic sinusitis.

Giant cell arteritis, or temporal arteritis, is a condition affecting the blood vessels along the side of the head.

Inflammation of these blood vessels can cause pain in the face and other symptoms around the head and neck, such as:

• pain in the jaw
• double vision or temporary loss of vision
• a fever
• tenderness on the scalp
• tenderness around the temples
• severe headaches
• dizziness
• difficulty swallowing or a sore throat

According to the Arthritis Foundation, people over the age of 50 years, particularly Caucasian women, are more likely to develop giant cell arteritis.

Treatment for eyebrow pain depends on the underlying cause:

• Headaches and migraine episodes: Taking pain relievers, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest and sleep can help.
• Severe or frequent migraine episodes: A doctor can prescribe medications for pain and other symptoms.
• Cluster headaches: A doctor may recommend medications or an oxygen mask to prevent a cluster attack.
• Shingles: Rest, a cool compress, and calamine lotion may help soothe symptoms of shingles until the infection passes. Adults over the age of 50 years can get a shingles vaccine.
• Glaucoma: Taking daily eye drop medication can help prevent vision loss in people with glaucoma. Beta-blockers and alpha-agonists also work to reduce fluid buildup in the eye.
• Sinusitis: People can take decongestants and nasal sprays to treat sinusitis. Pain relievers, plenty of rest, and proper hydration can also help reduce symptoms.
• Trigeminal neuralgia: A doctor may prescribe medications or recommend surgery, which usually involves damaging the trigeminal nerve to stop the transmission of pain signals.
• Giant cell arteritis: Corticosteroids can effectively treat the symptoms of giant cell arteritis. A longer course may be necessary to keep inflammation levels low.

Share on PinterestA person with eyebrow pain should talk to their doctor if they experience sudden, severe headaches, drowsiness, or nausea.

A person should see their doctor if their eyebrow pain is severe, does not go away, or occurs alongside other symptoms.

People with eyebrow pain should seek medical care straight away if they also have the following symptoms:

• severe pain or swelling in the face
• swelling or redness around the eyes
• confusion or feeling disorientated
• a sudden severe headache
• drowsiness
• a fever
• a rash
• nausea and vomiting

People should speak to a doctor if they have symptoms of any of the following conditions:

• shingles
• giant cell arteritis
• severe or frequent migraine episodes
• trigeminal neuralgia
• glaucoma

If symptoms of sinusitis carry on longer than 10 days or do not improve with treatment, a doctor can help.

People may experience pain behind or around the eyebrows for many reasons. Blocked sinuses or headaches can lead to increased pressure and pain around the eyebrows, which should pass once the cause resolves.

In other instances, eyebrow pain is due to an underlying condition, such as glaucoma.

If people have frequent or severe pain around the eyebrows or notice other symptoms, they should see a doctor.

Headache above the eyebrow. Causes of a headache in the eyebrow area.

Headache above the eyebrow. Causes of a headache in the eyebrow area.

Gimranov Rinat Fazylzhanovich
Neurologist, neurophysiologist, experience – 33 years;
Professor of Neurology, MD;
Clinic for Rehabilitation Neurology. About the author

Publication date: March 16, 2021

Updated: January 31, 2023

Headache is a common occurrence, but by its localization, concentration in a certain place, an experienced doctor will be able to quickly determine what is the root of the problem.

Normally this is not dangerous fatigue. However, in some cases, urgent medical attention is required. Let’s take a closer look at what and when.

The reason that the head hurts and presses over the right or left eyebrow in the forehead area may be a disease that is dangerous for a further full life. Therefore, if such symptoms occur on a regular basis, you need to seek help from the clinic and undergo examinations.

Article content:

• 1 Reasons
  • 1.1 Reasons to see a doctor
• 2 Diagnosis
• 3 Treatment
• 4 Prevention
• 5 References

Causes

With a single manifestation of symptoms, the problem may lie in some temporary external factor . For example, traumatic cosmetic procedures, fatigue or too strong odors become a problem.

However, if your head hurts every day above the eyebrow in the forehead, then the cause may be serious.

Reasons to see a doctor

1. Sinusitis, damage to the cavities in the upper jaw (1). Inflamed sinuses do not give rest, mainly in the cool season. When the head is tilted, the discomfort increases. Additional symptoms are a runny nose, nasal congestion on one or both sides. A severe variant proceeds with fever, a feeling of aching muscles and increased fatigue.

1. Migraine, hemicrania. Common among women, but men also suffer from seizures. A characteristic sign is an extremely severe pain in the head above the left eyebrow. It interferes with sleep, thinking, perceiving the environment. Symptoms are aggravated in bright light, against the background of extraneous noise. Traditional painkillers cannot cope with an attack, but monoclonal antibodies are effective. A number of patients with refractory migraines benefit from surgery (2).

1. Diseases of the eyes and poor eyesight also contribute to discomfort in the forehead area. After treatment and selection of suitable glasses, the problem is solved by itself.

1. Neoplasms, benign and malignant tumors. Localization of pain in the region of the eyebrows occurs when the pathology begins to grow in the frontal lobes of the brain, the facial region of the skull. You need a thorough examination by a neurologist, a check for poor quality and an operation to remove it.

1. Tension pains. As a result of muscle strain or a long stay in one position, unpleasant pressure sensations occur in the forehead area. You can solve the problem with rest and self-massage, which helps to relax.

1. Head injuries of varying severity. Sometimes pain and discomfort begin to appear after a while, even a month, after complete healing.

1. Pathologies of the cardiovascular system. A sharp change in pressure, characteristic of diseases of this type, often causes pain in the back of the head and nausea. It can also lead to discomfort in the supraorbital region. In such cases, dizziness, flies before the eyes are not excluded.

Oncology is fortunately one of the rare causes of the symptoms in question. Nevertheless, the survey algorithm includes the search for and exclusion of such processes.

Unpleasant sensations in this area can provoke everyday things, a wrong way of life. 2-4 hours in an unventilated room or alcohol abuse, often lead to the appearance of pain.

Diagnosis

A simple and correct answer to the question: “What should I do if my head hurts in the forehead, above the left or right eyebrow, or where they converge above the bridge of the nose?” – there will be an appeal to the clinic. It is especially important to do this if the attacks have become regular, albeit not very pronounced.

Medical advice is required for acute pain. Such as supraorbital neuralgia [3].

It is better to start finding out the reason with a visit to a therapist. The doctor will establish a preliminary diagnosis by analyzing the information obtained during the examination.

He is interested in:

• How often the symptoms appear.
• When the first time happened.
• Intensity and specificity of pain.
• Additional symptoms.
• Features of your lifestyle.

After analyzing the received information, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialized doctor. Or prescribe additional tests if necessary: ​​

• complete blood count;
• x-ray of the head to determine the condition of the sinuses;
• CT or MRI examination of the brain;
• electroencephalogram.

After analyzing the results of the research, you can make an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

When choosing a method of treatment, many factors are taken into account. Necessarily – how exactly the head hurts above the eyebrows and eyes, where it gives off, at what time of the day it manifests itself with unpleasant sensations.

To temporarily relieve an attack, it may be enough to take an anesthetic.

But remember that analgesics are a temporary way to numb the symptom. Only treating the cause of the pain can get rid of the problem.

Depending on the identified disease, the doctor selects an effective therapy. The scheme may include several components:

• Drug treatment, selected strictly for a particular patient. Not only the current disease is taken into account, but also other features of health. This explains why doctors prescribe different medicines for the same symptoms. It is dangerous to choose drugs on your own or use the advice of people in this case [4].

• Physiotherapeutic methods and reflexology. Depending on the specific identified disease, the most effective procedures are selected. They help the patient recover, improve well-being.

• Surgical intervention is rarely used and only if the conservative does not give the desired effect. As a rule, patients who have neoplasms in the frontal areas of the skull and brain are sent for surgery. In this case, after the procedure, patients expect a long recovery.

Prevention

Headache above the eyebrows in the forehead can also be the result of an incorrect, traumatic daily routine. With this option, the doctor will tell you what measures to take to avoid worsening the condition.

As a rule, following several principles helps:

• Avoid physical and mental overwork, try to periodically give yourself a little rest in the process of work.

• Change your diet to include more fresh fruits or vegetables and eliminate canned foods.

• Regularly spend time in the fresh air and ventilate the room in which you have to stay.

• When you lead a sedentary lifestyle, do not forget about regular physical activity.

• Organize sessions of acupuncture, acupuncture [5].

Some patients are indicated for preventive procedures of EHF – extremely high frequencies.

References

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Gimranov Rinat Fazylzhanovich

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Headache in the forehead and eyes: how to cope

Baku, February 16, AZERTAC

Every day, thousands of people suffer from a terrible headache. Someone has episodic attacks, and someone has to deal with regular headaches, which are also accompanied by vomiting, nausea and other unpleasant symptoms.

According to AZERTAC with reference to medical websites, most often headache in the forehead and eyes occurs after emotional breakdowns. Many experience it in the evening, when the working day ends. As a rule, the cause of such an ailment is banal overwork. It is no secret that more than 90 percent of all information people receive through vision. If the eyes are mainly focused on one thing, they experience an incredibly strong load, and pain appears in the eye sockets.

Causes and symptoms of headaches in the forehead and eyes

As soon as pain in the forehead appears, it often goes directly to the eyes. Or sometimes everything happens the other way around: first, the eyeballs tighten, and then the pain moves to the frontal region. Reasonable question: why is this happening? Why does headache appear in the forehead and eyes? What are the reasons for this condition? Any doctor can say that, in fact, a headache is a symptom of a variety of diseases. The reasons for its occurrence are incredibly many. The main causes of headache are glaucoma, migraine, myopia, high blood pressure, head trauma, overexertion, fatigue, cluster pain, and viral infections.

Mental fatigue, banal overwork is, perhaps, the very first and obvious reasons. Sending painful signals, the body seems to be saying that it’s time to rest. It is worth listening to him. All measures should be taken in a timely manner, and even better to do prevention. So, if you have a mild headache due to a heavy workload (you feel pulsations, tremors in your head), take time to rest, relax, take a few deep breaths or go out into the fresh air, give your eyes a chance to switch to other ” landscapes”. As a rule, such a headache can be managed without the participation of a doctor, but you should not ignore it.

A very interesting fact is known: sometimes a headache in the forehead can occur due to the fact that you eat unhealthy foods. Surprised? And this is true. We are talking not only about products containing caffeine (chocolate, tea, coffee), but also about fast food, nuts, cheeses, meat products. And of course, do not forget about alcohol, cigarettes. They have not yet made a single person healthy.

Quite often, acute headaches in the forehead or eyes occur due to the fact that a person is sick with something. There are many diseases that lead to severe pain syndrome.

Migraine . When headaches are felt in the forehead and eyes on one side, this may be a symptom of a migraine. Her attacks do not begin abruptly, but gradually: first, the temples pulsate, then the pain is felt in the brain. A migraine can last from a couple of minutes to three days.

Hypertension . High blood pressure is one of the causes of headaches. You can’t do without drugs. If you suffer from hypertension, you should always have a blood pressure monitor on hand. The doctor will prescribe the necessary therapy after you undergo a series of necessary examinations.

Concussion . Headache after a blow is an obvious symptom of a concussion. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Eye diseases . Headache can be caused by myopia, because this disease puts a strain on the organs of vision. What to do in this case? You need to contact an optometrist and order glasses that will improve the situation.

Glaucoma (open-angle, closed-angle) is another disease that causes headache. In this case, the eyes react painfully to light, nausea may occur. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause complete loss of vision. In this case, a visit to a doctor is mandatory.

Dangerous diseases – brain tumor, Horton’s syndrome, VVD, trigeminal neuralgia, encephalitis, stroke, temporal arteritis. They are almost always accompanied by a severe headache. The sooner you recognize the disease and begin to treat it, the greater the chance of a successful recovery.

Infections and viruses. Influenza, common cold, sinusitis, sinusitis may be accompanied by a headache in the forehead. Of particular danger is meningitis infection of the brain, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, weakness, fever. In this case, a complete examination is required, it is especially necessary if the headaches were preceded by a serious hypothermia of the body. What causes untreated meningitis? To death. Keep this in mind when you start to doubt whether to see a doctor or not.

It is important to point out that in some cases, forehead headaches can be caused by exposure to bright sun or strong winds. Sometimes pain can be caused by dryness in the eye, an injury due to a mote. The best recommendations are personal hygiene, wearing glasses from the sun.

If schoolchildren, pupils, students have a headache in the forehead, they should be given time to rest. Excessive study loads are harmful to everyone. During the period of control, exams, the brain has to process a lot of information, and during this period it is recommended to be in the fresh air as often as possible, to take frequent breaks in your studies.

Whatever the cause of a headache, it should not be left unattended. Do not think about how to quickly stop the pain syndrome, it is better to start eliminating the true cause of the pain, start treating the disease that caused this ailment.

Headache in the forehead: home treatment

If the pain is severe, and you still need to wait until you consult a doctor, you can take emergency measures to reduce the pain syndrome. Take a warm bath with the addition of chamomile decoction to the water (the method should not be practiced at high temperatures), take a break from working at the computer, from watching TV. Then the pain caused by overexertion will pass.

Try a head massage. Relax, drink tea with lemon balm, warm milk with honey.

In the same case, when you have frequent headaches, you should definitely seek professional help from a doctor. After all, an acute or severe incessant headache can indicate the presence of serious diseases, the development of a dangerous pathology. Having drowned out the pain once or twice with pills, you can only do harm. It is better to trust a specialist. He will conduct a detailed, full-scale examination, determine the diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.