Eyebrow pain, or the sensation of tension and discomfort in the area around the eyebrows, can stem from a variety of causes. These can range from common issues like headaches and sinus infections to more complex conditions affecting facial nerves or the eyes themselves. The pain may be localized to one side, such as above the left or right eyebrow, or it can encompass the entire eyebrow region. This article explores the potential causes of eyebrow pain, associated symptoms, and available treatment options.
Here’s what you need to know about the potential causes for eyebrow pain and what you can do: The causes range from conditions involving your eyes to various types of headaches.
Several types of headaches can manifest as pain in the eyebrow region:
Tension Headaches: According to the American Migraine Foundation, tension headaches are among the most prevalent types of headaches, lasting from 30 minutes to 7 days. Tension headaches are usually caused be some type of stress and are incredibly common. They can feel like a band of pain across your forehead, including the eyebrows. You may also feel pain or stiffness in your neck muscles. 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, and tenderness in the neck muscles. These types of headaches aren’t affected by physical activity.
Migraine Headaches: Migraines are very severe headaches that include more symptoms than just pain. Symptoms can include:sensitivity to light and sound pain that’s hard to bearpain that gets worse with movement. 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. You may also experience nausea or an aura. Migraines typically leave you unable to go to work or participate in other activities.
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Cluster Headaches: Cluster headaches are a type of migraine that’s clustered into multiple attacks that happen in a row. They can happen over the span of a day, or a week, with pain lasting from 15 minutes up to 3 hours. 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 and inability to lie still. These types of headaches occur in clusters, happening every day or almost every day (for up to three hours each time) for weeks or even months. These headaches generally happen at the same time of day. They often occur a few hours after you fall asleep but can also occur when you are awake.
Sinusitis, or sinus infection, is another possible cause for pain under or near your eyebrow. 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. Sinusitis causes your sinus cavities to swell, making it difficult to breathe, and your nose may become stopped up from mucus. The swelling and pressure can cause pain around your nose and your eyes, where your nasal cavities are located. Sinus pain will usually get worse when you bend over or move your head. Symptoms of sinusitis include a blocked or stuffy nose, a cough, thick, yellow, or green mucus from the nose, and mucus that drips down the back of the throat.
Sinusitis can be either acute or chronic. Acute sinusitis is usually caused by bacteria and lasts for about one month or less. The symptoms of acute sinusitis usually go away within 1 week or 10 days. Chronic sinusitis lasts longer than three months and can be caused by bacteria or fungus. If the symptoms show no improvement with medical treatment and last longer than 12 weeks, a person may have chronic sinusitis.
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. Glaucomaheadacheblurry visionsevere eye painseeing halos in your visionnauseavomiting. Other symptoms of glaucoma include blind spots in the vision, blurred vision, headaches, nausea or vomiting and seeing rainbows or halos. Seeking treatment early for glaucoma can prevent blindness. It is vital to receive treatment for glaucoma. Without treatment, it can cause permanent vision loss.
There are different types of glaucoma. The most common form of glaucoma is called primary open-angle glaucoma. With this type of glaucoma, there is increased fluid pressure in the eye, which can damage the optic nerve over time and may progress to vision loss or blindness. Primary open-angle glaucoma usually develops slowly, and most of the time, there are no symptoms. However, there is another type of glaucoma called acute angle-closure glaucoma, which is a medical emergency. It occurs abruptly and is caused by a rapid increase of pressure in the eye. Acute angle-closure glaucoma is an emergency, and severe vision loss can happen quickly. All individuals at risk of glaucoma should have regular eye exams.
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Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain condition that involves sudden and severe facial pain. It is also known as tic douloureux. TN affects the trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial nerve), which is associated with feeling and nerve signaling to the head and face. TN is a type of nerve pain that is often caused by a nerve injury or lesion. 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.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA), also called temporal arteritis, is an inflammatory condition that affects large blood vessels of the scalp, neck, and arms. 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, fever, tenderness on the scalp, tenderness around the temples, severe headaches, dizziness, difficulty swallowing or a sore throat. Early GCA symptoms such as appetite loss, fever, and fatigue may feel like the flu. According to the Arthritis Foundation, people over the age of 50 years, particularly Caucasian women, are more likely to develop giant cell arteritis.
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is caused by a reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV). VZV is the same virus that causes varicella, or chickenpox. Shingles causes a painful rash with blisters. 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 numbness, burning, itchiness, fever and chills, nausea, headaches and loss of vision. Shingles around the eye is a medical emergency. It is best to contact a doctor immediately if someone has blisters on their face, especially if they are close to the eyes. This is because if the virus affects nerves in the eye, it means that a person has herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). This can cause vision loss and will require antiviral medication.
Supraorbital neuralgia is a rare disorder accounting for 4% of incidence with hallmark of localized pain in or above the eyebrow, clinically characterized by the following triad: (1) forehead pain in the area supplied by the supraorbital nerve, (2) tenderness on either the supraorbital notch and (3) absolute, but transitory relief of symptoms upon supraorbital nerve blockade. The pain presents with a chronic or intermittent pattern. The persistence of protracted unilateral forehead/occular pain, tenderness over the nerve and repeated blockade effect strongly suggest the diagnosis.
"Eyestrain" refers to overworking of the focusing muscle within the eye. To read at a close distance (within arm's length), the lens within the eye must change shape in order to bring images into focus. The closer an object is held, the more focusing that has to be done. Furthermore, the focusing ability of the eye diminishes with age, and noticeable problems with focusing can appear usually between age 38 and 48. If the eye is forced to focus more intensely and for a longer duration than it is comfortable with, eyestrain symptoms can result.
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It is best to contact a doctor if 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:
People should contact a doctor if they have symptoms of any of the following conditions:
If symptoms of sinusitis carry on longer than 10 days or do not improve with treatment, a doctor can help.
Any time your pain limits your activities or makes it difficult to work, you should see your doctor. Your doctor will be able to give you a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
If you experience vision problems along with the pain around your eyebrows, you should seek medical attention and treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye problems can increase the success of treatment and possibly prevent blindness.
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 help prevent a cluster attack.
Shingles: Shingles around the eye is a medical emergency, and a person needs to seek medical attention right away. They will need to receive antiviral treatment through an IV. It is best for adults over the age of 50 years to get a shingles vaccine. Treatment for shingles may include oral antiviral medication as well as comfort measures like a moist, cold compress over the eyes.
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. Treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma includes prescription eye drops-some people require multiple types of eye drops. For acute angle-closure glaucoma, medication may be used to quickly reduce eye pressure.
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. High doses of steroids are usually given to lower the chance of blindness. Steroids may be needed for months or even years to keep the inflammation at bay.
Supraorbital Neuralgia: The proposed treatment is an injection of 2 ml of 2% lidocaine, 1:60,000 adrenalin in the supraorbital canal, which relieves and mostly obviates the pain in 80% of the patients over a considerable time of span. Generally, there will be lack of, or only minor benefit from drug treatment, including carbamazepine and indomethacin. Correct diagnosis of supraorbital neuralgia is critical in choosing therapy. For persistent or recurrent pain, acupuncture, injection of phenol/glycerol or botulism toxin, neurolysis and root section of the trigeminal nerve are methods that have been successfully employed to treat this condition.
Eyestrain: Limit the amount of time spent focusing at one fixed distance, and take periodic breaks for a few minutes every 15 to 20 minutes.
If you’re diagnosed with a common headache, tension headache, or a migraine, home remedies may help. If you’re taking medications for your pain, you should talk to your doctor before trying any alternative and home remedies. Ways to manage head pain include:
Several at-home remedies may help alleviate the pain. Depending on the underlying cause-whether it’s sinus pressure, eye strain, tension headaches, or inflammation-different methods may provide relief.
Warm Compresses: A warm compress can work wonders in soothing tension-related pain and improving circulation around the forehead and eyes. The heat helps relax facial muscles, alleviate stress, and promote better blood flow, which may reduce discomfort. Applying a warm compress to the forehead can help relax the muscles in the face, improve blood flow, and alleviate tension-related pain.
Cold Packs: For forehead pain caused by sinus congestion, a cold pack or ice wrapped in a cloth can help reduce swelling and numb the area, providing temporary relief. Apply the cold pack to your forehead for 10-15 minutes at a time.
Steam Inhalation: Sinus congestion is a common cause of eyebrow pain, especially when pressure builds up in the sinus cavities. Inhaling steam can help moisturize the nasal passages, loosen mucus, and relieve your sinus congestion. Boil water, pour it into a bowl, lean over the bowl, and cover your head with a towel to trap the steam. Breathe deeply for 5-10 minutes.
Hydration: Proper hydration is crucial for maintaining healthy sinuses and preventing congestion. Drinking plenty of fluids helps thin mucus, making it easier to drain from your nasal passages and relieving pressure that may contribute to eyebrow pain. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids, especially water, which help keep your body hydrated and thins mucus. Incorporate herbal teas, broths, or warm lemon water to help soothe your sinuses.
Eye Rest: If you spend long hours looking at screens or reading, eye strain may be a contributing factor to your eyebrow pain. Prolonged screen time can lead to tension in the eye muscles, causing discomfort around the forehead and brow area. If eye strain may be causing pain near and behind your eyebrows, taking regular breaks from screens and using proper lighting can help reduce eye strain and discomfort.
Healthy Lifestyle Habits: Overall well-being plays a significant role in preventing and reducing recurring eyebrow pain. Practice healthy lifestyle habits, including regular exercise, adequate sleep, and managing your stress.
Chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate a headache between eyebrows or musculoskeletal issues that may be contributing to eyebrow pain. Chiropractic adjustments can be highly effective in treating eyebrow pain caused by tension headaches, poor posture, or musculoskeletal misalignments. When the spine is out of alignment, it can contribute to nerve irritation and muscle tension, which may extend to the forehead and eyebrow region.
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