Goosebumps from a person. What causes “goosebumps”? Feeling goosebumps in the head - how to deal with it
Each of us is familiar with the sudden onset of a crawling sensation on the skin, which is accompanied by a slight tingling sensation and temporary loss of sensitivity. It usually occurs while listening to pleasant music, in the cold, as a result of fright or fear, after being in an uncomfortable position while working or sleeping, and after a change in position or a light massage it completely disappears. In such cases, these sensations are normal and you don’t have to worry about their occurrence. But sometimes goosebumps appear frequently, for no apparent reason, and do not go away after a few minutes. In such cases, you should think about the possible development of various diseases that may be accompanied by such a symptom, and undergo a comprehensive examination to determine the reasons for its occurrence.
The sensation of running or crawling goose bumps is also called “goose bumps”, because small pimples actually appear on the surface of the skin, reminiscent of goose skin. Doctors use the term “paresthesia” to refer to this symptom. This type of sensory impairment may be:
- passing (benign) – caused by physiological reasons (for example, prolonged compression of a limb, fear, unpleasant sound, etc.);
- chronic (pathological) – caused by lesions of various body systems and is a symptom of a disease (for example, varicose veins, etc.).
In this article we will introduce you to the causes of transient and chronic paresthesia. This knowledge will be useful for you, and, if necessary, you will be able to take timely measures to identify a particular pathology that may be accompanied by this symptom.
Why does transient paresthesia occur?
In animals, raised fur gives them a menacing appearance and helps keep them warm in winter.In humans, the feeling of goose bumps appears as a result of the rudimentary pilomotor reflex, which is inherent in many mammals. It occurs when special nerves that originate from the spinal cord are stimulated. As a result, peripheral nerves are excited, which causes contraction of the smooth muscles surrounding the hair follicles. In response to this, contracted muscle fibers lift the hair above the surface of the skin. This phenomenon is called piloerection.
For humans, such a reaction has lost its practical meaning, but in animals (for example, chimpanzees, dogs, porcupines, etc.), hair raised above the surface of the skin performs various functions. When reacting to fear, piloerection allows animals to have a more impressive and threatening appearance, and during cold weather, a larger amount of warm air accumulates under the raised hairs, protecting the animal from bad weather.
In humans, the pilomotor reflex, leading to the appearance of transient paresthesia, can be caused by the following factors:
- cold;
- heat;
- fear or other negative emotions, feelings and memories;
- sexual arousal;
- listening to pleasant music;
- a feeling of satisfaction with something;
- unpleasant sounds;
- circulatory disorders due to uncomfortable posture.
This type of goosebumps is always caused by certain reasons, is not accompanied by painful sensations and goes away on its own after a short period of time.
Transient paresthesia is normal and should not cause concern about your health.
Why does chronic paresthesia occur?
Chronic paresthesia is always a sign of pathologies that are accompanied by damage to peripheral nerves. There are many reasons for their appearance:
- (usually due to a lack of vitamins B1, D, and C);
- decreased blood levels and/or magnesium;
- decreased blood glucose levels;
- injuries;
- (for example, when);
- alcoholism;
- injuries;
- osteochondrosis;
- herniated discs;
- spinal cord tumors;
- carpal tunnel syndrome;
- atherosclerosis;
- restless legs syndrome;
- neurasthenia;
- depressive disorders;
- hypoparathyroidism;
- varicose veins;
- obliterating endarteritis;
- neuralgia;
- myositis;
- Bell's palsy;
- follicular hyperkeratosis;
- inflammation of the gums;
- long-term use of certain medications (Methaqualone, Ofloxacin, Isoniazid, Cycloserine, Prothionamide, antihypertensive and antiepileptic drugs);
- and etc.
All of the above reasons lead to the appearance of pathological paresthesias, which occur for no apparent reason, are longer lasting and are accompanied by unpleasant or painful sensations. Their appearance should always be a reason to contact a local physician, who can analyze the patient’s condition and refer him to a specialist (for example, an endocrinologist, neurologist, phlebologist, etc.).
Sometimes pathological paresthesia occurs when filling material gets into the tooth canal or after tooth extraction (especially often after the removal of a wisdom tooth). In such cases, crawling sensations and numbness are observed in the area of the lips, tongue and chin. Sometimes these symptoms disappear after a few days, but in most cases they can last for 2-3 months and require treatment (in some cases even surgery).
In what cases is treatment prescribed for paresthesia?
Glycine is a mild sedative If there are one-time occurrences of goosebumps running across the skin, which were caused by a psycho-emotional state or an uncomfortable posture, you can not pay attention to their appearance, since it is caused by physiological reasons, is characteristic of absolutely all people and does not indicate pathology. Impressive people may be advised to take mild sedatives (for example, Glycine or) and remain calm in the current situation. And if paresthesias associated with poor circulation, caused by an uncomfortable posture, appear, it is recommended to abandon them (for example, purchase a comfortable pillow for sleeping or a chair for work, do not sit in the cross-legged position, etc.).
When pathological paresthesias appear, the main goal of treatment will be aimed at eliminating the pathology that provoked their development. To identify it, the patient may be prescribed the following types of diagnostic tests:
- radiography of the spinal column;
- Doppler examination of the vessels of the neck and head;
- rheovasography;
- MRI of the spinal cord and/or brain;
- electroneuromyography;
- laboratory tests, etc.
The tactics of further treatment will depend on the cause that caused the appearance of chronic paresthesia. If diagnostic studies have not made it possible to establish a definite diagnosis, then to eliminate the annoying sensations of goosebumps, the following may be prescribed:
- medications: B vitamins, Nicotinic acid, Piracetam, Trental, Actovegin;
- physiotherapeutic procedures: dynamic currents, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, mud therapy, balneotherapy and massage.
The appearance of crawling sensations on the skin may be normal or indicate the development of various pathologies. Listen carefully to your body, and if you experience frequent and unexplained paresthesias, consult a doctor.
Many people have experienced a sensation described as "goosebumps." Most often, it is associated with a person’s emotional state and appears with strong fear, delight or other experiences and emotions. However, in some cases, goosebumps have pathological causes, and sometimes indicate some problems in the body.
Why does the body feel like goosebumps?
In medicine, the sensation of goosebumps is called “paresthesia.” This feeling appears when nerve endings are irritated, as well as when certain areas of the brain and spinal cord are excited. The mechanism for the appearance of goosebumps on the skin is that several signals, unrelated to each other, simultaneously arrive at the nerve endings. Because of this, the nerve “does not understand” what action needs to be performed, and includes several of them - burning, numbness, tingling, this leads to goosebumps. They usually appear below the area of the irritated nerve and are often accompanied by the formation of small pimples on the skin at the roots of the hairs.
Paresthesias are divided into two main types - temporary and recurring. The first, as a rule, is associated with emotional experiences, exposure to cold, and prolonged exposure to one uncomfortable position. Such goosebumps quickly disappear when the factor that caused them is eliminated. In this case, there is no impairment of skin sensitivity, cramps, pain or other obvious symptoms of pathology. Periodically recurring paresthesias may be manifestations of diseases.
In this case, two types of symptoms may occur:
- Nerve fiber damage. Its signs are: tingling and goosebumps on the skin, numbness in the fingers or the entire limb, and in rare cases, minor cramps are observed.
- Damage to nerves connected to blood vessels. This pathology is accompanied by a decrease in sensitivity to temperature changes, a deterioration in the response to pain, hair loss, pale skin and a decrease in its temperature.
Temporary goosebumps are not considered a pathology and do not require special treatment; they go away on their own. If paresthesia occurs constantly and often recurs, it is worth visiting a doctor and finding out the cause of this phenomenon.
Causes of goosebumps
The causes of goosebumps can be pathological or normal. The latter are not dangerous. These include strong emotions, freezing, staying in one position for a long time, etc. There are several pathological causes of goosebumps. Most often, such a reaction is caused by injuries, metabolic disorders, vitamin deficiency, especially a lack of B vitamins, and paresthesia can also appear with diabetes, osteochondrosis, atherosclerosis, alcoholism and be a side effect of the use of certain medications.
With diabetes and alcoholism, goosebumps may indicate the development of polyneuropathy, which is called diabetic or alcoholic because of its appearance. In addition, there is inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy, accompanied by goosebumps. This disease is an autoimmune disease and usually progresses rapidly. At the beginning of the disease, goosebumps appear on the skin, then the muscles involved in the breathing process begin to weaken, and then the rest of the muscles of the body. Such manifestations are called Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The occurrence of paresthesia in the extremities requires special attention, as it indicates a lack of blood supply and possible angiopathy. These symptoms are typical of restless legs syndrome. In terms of its symptoms, this disease is very similar to polyneuropathy, but its development mechanism is somewhat different. Restless legs syndrome is considered a rather serious pathology.
What diseases cause goosebumps
The appearance of goosebumps can indicate various diseases, such as:
- hyperkeratosis, or increased keratinization of the upper layer of skin;
- restless legs syndrome, which develops with renal failure and other pathologies;
- hormonal imbalance, most often, pathologies of the thyroid gland or adrenal glands manifest themselves in a similar way;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system: atherosclerosis, varicose veins, arrhythmia and others;
- diabetic polyneuropathy, which occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus;
- autoimmune pathologies accompanied by Guillain-Barré syndrome;
- stress, neuroses, nervous disorders;
- arthrosis and osteochondrosis. With arthrosis - goosebumps run in the neck area, with osteochondrosis - the localization of the goosebumps depends on which part of the spine is affected;
- migraines, tumors and inflammation of the brain, with these diseases goosebumps are felt on the face and scalp;
- injuries, nerve compression, muscle inflammation, etc.
A rash on the body that looks like goosebumps is called follicular hyperkeratosis. This disease is a type of dermatitis characterized by clogging of the mouths of the follicles and increased keratinization of the upper layers of the skin. Externally, the rash looks like a small rash similar to goosebumps; the affected areas of the skin feel dry and rough to the touch. The general condition of the patient, as a rule, is not disturbed.
You have a hereditary predisposition to follicular hyperkeratosis; the risk of developing this disease also increases with a deficiency of vitamins C and A. Most often, the pathology affects children and adolescents, especially those with a tendency to allergies, but can also occur in adults.
Treatment should only be prescribed by a dermatologist or therapist, and consultation with an endocrinologist may be required. Hyperkeratosis manifests itself mainly as cosmetic defects, so you need to protect the affected areas of the skin from mechanical damage: rubbing, scratching, scratching, etc. The course of treatment may include steroids, vitamins A and C, the use of special creams and lotions, the use of cosmetics that reduce skin irritability and soften it, and other methods.
Almost no one pays attention to this symptom, but it is in this way that the body signals a disruption in the functioning of a certain organ or system.
For what reason do goosebumps begin to crawl all over your body?
It is known that a frightened animal's fur stands on end; this also happens when it is cold (then the layer of air between the hairs increases to retain warmth).
The mechanism for the appearance of goosebumps on the human body is the same; it is a piloreaction, which is based on the actions of the nervous system and muscles. For humans, such a reflex is rudimentary; it did not disappear during the process of evolution, although it is no longer needed.
The reason for the appearance of goose bumps on a person’s body, as a rule, is psycho-emotional arousal against a background of strong emotions. This can be either stress or sudden fear, or deep excitement from a book read, a scene seen in a movie, or even music heard (often this is caused by differences between high and low sounds). Then the nervous system is activated, as a result of its signal, the skin muscles begin to contract, the hair rises, and there is a feeling that goosebumps are running across the skin.
If such a reaction occurs rarely, passes quickly and does not cause inconvenience (discomfort), then everything is normal.
If you often get goosebumps?
In this case, we are talking about a pathological condition, the cause of which may be diseases. To make a diagnosis, it is important to take into account what period of the day this occurs, whether the person is resting at this moment or is in an active state.
In most cases, this symptom occurs against the background of damage to the peripheral nervous system in diabetes mellitus - then the feeling that goosebumps are crawling throughout the body bothers you at night or at rest. In such circumstances, it is advised to check your blood sugar levels.
But you need to keep in mind that such a symptom often accompanies toxic damage to the liver, “goose bumps” regularly appear with decreased thyroid function, metabolic disorders (we are talking about gout), osteochondrosis (against the background of pinched nerve roots), multiple sclerosis (the symptom arises from - for muscle weakness and numbness).
And among the provoking factors may be hypothermia, against the background of which shingles develops, then the feeling that goosebumps are running on the skin precedes the main symptoms of this disease (rash, pain).
If the skin often resembles goose bumps, consult a doctor; you should quickly determine the cause of this problem and begin treatment.
But if the problem appeared after returning from a vacation in a country with a hot climate, the cause may be a change in time zones and temperature conditions. Then we are talking about a temporary adaptation symptom that will soon disappear.
Skin covered with goose bumps is popularly called goose bumps because of the small pimples. In medicine, this phenomenon is referred to as paresthesia, the development mechanism of which is based on the pilomotor reflex, expressed by contraction of the muscles of the hair follicles. Based on a signal from peripheral nerve endings, the hairs stand on end, which is comparable to the ability to bristle.The feeling of goose bumps running through the body as restless legs syndrome is expressed by tingling, itching, an unpleasant sensation of swelling or squeezing of the limb and forces you to make “throwing” movements with your legs.
With the appearance of goosebumps, a person reacts to various factors. Emotional ones include watching a horror movie, danger, disgust, excitement; physiological ones include banal freezing or numbness that causes tingling in a certain area of the body.
Goosebumps as a sign of hyperkeratosis
If the skin even in a calm state resembles goose bumps, you should think about the presence of a disease such as hyperkeratosis - a pathology of unknown etiology. Scientists studying this deviation are divided into 2 opposite sides, one of which is convinced of the influence of a hereditary factor on the development of hyperkeratosis, while the other is trying to prove the hormonal nature of the disease.Modern doctors called the frequent feeling of goose bumps an autonomous sensory meridional reaction and divided it into 4 groups according to the influence of provoking factors.
This skin disease does not pose a health hazard as it is a cosmetic defect. There is no treatment for hyperkeratosis as such - a dermatologist can advise his patients to moisturize the skin with creams and cleanse with scrubs or products containing acids that carefully remove the top layer of the epidermis and accelerate the process of cell regeneration.
Lack of vitamins is the culprit of goose bumps
Insufficient amounts of vitamins are another factor that can cause goosebumps. In the spring-winter period, the situation worsens due to the scarcity of the diet, depleted in fresh fruits, vegetables, and legumes. The intake of vitamins, amino acids and microelements into the body in small doses does not have the best effect on the condition of the skin, which is expressed by dryness and flaking of the skin, even to the point of cracking. And a lack of vitamin B1, an important participant in metabolic processes, leads to deterioration of blood flow, itching and burning of the skin. When the skin “goosebumps”, it begins to resemble a goose, hence the second word - “goose bumps”. The epidermis of a goose is dotted with follicles from which feathers grow. The follicles of this bird resemble the follicles of human hair, but exceed the latter in volume. Lumps or protrusions on the bird's body become noticeable if you pull out a couple of feathers. However, where do such protrusions on a person’s skin come from if their follicles are much smaller? This is a rudiment!Remnant of “goose bumps”. Lost meaning
The goose bump reflex is rudimentary, that is, it has lost its practical meaning. It is called the pilomotor reflex, originally designed to conserve heat. When “goosebumps” occur, the hairs on the body rise due to the stimulation of the nerve endings responsible for the contraction of the muscles related to the hair follicles. The process is regulated by the spinal cord. This raising of hairs throughout the body is called piloerection.In humans, piloerection manifests itself as a result of experiencing various emotions (excitement, delight, fear, tenderness, and others). In addition, “goosebumps” may be a consequence of a lack of vitamins and metabolic disorders. Also, “goose bumps” can appear from a feeling of cold, or if you “sit your leg.” The pilomotor reflex looks as if the bases of the hairs on the body have swollen slightly, forming pimples. In this case, people say that their skin “goosebumps” or “the hair on their head began to move.” Piloerection does not bring any benefit to humans.