Head/Scalp Tingling - what is this?

[PoppyHill123]

Hello all,

GP appointment booked for next week but I am driving myself crazy with worry.

For the past few weeks I have been experiencing some strange head tingling sensations which usually last for a few seconds but can happen multiple times a day. They don't hurt at all, they are just uncomfortable and scary to me.

The tingling doesn't happen in any particular place on my head - sometimes it is in the front, sometimes the side, sometimes the back of the head etc. It doesn't happen in any other place on my body. No other symptoms or visual disturbances. No fatigue.

Here are a few more details about me.

-I am 44 years old

-I suffer from sinus headaches/migraines which have become a bit more frequent in the past few years or so

• I have not yet tested for any vitamin deficiencies

-suffer from health anxiety and catastrophising which brings on huge stress

-head tingling is sometimes followed by a headache and sometimes it is not.

-Blood Pressure ok

Any thoughts and experiences would be appreciated.

Many thanks for your time!

I had this and it was shingles on my scalp.

I get shingles on my ears and also get this before and during an outbreak.

If it's not shingles it may be a symptom of your migraines.

Agree with the others. I had this and it turned into shingles.

I get head tingling when I see tiny holes (like moth bites in a jumper, it’s happening now as I think about it, or dried up washing up liquid bubbles on the worktop). It’s a bit like goosebumps. There’s a word for it but I can’t remember what it is right now. It’s a really weird feeling though.

Don't under any circumstances mention health anxiety to any doctor. It's almost guaranteed they'll fob you off.

Definitely ask for vitamin deficiency testing and check blood pressure when sitting and then again when standing up to see if it drops or if heart rate goes up by over 20 beats.

Hello again all,
Thank you for replying!

So, no shingles (yet)!

The head tingling has stopped completely for now. GP thinks this could be migraine related, but will refer me to a neurologist just in case.

I personally think the tingling is both migraine and stress related which makes sense because the tingling starts with a headache but then it stresses me out and the stress makes me more tingly. It is a vicious cycle.

AzureSheep mentioned head tingling as an emotional response when seeing tiny holes. My guess is that seeing tiny holes makes you anxious or stressed so maybe your body sends extra blood to the brain where it needs it the most which could feel like tingling?!

And you are absolutely right! The feeling is much more like goosebumps than tingling. Not comfortable at all though and I hate it 😒😅

I will post an update if there is any.

All the best and thanks again:)

I get tingly feeling in my hair/ head, usually mid cycle. I put it down to hormones, but when I am stressed it happens more frequently. Perhaps, get your hormone levels checked too?

The tiny holes thing is called trypophobia I think.

Op this is a long shot but could you have headlice?

Sadly no. I would take lice over this strange feeling any day😆

Have you got hair loss? What level is your iron?

That makes sense. I am 44 and I am sure I am perimenopausal. The headaches (now with tingling) have become more frequent in the past year or so. I used to get a headache one day before my period. Now it's more like headaches for a few days before the period and up to a week after it.

I don't think I have any hair loss. However, I have no idea if I am deficient in anything. Do you think the tingling could be due to low iron?

I had tingling in my scalp when my hair was becoming thinner. It felt like when you have sunburn and then get goosebumps if you can imagine how that feels. I had very low Vit B12 levels so it might be worth getting bloods done to check for any deficiencies.

I get it after very severe migraines on occasion - if it's the same thing, it's called allodynia. The area is very sensitive to touch as well.