Eyebrow twitching can be annoying, especially when it happens over and over again. Then, it can cause you to worry. But don’t panic! In most cases, the cause of your twitching eyebrow is likely fairly benign and can be fixed quickly. If your eyebrow seems to twitch without end, it may be time to schedule an appointment with Dr. Davis.
What Is Eyebrow Twitching?
Twitching of the eyebrow occurs when the skin around the eyebrow moves involuntarily. But, in most cases, twitching of the brows does not originate in the brow it often occurs due to a spasm of the eyelid, as this can pull the skin around the eyebrow at the same time.
In most cases, these twitches or spasms are painless and last just a few seconds here and there.
Reasons for Twitching
Eyebrow twitching can be caused by many everyday things such as too much caffeine, stress and even strain on your eyes from staring at a computer, tablet or cellphone day in and day out. Eyebrow twitching could also be a sign of an underlying health condition or changes in the levator muscles that hold your eyebrow and eyelid in place.
Here are some of the causes of eyelid twitching:
• Too much caffeine
• Magnesium deficiency
• Certain prescription medications, such as those used to treat ADHD and epilepsy
• Use of diuretics
• Eye strain caused by prolonged viewing of electronic screens, the need for glasses or a change in prescription for glasses
• Seasonal allergies
• Fatigue
• Stress
• Behavioral factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and recreational drug use
In most cases, making changes like cutting back on caffeine, asking your doctor for a switch in medications and reducing stress can eliminate eyebrow twitching.
But, if you have made changes and twitching persists, there may be a more serious underlying cause, such as:
• Hemifacial spasm caused by irritated facial nerves
• Bell’s palsy, a temporary condition that causes weakness and spasms of the facial muscles
• Blepharospasm, a condition in which the eyes close or spasm involuntarily
• Muscle dystonia, a situation in which muscle spasms cause uncontrollable, slow, repetitive twitching movements
• Multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system, causing muscle twitching
If you’re experiencing uncontrollable or unexplained eyebrow twitching for long periods of time, it’s time for a closer look. Call Dr. Davis at 817-778-4444 to schedule an appointment.
