Why do patches of my skin hurt

Allodynia is thought to be a hypersensitive reaction to stimuli. In some conditions, research suggests allodynia may be caused by peripheral sensitization, which involves the nerves outside of your central nervous system. The pain signals of allodynia come from specialized nerves called nociceptors. The job of nociceptors is to sense information about things like temperature and painful stimuli on the skin.

Most nerves have to send signals to the brain and wait for the brain to send a signal back before they respond. Nociceptors don't have to do that—they react immediately based on what they detect. This allows you to pull your hand away from something hot before you get burned, often before you consciously perceive the heat.

When these nerves become sensitized, they start interpreting all kinds of sensations as pain. Again, this is real pain that has just as much of an impact on you as any other source of pain.

No diagnostic test can identify allodynia. However, when you report this symptom to your healthcare provider, it can help them narrow down the possible causes of your pain and any other symptoms you may have. So far, it's unknown whether allodynia can be treated the same in every condition. Most of the common drug treatments for illnesses that involve this symptom can help alleviate allodynia and other types of pain.

These include:. Some people also get some relief with topical painkillers, such as lidocaine and menthol-based products like BioFreeze and Tiger Balm. While testing on humans hasn't yet been done, numerous animal studies support the use of ingested and topical cannabidiol CBD , a hemp product that doesn't create a "high," for allodynia.

Most complementary and alternative treatments haven't been studied specifically for their effect on allodynia, but they have been investigated for central sensitization. As that's the suspected underlying mechanism of allodynia, it's possible that these treatments may be helpful:. It's possible for massage therapy and other hands-on treatments such as Rolfing and chiropractic to make allodynia worse, so it's important to find a massage therapist who understands your condition and knows how not to aggravate this symptom.

Allodynia can make your life difficult. Something as simple as wearing a shirt may become painful, or even agonizing. Many people who have allodynia find that they need to tailor their wardrobes to reduce the impact of this pain.

Thermal allodynia can play a role in another symptom— temperature sensitivity. To manage it, you may need to do things like dressing in layers or moving your workstation away from vents that blast you with hot or cold air. You may have to learn how to compensate for both cold and hot conditions. Some research has suggested that compounds in certain foods may alleviate neuropathic pain and the allodynia associated with it.

While it's too early to say for sure, it may be that eating these foods or getting the active compounds via supplements could help ease your pain. The conditions associated with allodynia are often chronic and difficult to treat. You may not ever be completely free from the pain, but by working with your healthcare provider and making appropriate lifestyle changes, you may be able to minimize its impact on your life. People with fibromyalgia often experience a type of nerve pain known as tactile allodynia.

This can make your skin hurt from stimuli that would not normally cause pain, such as clothing tags, tight clothing, drying off with a towel, or brushing against something. Allodynia is a type of nerve pain that can take on different forms. For some people, allodynia is a sharp pain, while others describe it as burning or stinging.

Many people with allodynia experience skin pain that feels like a bad sunburn. Allodynia is when pain is caused by something that would not normally cause pain. Hyperalgesia is an over-exaggerated pain response. With hyperalgesia, the pain is due to something that would normally cause pain. However, the level of pain caused is much greater than it should be.

Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Learn about treatment and lifestyle changes to cope with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Neurobiology of fibromyalgia and chronic widespread pain. A chronic fatigue syndrome model demonstrates mechanical allodynia and muscular hyperalgesia via spinal microglial activation.

Mechanical allodynia. Pflugers Arch. They can happen from contact to known allergens like certain types of food, plants or insect bites. Schlessinger advices,. If you are experiencing trouble breathing after an allergic reaction, call Schlessinger and his son Daniel. Apply the melt-free balm to the area of irritation up to four times daily for skin pain treatment.

It immediately calms redness and itchiness while keeping tender skin that is sensitive to touch comfortable with shea and cocoa butters. Sunburns happen much quicker than you think, with redness and pain in the skin occurring two to six hours after exposure. A severe enough sunburn can actually make your body ache and can mimic flu symptoms, including fever, chills and headache. Schlessinger advises,.

It could make the difference between a little burn and a miserable experience! Apply an aloe vera treatment gel to cool and soothe any redness or skin pain.

This advanced aloe vera gel is a must-have in your arsenal for treating overexposed skin that is sensitive to touch. It uses aloe vera, sea algae extract and allantoin to replenish the lost moisture skin needs to repair itself after damage from the sun. For best results, apply it to damp skin for optimal absorption.

In-office resurfacing treatments like microdermabrasion, ablative laser treatments or chemical peels can all be extremely beneficial in addressing unwanted pigmentation, dark spots or uneven texture.

But, they often come with some unwanted side effects like redness, sensitivity, or skin pain. While tender skin is totally normal and actually crucial to achieving the benefits chemical peels provide , it can be difficult to deal with. After these procedures, take extra care of skin that hurts to touch or rub by staying out of the sun and swapping out your normal skin care routine with a more nourishing, protective regimen. This advanced five piece skin recovery set includes everything you need to ease the pain and sensitivity in resurfaced, tender skin.

It contains a cleanser, healing serum, cooling serum, two sunscreens and a healing balm to provide compromised skin sensitive to touch with antimicrobial protection for faster healing. Some people feel extreme pain from something minor, such as a paper cut. Feeling increased pain or being hypersensitive to mild pain is called hyperalgesia. It tells a person to stop doing something that is harmful. For instance, a pain response causes a person to pull their hand away from a hot stove, preventing a severe burn.

But people with allodynia perceive pain even though there is nothing harmful causing the pain. Some people with allodynia may experience severe pain even from a few hairs brushing against their skin.

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Some people may feel a burning sensation while others feel an ache or squeezing pain. Allodynia can limit the activities a person is able to do and decrease their quality of life.

Common complications of allodynia include:. Regardless of the type of allodynia, pain is still the main symptom. Some people may only have one type of allodynia. Others may have all three types of the condition. Allodynia may occur due to increased responsiveness or malfunction of nociceptors, which are a particular type of nerve. There is not one specific medical test to diagnose allodynia.

Many common conditions can cause chronic pain, so doctors may need to rule out certain medical conditions before they can make a diagnosis of allodynia. Anyone who experiences pain from non-painful stimuli, such as light touch, should see their doctor.

Dealing with chronic pain that develops after even the mildest touch can be frustrating and upsetting. Receiving an accurate diagnosis can help someone start the treatment and management process. Currently, there is no cure for allodynia. Treatment is aimed at decreasing pain, using medications and lifestyle changes. Pregabalin is a medication used to treat nerve pain associated with conditions, such as spinal cord injuries, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and shingles. It may also decrease pain in some people with allodynia.

Topical pain medications, such as creams and ointments containing lidocaine, may be helpful in some cases. Over-the-counter, non-steroidal medicines may also be effective. Complementary approaches to pain management, such as acupuncture and massage, may not be tolerated as they involve touch and can lead to discomfort for a person with allodynia.