Why do goosebumps appear and why are they needed? An unexpected answer to a question that, we are sure, has been tormenting you for a long time.

Many patients report that they have goosebumps on their heads, but they don’t understand what they are. Therefore, they are often asked to explain the reason for the appearance of such a symptom and talk about how treatment can be carried out effectively and safely. In this article you can find out what goosebumps mean and what diseases manifest themselves in this way. Advice is also given on choosing a specialist and conducting treatment.

Let's start with the fact that goose bumps on the scalp are a sign of neurological or vascular problems. To make this clear, let’s talk about how the innervation and blood supply system works.

So, in the cervical spine there is a segment of the spinal cord of the same name. The radicular nerves extend from it. They branch and form plexuses, nerves. Some of them are responsible for the innervation of the scalp. Also, paired cranial nerves depart from the brain through the foramen ovale of the occipital bone. They also branch and are partially responsible for the innervation of the tissues of the head. In particular, the facial and trigeminal nerves are formed exclusively by the branches of the cranial pairs. Also, their branches are part of the nerve plexuses that innervate the hair follicles and small blood vessels. They provide tone to the posterior vertebral arteries.

Blood supply to the tissues of the head and brain is carried out by four arteries. Two posterior vertebrates and two carotid. They branch, giving rise to many arterioles, which pass into a network of capillaries. Each nerve ending in the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer has its own capillary vessel.

When a capillary spasms, the blood supply process is disrupted and the nerve ending enters a state of ischemia. This may feel like numbness or crawling. Also, similar sensations occur in clusters (in a certain area of ​​the scalp).

The lower the area of ​​negative impact is located, the larger area of ​​the head is subject to paresthesia, in which the patient feels that goosebumps are crawling on or under the skin. Therefore, an accurate description of the area of ​​distribution of the clinical sign will allow the doctor to quickly make a diagnosis and develop an effective treatment regimen for the underlying disease.

Please note that the feeling of crawling sensations in some cases can be a physiological phenomenon. This may occur due to short-term compression of blood vessels or nerves by external factors. For example, if a person was in an uncomfortable static position for some time. Or if he was wearing a tight headdress. Similar sensations can occur after exposure to low temperatures. When hypothermia occurs, blood vessels in the epidermis and subcutaneous fat layer spasm. After the cessation of cold exposure, the vessels begin to restore their tone. Fresh capillary blood enters the tissues. And this may be accompanied by the effect of crawling goosebumps. If this is a physiological condition, then all unpleasant sensations disappear within 30 - 40 minutes.

If they continue for hours or do not stop at all, you need to see a doctor for help as soon as possible. It is necessary to visit a neurologist or vertebrologist. These doctors have the necessary medical qualifications to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

In Moscow, you can make a free appointment with a vertebrologist or neurologist at our manual therapy clinic. Experienced specialists work here. They will be able to make an accurate diagnosis and develop an effective course of treatment. You will receive comprehensive individual recommendations regarding eliminating potential negative impact factors. This will help stop the destructive pathological process and allow the necessary treatment to be carried out more quickly.

Reasons why you get goosebumps on your scalp

Now let’s return to the potential reasons why goosebumps run through the head - let’s consider the main diseases that give a similar clinical symptom. As mentioned above, the cause of goosebumps may be hidden behind vascular or neurological pathologies. They, in turn, can be vertebrogenic, endocrine, post-traumatic, metabolic, toxic, etc.

If you follow this classification, you can identify the main reasons why you get goosebumps. These are conditions and diseases such as:

• violation of the integrity of the bone tissues of the skull and cervical spine (fractures and cracks);
• stretching, fibering and ruptures of the long longitudinal ligaments of the spinal column (they begin in the area of ​​the occipital bone and end in the area of ​​the coccyx;
• instability of position and subluxations of the first cervical vertebra (atlas);
• degenerative dystrophic disease of intervertebral discs (cervical osteochondrosis);
• its complications, such as protrusion of intervertebral discs, their extrusion and prolapse of hernia;
• damage to the muscles of the neck and collar zone (sprains, hematomas, ruptures, necrosis, myositis, including ossificans, fibromyalgic pain syndrome, etc.);
• diseases of the endocrine system, accompanied by disorders of the blood supply and innervation (for example, diabetes mellitus and diabetic angiopathy and neuropathy developing against it);
• vasculitis, Raynaud's syndrome and other vascular lesions;
• insufficiency of certain vitamins and minerals that ensure trophism of nerve fibers and transmission of impulses along axons (B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, sodium, etc.);
• curvature of the spinal column and displacement of the vertebral bodies;
• spinal canal stenosis in the cervical and cervicothoracic spine of various origins;
• posterior vertebral artery syndrome;
• pinched cranial nerves;
• plexitis of the cervical and occipital nerve plexus;
• tuberculosis, syphilis, polio, tick-borne encephalitis and other dangerous infections of the spinal cord, its hard membranes and tissues of the spinal column;
• tumor processes, including the process of metastasis during the development of oncology.

Potential causes of goosebumps on the scalp need to be identified at the stage of a comprehensive diagnosis. At the time of starting treatment, all these reasons should be eliminated if possible. This circumstance will make it possible to carry out successful and safe treatment much more effectively. Therefore, during an initial consultation with a patient, an experienced doctor will not only tell him about why goosebumps occur in his individual case, but will also give a number of practical recommendations. They will eliminate possible risk factors.

Among them are the most common:

• improper organization of sleeping and working spaces in violation of modern ergonomic requirements;
• poor posture (the habit of slouching or pushing your shoulders forward);
• incorrect choice of clothing for everyday wear (with pressure on the muscles of the neck and collar area);
• prolonged stay in a static position and tension in the muscular frame of the shoulder girdle;
• traumatic sports and work activities;
• violation of the rules of movement on a vehicle (as a rule, this is driving in a car without a seat belt fastened, which provokes displacement of the cervical vertebrae during emergency braking);
• smoking and drinking any alcoholic beverages (creates the risk of a sharp narrowing of blood vessels and disruption of microcirculation processes of blood and lymphatic fluid, which entails various trophic tissue pathologies);
• excess body weight;
• improperly designed diet.

All these provocative risk factors lead to the development of diseases that are manifested by crawling goosebumps on the scalp. Most often the hairy part is affected. Sometimes this sensation is accompanied by pain and other clinical symptoms. If you have paresthesia, be sure to visit a neurologist and get advice on undergoing a full diagnosis and treatment.

Treatment

Treatment options depend on what is causing the problem. If the doctor has made a diagnosis, then you should take a course of the medications that he prescribes. Only getting rid of the root cause will allow you to forget about unpleasant symptoms forever. The treatment itself includes two methods of influencing the body: medicinal and folk. They can be used simultaneously if there are no contraindications.

Drug treatment

Only the attending physician can prescribe medications. It is highly not recommended to purchase and take medications on your own, because... This can cause irreparable harm to your health.

Your doctor may prescribe the following types of medications:

1. Sedatives (Glycine, Motherwort, Valerian). Calms the nervous system.
2. Antihypoxants (Mexidol, Preductal). Reduce the risk of developing hypoxia.
3. Vasodilators (Cavinton, Nicergoline). Improves blood circulation.
4. Angioprotectors (Ginkgo-Biloba, Ascorutin). Tones the veins and blood vessels in the head.
5. Preparations with vitamin B (Thiamin, Pyridoxine). Improves the quality of nerve tissue.

You can only take mild sedatives (Valerian, Glycine) and painkillers (Nurofen, Paracetamol) on your own. However, it is important to consider the dosage and also try to see a doctor as soon as possible.

You can also be treated with non-drug means. Some patients are prescribed massage, magnetotherapy, peloid therapy, therapeutic exercises, and electric shock. Also, to increase effectiveness, you may need to adhere to a daily routine, quality sleep and a light diet.

Sometimes the reason why you get goosebumps is the medications themselves. For example, they can be caused by Naphthyzin, which is used to relieve nasal congestion.

Traditional methods

You can cope with goosebumps at home using traditional methods. They will improve the general condition of the body, after which all unpleasant symptoms will disappear. To do this you will need to use the following recipes:

1. Parsley root, flax seeds, pumpkin leg, lilac and chicory flowers, horseradish, dandelion, watermelon rinds - take 2 tbsp. l. and pour 300 ml of boiling water. Let it brew. Take 50 ml every morning and evening.
2. Nettle leaves, lingonberries, clover, dill, mint, echinacea - mix all ingredients 2 tbsp. l. and pour 500 ml of boiling water for half an hour. Take 50 ml at night.

It is important to drink the first tincture first, and only then the second. Additionally, you can drink tea with mint or lavender, because... they have a relaxing effect.

What else to pay attention to - accompanying symptoms

If your head is numb and you have goosebumps, you should pay close attention to the accompanying symptoms. This will help you choose the right doctor. For example, if you constantly feel dry mouth, the frequency and volume of urination has increased, and there is irritation on the skin, then it is advisable to first visit an endocrinologist. This doctor will rule out the possibility of developing diabetes mellitus and accompanying neuropathy.

If there is pain in the neck, difficulty turning and tilting the head, then you need to make an appointment with a vertebrologist. Most likely you are developing osteochondrosis, protrusion, spondyloarthrosis, spondylitis and a number of other degenerative diseases. The vertebrologist will prescribe an X-ray examination of the cervical and cervicothoracic spine. In the image, he can see a decrease in the height of the intervertebral spaces, which will indicate the development of osteochondrosis to the protrusion stage. If the intervertebral joints are destroyed, it is highly likely that a diagnosis of deforming spondyloarthrosis will be made.

An MRI examination may be required to clarify the diagnosis. It shows the condition of all soft tissues: cartilaginous intervertebral discs, radicular and cranial nerves, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Doppler ultrasound will help identify pathologies of the vascular bed.

If on the eve of the appearance of goosebumps on your scalp there was a traumatic impact (a fall, emergency braking while driving in a car, a blow, an awkward turn of the head), then you should first visit a traumatologist. This specialist will eliminate the possibility of displacement of the vertebral bodies, violation of their integrity (fracture or crack), and tissue ruptures. If injuries are found, the doctor will suggest initial surgical treatment.

Visit doctor

With occasional goosebumps, there is no reason to worry. However, if you suspect the development of other diseases, you should still think about visiting a doctor. Therefore, you need to know what exactly may indicate serious illness. But no less important is the diagnosis itself, which includes several procedures.

When to visit a doctor

Many people choose to turn a blind eye to minor sensations, which is why they face serious complications. It is very important to promptly notice changes in your body and go to the hospital. You should go to the doctor under the following conditions:

1. Symptoms are episodic and last for more than an hour.
2. Pain in the head, dizziness, and increased blood pressure appear.
3. During an attack, problems with vision, speech or hearing occur.
4. It becomes difficult to turn your head.
5. The skin changes with each attack.

Even one point is enough to make an appointment now. It is better to get examined and make sure there are no diseases than to risk your health.

Adults should be very attentive to their children. If your child complains of a crawling sensation in his head, you should take him to the doctor. This is especially true in cases where the child’s behavior has changed dramatically.

Diagnostics

The first doctor a patient visits should be a neurologist. It is he who will prescribe all the necessary examinations, and also refer you to other specialists, if necessary.

What procedures will you need to undergo:

• General blood and urine analysis;
• Blood chemistry;
• X-ray of the cervical spine;
• CT, MRI of the brain;
• ENMG;
• ECG, ECHO ECG;
• EEG;
• RVG;
• Ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound.

After all the studies have been completed, the doctor will make a final diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment. In some cases, constant monitoring of the patient may be required, for which he will be admitted to the hospital.

How is the treatment carried out?

It is impossible to treat separately the feeling of goosebumps running through the head, since this is not an independent disease, but only a symptom of it. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is extremely important for proper treatment. Do not engage in self-diagnosis and treatment. Be sure to contact specialists.

We will consider standard conservative treatment of cervical osteochondrosis complicated by protrusion and intervertebral hernias. This is the most common reason for the sensation of crawling on the scalp.

Treatment in such a situation always begins with a procedure of manual traction of the spinal column. 3-4 sessions are enough to completely relieve pain and paresthesia. The space between adjacent vertebral bodies increases. The cartilaginous discs straighten completely. The compression pressure on the surrounding soft tissues, including the radicular and cranial nerves, stops. This helps normalize the patient's condition. But it is impossible to talk about a full recovery.

To achieve a long-term, sustainable result, a full course of therapy is required. It is developed by the doctor individually for each patient. It may include the following procedures:

1. massage to normalize the tone of the paravertebral muscles and increase the level of elasticity of the soft tissues surrounding the spinal column;
2. osteopathy to enhance the processes of microcirculation of blood and lymphatic fluid, increasing the intensity of trophism;
3. reflexology to launch natural regeneration processes by activating the hidden reserves of the human body;
4. therapeutic exercises, kinesiotherapy, physiotherapy and much more.

If you need consultation and treatment, then you can make an appointment right now for a completely free appointment with a vertebrologist at our manual therapy clinic.

The doctor explained why goosebumps appear and run all over the body

Photo: depositphotos/HayDmitriy

Immunologist Anna Shulyaeva explained why goosebumps appear and run on the body, reports the Arguments and Facts website.

She noted that in most cases this phenomenon is completely harmless. Most often, goosebumps appear as a result of a reflex to danger. This effect is a human atavism, and animals protect themselves in this way.

“Most often, such a reaction is observed in response to some external stimuli, and goosebumps appear on their own, unexpectedly and not always on time,” Shulyaeva noted.

She added that the cause of goosebumps is most often an emotional outburst or hypothermia. In a normal reaction, the effect wears off without any consequences after a few seconds. At the same time, goosebumps may be evidence of some kind of pathology.

Shulyaeva noted that if they appear for no apparent reason, then this may be a reaction to neurological disruptions in the body. In this way, the body tries to tell about damage to the nerves or nerve endings.

“Also among the reasons may be vitamin deficiencies, the appearance of some neoplasms that compress the nerves. This situation can occur spontaneously and against the background of problems with blood vessels. In this case, it is recommended to visit a phlebologist for a detailed study of the situation, diagnosis and treatment,” Shulyaeva said.

She added that pain or numbness in the limbs that occurs after the appearance of goosebumps may also be a reason to see a doctor. In addition, the effect of running, as if goosebumps ran all over the skin, is considered a deviation from the norm. This may be a consequence of a lack of vitamins or insufficient oxygen supply to the tissues.

In addition, among the reasons it is worth noting a lack of collagen. In such cases, the skin begins to peel off and irritation begins to appear on it. In this case, you need to adjust your diet, making it more fortified, which a specialist can help with.

The chills and tremor of the limbs can also be masked by the chills effect. This may indicate problems with the thyroid gland, and therefore you need to consult an endocrinologist. The appearance of goosebumps on the left side may indicate problems with the heart and blood vessels, especially if they last more than 5 minutes and are accompanied by trembling.

If, in addition to the appearance of goosebumps, chronic fatigue, heaviness, swelling or numbness in the legs appear, then it is necessary to undergo a full medical examination. It is especially worth paying attention to the performance of blood vessels and the presence of plaques in them.

Earlier, dermatologist Svetlana Zhaboeva gave recommendations on skin care in case of sunburn. She noted that the first step is to wash your face to eliminate sweat and dirt. Then you need to apply a soothing cream to the skin.

Background: how and why do goosebumps occur?

The appearance of goose bumps (piloerection) is associated with contraction of muscle fibers in the skin that raise the hairs. Fluffier predecessors of humans and modern mammals need this in order to keep warm when the ambient temperature drops (the air cushion that forms between the hairs is excellent thermal insulation), as well as in order to visually increase in size and frighten a possible enemy.

The muscles that raise the hair and the nerves that transmit signals to it also have other functions. They are involved in regulating the division of hair follicle cells. Scientists suggest that this is one of the reasons why goosebumps have not disappeared in humans over the course of evolution.

Significance in diagnosis

Symptoms, accompanied by a feeling of goosebumps running in the head, have important diagnostic significance. Such manifestations mean that a pathological process is occurring in the body, which may be a consequence of the following factors:

• disruption of the innervation of the neck, head and brain;
• problems with blood circulation;
• hormonal disorders;
• consequences of mechanical damage.

Paresthesia is also of differential importance in the diagnosis of mental disorders.

The benefit of goosebumps is the possibility of early diagnosis. Making a diagnosis at an early stage allows you to avoid the development of acute life-threatening conditions (vascular obliteration, stroke). Since paresthetic effects appear in the first stages of the pathological process, timely treatment helps prevent chronic disease.

Features of symptoms in women

If goosebumps appear on the head in women, the reason may lie in the hormonal changes in the body that occur during menopause. Symptoms of paresthesia can occur at any stage of the menopause, but they are more pronounced in the premenopausal and menopausal phases, when hormonal surges are most active.

Provoking factors that cause sensitivity disorders in women include vitamin deficiency. The feeling of goosebumps occurs when there is a lack of elements such as:

• vitamins A, D, E, C and B vitamins (cyanocobalamin, folic acid);
• trace elements zinc, copper, iodine.

If the content of useful substances in the body is low, especially during pregnancy, dry skin, dizziness, general weakness and sensitivity disorders of the skin may occur.