Goosebumps on the skin, body, head, legs: causes, diagnosis

Every cell of the human body has a connection with the nervous system - the ancient part of it, which we do not control, and the young cortex, which issues commands from consciousness. The message is carried out using nerve fibers, and they can exist normally if they are not under pressure from the outside and are not damaged from the inside. When such a situation does arise, it manifests itself as a sensation as if goosebumps are running down the skin. Then this symptom is not associated with the experience of any emotions and does not go away after switching to another thought.

Let us examine in more detail what this or that localization of these unpleasant sensations may mean, and what the duration of the “goosebumps” indicates.

Types and mechanism of “goosebumps”

The sensation of tingling and crawling is medically called “paresthesia.” They appear in response to irritation of nerve endings, the brain or spinal cord. The nature of this phenomenon is as follows: the sensitive nerve ending receives several different unrelated signals at once, layering on top of each other. As a result, the nerve does not know how to react correctly to this variety, and “turns on” numbness, burning, “pins and needles” or tingling.

Paresthesia is usually felt below the irritated area of ​​the nerve. They may be accompanied by “goose bumps” - “pimples” in the area of ​​hair growth, which is an analogue of the puffiness of fur or quills in animals.

Paresthesias can be:

1. temporary, occurring when sitting in an uncomfortable position, freezing, sexual arousal, a feeling of euphoria from listening to music or when negative emotions appear. They are usually described as “pins and needles on your legs” and go away when the irritating factor stops. Not accompanied by cramps, pain or sensory disturbances;
2. chronic, recurring. They are signs of the disease, and can be accompanied by two types of symptoms:
   indicating damage to the nerve fiber. These are: numbness in the limbs or only in the fingers, tingling sensation, goosebumps. Sometimes local twitching (convulsions) develops here;
3. indicating damage to those nerves that are connected to the vessels of this area. This is evidenced by: pale skin, deterioration of temperature and pain sensitivity, cool temperature, hair loss.

Transient (temporary) paresthesia is a variant of the norm and does not require medical intervention. If “goosebumps” run without any visible effect on the skin, you definitely need to look for their cause and eliminate it.

What causes the sensation of goosebumps on the scalp?

Goosebumps, or the so-called goose bumps, are small protrusions that appear on the skin in the hairline area. They appear uncontrollably in response to strong emotional arousal or the influence of low temperatures. The mechanism that is responsible for the formation of such an interesting phenomenon is called the pilomortic reflex. When exposed to peripheral nerves originating from the spinal cord, zones that are responsible for the smooth muscles of the hair follicles are excited. These muscles contract, the hairs rise as a result and an effect called piloerection occurs, which is recognized by a person as goosebumps.

Such a reaction can occur on any part of the body where there are even completely invisible small hairs, not to mention the head. Provided that the hair and skin on the head are clean, goosebumps may occur in this area due to the following reasons:

• a state of emotional arousal, such as fear;
• general poor health;
• response to touch with increased sensitivity of the integument;
• sexual desire, state of arousal;
• low air temperature;
• increased body temperature, for example, with a cold;
• the presence of certain diseases.

What diseases provoke paresthesia?

The causes of goosebumps are varied. Let's list them first:

• osteochondrosis;
• damage to nerve fibers of various localizations - neuropathy;
• high blood glucose levels;
• impaired nutrition of nerve fibers due to diabetes mellitus, poisoning, including chronic alcohol intoxication - polyneuropathy;
• low blood levels of calcium or magnesium;
• nerve fiber injury;
• damage to nerve fibers by antibodies;
• varicose veins;
• migraine;
• Raynaud's syndrome;
• atherosclerosis of arterial vessels;
• insufficient intake of vitamins B1, 6, C;
• arthritis;
• restless legs syndrome;
• tumors of nerve fibers;
• tumor in the parietal lobe of the brain;
• autoimmune vascular damage - vasculitis;
• insufficiency of parathyroid gland function – hypoparathyroidism;
• neurasthenia;
• obliterating endarteritis;
• multiple sclerosis;
• trigeminal neuralgia;
• stroke;
• taking certain medications;
• shingles;
• rabies;
• follicular hyperkeratosis;
• entry of the filling mass into the canal of a tooth with a living nerve;
• damage to the nerve ending during tooth extraction.

If “goose bumps” is the name given to the external manifestation – “goose bumps”, without any other symptoms, then this pathology is called follicular hyperkeratosis.

Here, due to poor nutrition of the skin or constant irritation, the upper layer of the skin thickens excessively, and the mouths of the hair follicles become inflamed. Dermatocosmetologists treat pathology with various local and systemic means.

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.

Goosebumps on the body, arms and legs

This symptom is accompanied by many diseases. Let's consider the main ones in more detail.

Hypovitaminosis B1

Vitamin B1 is needed for the normal functioning of the nervous system. It is involved in the production of acetylcholine - a substance that allows a nerve impulse to reach the muscle, intestines, sweat gland, heart - and transmit its command to it. Its insufficient intake from food or acceleration of its breakdown leads to:

• feeling of pins and needles on the legs and arms;
• irritability;
• headache;
• memory impairment;
• constipation;
• increased heart rate;
• pain in the heart;
• swelling;
• shortness of breath;
• sometimes even paralysis and cardiovascular failure.

Such symptoms require prompt diagnosis and treatment: administration of synthetic vitamin thiamine and diet correction.

Hypoparathyroidism

This is a reduced function of the parathyroid glands, in which the level of calcium in the blood decreases. It manifests itself not only as goose bumps in the limbs, but also:

• painful contractions of the muscles of the limbs, body and face: the arm is brought towards the body, it is “bent” at the wrist and elbow joints, the corners of the mouth are lowered, the eyelids are lowered by half, the body is arched back;
• swallowing is paroxysmally impaired;
• there is a stabbing pain in the abdomen;
• there may be vomiting, diarrhea;
• fainting occurs;
• twilight vision is impaired;
• "pawns ears;
• there are pains and interruptions in the heart;
• hair becomes thinner, the number of hair shafts falling out increases;
• the skin is peeling;
• a large number of teeth are affected by caries;
• nails become dull;
• With prolonged absence of therapy, cataracts develop.

Decreased calcium levels

Here the same symptoms develop as with hypoparathyroidism, but they are not as pronounced and occur more easily. Often, the pathology is manifested only by painful spasms of the muscles of the limbs and face, which immediately follow goosebumps, increased heart rate, trembling and recurrent vomiting. With an extremely low level of this electrolyte in the blood, difficulty breathing may develop until it stops, and painful arching of the entire body.

Low blood magnesium levels

This condition manifests itself:

• weakness;
• lack of appetite;
• nausea, vomiting;
• trembling of the body or individual muscles;
• Convulsions may occur in which the entire body contracts or arches. This is most common in children.

Taking medications

The appearance of goose bumps can be caused by taking drugs such as: Ofloxacin, Protionamide, Isonazid, Cycloserine, drugs against epilepsy and blood pressure lowering drugs.

Arrhythmias

In the case of the development of attack-like (paroxysmal) rhythm disturbances, a person may notice:

• “goosebumps” running over the body;
• chills at normal body temperature.

This state lasts from ten minutes or more; most often develops at night.

Brain stroke

Paralysis or partial immobility of the limbs on one side may be preceded by a feeling of numbness and crawling, sometimes on the opposite side. There is also a headache, there may be short- or long-term loss of consciousness, focal symptoms are observed: facial asymmetry, different widths of the palpebral fissures, inability to speak or understand speech.

Damage to the parietal lobe of the brain

A tumor or encephalitis that develops in the lobe responsible for sensitivity is accompanied by other symptoms: the inability to perform complex actions, failure to recognize objects if you close your eyes and feel them with your hands, loss of the ability to write. There may also be loss of half of the visual field and loss of awareness of one's own body diagram.

Guillain-Barre syndrome

This condition occurs after a viral infection (mainly colds and herpes), or intestinal infection caused by the Campylobacter bacterium or enteroviruses.

Here, in the period from 5 to 21 days after the illness, antibodies are formed to certain areas of the spinal nerve roots. This is manifested by the appearance of pins and needles on the legs, the range of movements gradually decreases, and sensitivity is impaired. The process may appear immediately on your hands. It may involve a certain volume, but may spread towards the chest. The last symptom is very dangerous and requires urgent hospitalization in the intensive care unit, as it can progress to respiratory arrest.

Head injury

A brain contusion can lead to the appearance of pins and needles on both one and two sides. After this, loss of sensation may develop.

Shingles

The disease is caused by the same virus as chickenpox; occurs in those who have already had it. It manifests itself as the appearance of goosebumps in the projection of any nerve, but more often - one of the intercostal nerves. Goosebumps precede the appearance of redness here, on which bubbles with transparent contents soon appear. The affected area burns and hurts.

Multiple sclerosis

This is an autoimmune pathology when one’s own antibodies begin to attack the membrane of most nerve fibers, as a result of which the latter become “naked” and begin to destroy themselves. There is no clear sequence or algorithm for damage to fibers, so it is difficult to recognize the disease.

Most often, it begins with deterioration of vision in one eye, the sensation of a foreign body in it, and the appearance of blurred contours of the objects in question. This condition lasts about a week, then goes away on its own, but not completely. Subsequently, the symptom will recur. Gradually, it leads to disruption of coordinated eye movements and a change in the normal reaction of the pupils to light. Usually, after this, goosebumps and pain appear on the face, which is the basis for making a diagnosis of “Facial neuritis” or “Trigeminal neuralgia”. Later, loss of coordination, changes in handwriting, and transient trembling of objects develop.

Also, the initial manifestations of the disease include goosebumps, burning, numbness or tightening of the skin that occurs on any part of the body. It goes away on its own and often does not serve as a reason to contact a neurologist or therapist.

Polyneuropathy

This disease is characterized by damage to the peripheral nervous system due to poisoning (including alcohol surrogates), metabolic disorders (mainly due to diabetes mellitus). It is dangerous because the disconnection of nerves, starting from distant parts of the body (fingers and toes), spreads closer and closer to the respiratory muscles, and can also involve the nerves that command the contraction of the muscles responsible for breathing.

Polyneuropathy manifests itself as a deterioration in the motor activity of the legs and arms, starting with the fingers, the appearance of goosebumps and numbness in these areas, and the gradual “turning off” of sensitivity in the areas of socks and gloves.

Goosebumps mainly on the left side of the body from the legs to the head

Elena

April 11, 2021

Good evening?!!! it started like this, but I don’t know if there is a connection... I was driving and suddenly a feeling of fear, as if fear of heights, took my breath away... in the summer my husband and I went to the sea, lay down to rest during the day, I began to fall asleep, but I had not yet fallen asleep and suddenly a feeling of fear, again took my breath away and I jumped up with the feeling that I was fainting, this did not happen every time, but once every 2 months!!! then tachycardia began, rarely once a month, then once every 2 weeks and so on until it began to happen almost every day, when I get up from sleep/I sleep normally, nothing bothers me/One fine day I had tachycardia for 3 hours, in the morning I woke up as if I was drunk/as if I was rocking in a boat/after a few days it became painful to look at the light, sounds were annoying, the left eye icon became larger than the right. I went to the doctors for the first ophthalmologist - the fundus was clean, the blood vessels were good, vision was 1, then, on the advice of the therapist, I started drips / Mexidol-Vinpocetine, Actovegin-Mexidol-25 pcs, no sense!!! then otolhinologist - 10 days of antibiotics - lencomecin and summed - no sense / suspected dandy / further - MRI of the head and spine in full and with contrast, in the head there is a small scar in the deep layers of the cerebellum 0.5 to 0.6 vascular in nature - does not fill with contrast - multiple sclerosis has been ruled out!! the spine has changes according to age, there are changes!! I repeated the MRI with the cerebellum after 2 months, still no new foci and there is no inflammation either and there was none at the time of the first MRI! then they started goosebumps all over my body every minute, as it seemed to me then, from my feet to my head, the neurologist passed all the cerebellar tests with a bang? It was breathtaking and it darkened before my eyes like fainting, but I foolishly didn’t fall - this state started every day, I could barely go to work, I had a sedentary job as a manicurist! I was 100% sure that I was dying, fear, anxiety since childhood, and at this moment completely wow!! after the otonerlogue it became easier, the motion seemed to go away, but when I move my eyes to the sides I still feel as if I’m about to turn to the side and it will stay that way, sensitive!!! vision and hearing have not decreased! further ultrasound of the neck - plaque 25% in the carotid artery, the neurologist asked to redo the ultrasound in a different place / haven’t done it yet / has diabetes mellitus, which I think is in remission - a strict diet without sugar and carbohydrates sugar - 4.7 in the morning - 7-7.8 after meals, weight 44 kg with a height of 146. then massage the trigger points - the tingling during the massage is terrible, especially when massaging the sciatic nerve!! 10 sessions - zero impact!!! the goosebumps more or less began to go away after 10 injections of neuromultivit. it became easier, but still tingles several times per day! There is no diagnosis other than diabetes! As soon as they find out that diabetes, that’s all over!! I already went to the neurosurgeons and they said everything is fine, look where it’s pinched!!! the last neurologist prescribed Grandaxin and Phenibut, but I haven’t started drinking yet!! constant anxiety, I have this feeling every day when I get out of bed, that something is going to happen , I get to the toilet and my heartbeat is already palpitating, although nothing bothers me at night! There’s still pressure on my nose, there was ringing in the ears during an exacerbation, now it’s rare!! Help me understand what’s happening to me!! The only person left is a psychotherapist because there’s still no diagnosis , except for diabetes and atherosclerosis, and the ultrasound hasn’t been redone yet

The question is closed

Feeling scared

Goosebumps on the face and hands

If goosebumps crawl on the skin of your face and hands, this may be one of the following pathologies.

Migraine

At first, goosebumps appear on the face (especially around the mouth) and hands, then a headache develops mainly in one half of the head. In this case, paresthesia should be regarded as a migraine aura - a condition that precedes an attack of pain.

Tumor or inflammation of the frontal lobe of the brain

A change in personality (a person becomes “not the same as usual”) along with goosebumps in the lips and fingers may indicate damage to the frontal lobe. Only a neurologist can refute such a diagnosis, sometimes only on the basis of an MRI of the brain.

Goosebumps on the scalp

If you have goosebumps on the back of your head, it could be:

• Neuropathy of the greater occipital nerve. At the same time, goosebumps, numbness and tingling are felt in the area of ​​​​the back of the head to the crown; here there is increased or decreased sensitivity. You can find pain points in the back of the head.
• Neuropathy of the cervical plexus with compression of its sensory nerves. Here in the area of ​​the back of the head, neck, shoulder girdle and behind the ear, pain and goosebumps are felt.
• Transient ischemic attack (ministroke). In this case, the tingling sensation is felt for 1-2 hours, then disappears, leaving no focal changes.
• Bell's palsy. At first, goosebumps are felt on one side of the face, after which weakness of the muscles on this side appears, and then they completely cease to provide movement to one side of the mouth and facial muscles.

Goosebumps on your hands

If you notice goosebumps crawling on your arm, please note: this may be due to the following reasons.

Anterior scalene syndrome

When this muscle is overstrained, which is caused by compression of the lower trunk of the brachial plexus and the subclavian artery, pain and pins and needles are noted in the arm - from the shoulder to the little finger and ring finger. When turning the head, the pain radiates to the back of the head and chest. There may be numbness and chilliness in the hand, and the skin becomes pale or more bluish.

Brachial plexus syndrome

It is characterized by deterioration of movement in the hand, goosebumps and decreased sensitivity in the part of the hand that is located on the little finger side.

Raynaud's disease

Manifested by coldness and paleness of the fingers. Goosebumps crawl over them, the fingers first turn blue and begin to hurt, then their skin turns red, and the pain subsides. Often not only the fingers, but also the toes are affected.

Osteochondrosis, trauma, spondylolisthesis or tumor of the cervical spinal cord

These diseases are characterized not only by the appearance of goose bumps in the hands, but also by pain in the muscles of the hands, a gradual decrease in strength in their muscles, and a deterioration in temperature and pain sensitivity in the hands. If a pathological process (tumor, edema or vertebrae) compresses the vessels leading to the brain, dizziness, hearing or vision impairment will occur.

Myositis of the cervical muscles

Goosebumps in the arms are accompanied by pain in the neck. These symptoms are worse in certain positions of the neck. Read more about myositis.

Costoclavicular syndrome

This is the name for compression of the vessels and nerves of the brachial plexus, which occurs in a vertical position if the shoulder girdle is pulled back and down (for example, when carrying a heavy backpack). In this case, pain when standing at attention, accompanied by goosebumps, develops along the inside of the hand and forearm.

Musculocutaneous nerve neuropathy

This nerve gives commands to many muscles of the shoulder, including the biceps, reaching the forearm, it is divided into anterior and posterior branches. If the nerve is pinched at the level of the elbow fold, pain occurs in this place, which radiates to the side of the forearm and is accompanied by a burning sensation and goosebumps. The pain intensifies with flexion and extension of the elbow, and rotation of the forearm in and out.

Compression of the median nerve in the axillary fossa

The pathology occurs mainly when carrying heavy objects resting on the armpit, as well as when spouses sleep together, when the head of one of them is under the arm of the other.

Here goosebumps run across the palm; at first this is not accompanied by pain or dysfunction. If a similar situation with compression is repeated, the work of the flexor muscles of the palm and those muscles that are responsible for flexing the thumb and index fingers worsens. The palm loses its sensitivity; the muscles that form the eminence of the thumb are hypotrophied.

Intermetacarpal tunnel syndrome

This is the name of the condition when the nerve is pinched by the heads of the metacarpal bones. Symptoms: numbness and pins and needles in the area of ​​the surfaces of the fingers facing each other, which intensify with flexion and extension of the fingers.

Pinched nerve between the heads of the triceps muscle

The causes of the condition are injury to the back of the arm, fracture of the humerus.

Symptoms: deterioration or inability to straighten the hand; if you press on the back of the forearm, pain and pins and needles appear near the thumb.

Compression of the dorsal branch of the ulnar nerve

This occurs due to the habit of resting your elbow on the edge of the table. Pain occurs on the inside of the hand. If you press on the inside of the wrist, the pain intensifies and a pins and needles sensation appears.

The Batrachospermum Magazine

Everyone has experienced piloerection. In a moment of cold, fear, awe or sex, the smooth muscles of the follicles raise the body hair, and skin pimples appear - goosebumps. This is the result of the pilomotor reflex, inherited from our ancestors, whose fur fluffed up, allowing us to warm up or scare the enemy. This reflex is ensured by the work of the autonomic (autonomic) nervous system, which also regulates heart contractions, pupillary changes, intestinal motility and other involuntary movements in the human body. It is all the more surprising that some people can control piloerection: they are able to voluntarily give themselves goosebumps!

“It’s like saying you can make waves in your gut or stop your heart,” says James Heathers of Northeastern University in Boston, lead author of a review of the phenomenon of voluntary piloerection, which is available as a preprint on the journal’s website. PeerJ. The article collected data from three dozen people, mainly from English-speaking countries, whom Heeters and his colleagues found on Internet forums, YouTube videos and through Facebook psychological groups.

“It all starts at the back of the neck,” says Javier Paleyko, a 34-year-old technician from Argentina. “It’s like I have a muscle there that I activate.” Like many other lords of goosebumps, for a long time he thought that all people could do this. His brother, for example, is also capable of voluntary piloerection.

In fact, only three cases of such an erection have been described in the scientific literature before. “I have a special love for old magazines and forgotten articles,” says Heeters. One day, while digging through the archives, he came across a 1938 study about a man who could control his goosebumps. Then I dug up an even older one, from 1902, about a 27-year-old deaf, color-blind student with a curved spine, who, however, had the superpower of creating goose bumps at his own will in less than 10 seconds after the desire arose and just as quickly from it get rid. The young man used the skill to relieve headaches and almost all the time amused himself with goosebumps while watching football. In addition, he had excellent control of the muscles of his fingers and face and “freely moved his scalp in different directions, as well as his ears,” and his father had the same talents, the article notes.

Another publication, from 2010, tells the story of a 35-year-old man who, 8 years earlier, discovered and then trained himself to induce a piloerection by vibrations from a hair clipper. Now, in order to provoke goosebumps, he focuses his thoughts on a certain point on his neck and makes some grimaces with his face - then, after three seconds, a pleasant goosebumps spreads from this point along the ridge and into his hands.

The neck or back of the head is the most popular place for the source of goosebumps among adherents of voluntary piloerection; less often it starts from the arms, from the crown or sides of the head, notes Heeters’ preprint. Goosebumps most often appear on the arms, although for many they run along the back, shoulders and legs. Most of those surveyed achieve the effect without much effort, although some require, for example, “contracting a muscle in the brain” or first awakening an emotional reaction in order to initiate it. Thus, one man told Heathers that he only gets goosebumps when he imagines his girlfriend being brutally killed in front of his eyes.

Often simple concentration is enough, without any emotional triggers. “I always have to close my eyes to do this—if I try to do it with my eyes open, it doesn’t work,” says biologist Eliza Bacon, who also took part in Heeters’ study. As a child, she watched a cartoon about Sailor Moon, and it occurred to her that the trembling that occurs during goosebumps is similar to the release of internal energy into the outside world. “It was like it was my superpower,” Bacon smiles. Today, like the sick student of the beginning of the last century, she calms down her headaches with its help.

People actively use their ability for voluntary piloerection. American student Brenna Mikal feels warmth spreading throughout her body along with goosebumps, so she resorts to them when she feels cold. Many people use their gift to prolong the involuntary piloerection that occurs in ordinary tingling situations - for example, when listening to music, watching movies or TV, reading books, contemplating or creating works of art, during dancing, games, sex and other pleasant activities.

Superpower, of course, requires recharging. “If I get goosebumps twice in a row, I need to concentrate more the second time,” says Mikal. Paleyko confirms: “I can’t repeat it right away - I have to wait ten minutes.”

Homo piloerectus at the entrance to the cave.

“What a charming story!” – marvels Timo Siepmann, a clinical neurologist from Dresden, who studied the production of goosebumps through electric shock. He recalls epileptics with abnormal activity of the cerebral cortex, which sometimes resulted in involuntary goosebumps. Perhaps people who can cause them voluntarily activate certain areas of the cortex? “At this stage I don’t have an answer,” Siepmann shrugs.

James Heathers doesn't understand how this is possible either. There is no conscious control over smooth muscle, he explains, so some kind of emotion is likely to play a role. The specialist has not yet studied the surveyed piloerectors alive in the laboratory - perhaps the answers will be found in future studies. If you also know how to induce goosebumps, you can join in.

Text: Victor Kovylin. Based on: PeerJ Preprints, The Atlantic

All rights to this text belong to our magazine. If you enjoyed reading it and want to share the information with your friends and subscribers, you can use a fragment and put an active link to this article - we will be glad. Best regards, Batrachospermum.

You may also be interested in the following articles: Oral illusion of size Accept: your teeth don’t fit in your jaw The neural network predicted Barry’s answer when Eve decided to invite him to his graduation in 1997

Goosebumps on my feet

The symptom of goosebumps “running” down the leg is caused by various conditions. Let's look at the main ones.

Lumbar plexus neuropathy

It appears due to compression of the plexus by altered upper lumbar vertebrae, hematomas, abscesses, phlegmons, and tumors in this area.

Symptoms: pain and pins and needles - in the lower abdomen, in the pelvic area, on the thigh. They intensify when the extended leg is raised upward.

Varicose veins

The legs, especially when standing for a long time and at the end of the working day, itch, swell, and feel heaviness. Dilated veins and purple vascular networks are visually identified.

Restless legs syndrome

This is the name of a condition caused by various reasons, when a burning, tingling, feeling of bursting or squeezing is felt in the legs, due to which the lower limbs perform a frequent reflex movement of “throwing off”.

To clarify and eliminate the cause of such sensations, contact a therapist and neurologist.

Bernhardt-Roth disease

It manifests itself:

• goosebumps, burning, numbness, tingling in the area from the hip joint along the anterolateral surface of the thigh to the knee;
• pain and pins and needles intensify when walking, disappear if you sit or lie with your legs bent;
• if you touch the skin in this area, it will hurt, you will feel a feeling of heat, a prick;
• sensitivity here is increased;
• There may be both dry skin and increased sweating in this area.

After lumbar puncture

Injury to the nerve roots during lumbar puncture can lead to pain, loss of sensation in the legs, and weakness in their muscles.

Operations on the spinal cord, spinal nerves, spine

If the nerve roots were injured during the intervention, the following occurs:

• goosebumps in the legs;
• weakness of the leg muscles;
• decreased sensitivity in the legs.

Raynaud's disease

It manifests itself as pain and coldness of the fingers, then the fingers turn blue, which is accompanied by increased pain. Then the vascular spasm goes away, the fingers turn red, and the pain and goosebumps go away.

Femoral nerve neuropathy

It can be caused by a fracture of the pelvic bones with bleeding into the muscles surrounding this nerve. It may occur if the nerve was injured during puncture of the femoral artery, or if it was compressed by lymph nodes or a hematoma localized in the area of ​​the inguinal fold.

Symptoms:

• pain – in the groin area;
• spreads to the lumbar region, to the thigh and lower leg along their anterior internal surface;
• Here goosebumps are detected and sensitivity is reduced;
• flexion-extension of the hip and knee may be performed in too small a volume;
• climbing stairs is especially difficult.

Clamping of the saphenous nerve

Pins and needles, pain and loss of sensitivity are determined along the inside of the leg from the knee to the big toe.

Rabies

The disease occurs as a result of the bite of an infected animal, which introduces the rabies virus into the wound. Pathology manifests itself as the appearance of goosebumps in the bitten leg. Subsequently, fear of light, water and sound develops.

How do goosebumps occur?

Goosebumps are called the pilomotor reflex. This is the body's response to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nerve activates a tiny smooth muscle in the skin tissue, which contracts and raises body hair: piloerection occurs.

The pilomotor reflex is present in many mammals. Everyone remembers how the fur of a frightened or frozen cat rises. The porcupine raises its spines when frightened, also as a result of this reflex.

Piloerection in humans has long been considered a relic left over from our hairier days. Now this reflex is not capable of either warming a person or frightening his enemy.

However, recently American scientists managed to discover at least some practical meaning in goosebumps.

Biologists from Harvard University, together with colleagues from Taiwan, found that the muscles that contract when goosebumps occur connect the sympathetic nerve to the stem cells of the hair follicle. Because of this, each new contraction of these muscles stimulates the growth of new hair. Moreover, scientists have discovered that the hair follicle itself gives a signal to the smooth muscle, and through it to the sympathetic nerve and then to stem cells using a special protein. The study was published in 2021 in the journal Cell.

During sudden cold or other stress, nervous activity increases, leading to the pilomotor reflex. That is, each attack of goosebumps activates the growth of new hair on the body.

Goosebumps on the tongue

This is typical for:

• rubbing with dentures;
• changes in bite resulting from the removal of one or several teeth;
• galvanization, when an electric current occurs due to the fact that the crowns are made of different metals;
• getting filling material into the canal;
• hypovitaminosis B12;
• damage to the sensory fiber of the glossopharyngeal nerve;
• inflammation of the arachnoid membrane of the brain;
• peptic ulcer of the upper digestive system;
• diseases of the ENT organs: sinusitis, rhinitis.

Goosebumps in the back area

Goosebumps “run” down the back when there is a pathology of the spine, such as spondylosis. If the vertebrae in the cervical region are deformed, then goosebumps and pain will be felt in the neck, crown and upper back; they intensify with certain movements. If similar symptoms develop in the thoracic region, we are most likely talking about spondylosis or osteochondrosis of the thoracic region. Finally, in pathologies when the nerves coming from the lumbosacral region are pinched, goosebumps will be felt in the lumbar region.

What can cause goosebumps

Cold

The most common trigger for the pilomotor reflex is chills. A sharp drop in temperature leads to the release of adrenaline, which triggers the piloerection reaction. We have inherited this reflex since ancient times. Previously, it helped keep a person warm by “fluffing” the hair on the body, but now, rather, it tells him that it’s time to get a sweater.

Fear

Non-physical effects can also cause goosebumps. It has long been known that emotions can provoke various physical reactions: sweating, crying, laughter.

Fear triggers our fight or flight response. When faced with a possible threat, the amygdala in the brain “hits the shoulder” of the hypothalamus, it releases adrenaline, and this hormone makes us bristle and urgently do something to save our lives. This is also why people sometimes experience goosebumps during panic attacks. Read on topic:8 ways to deal with an oncoming panic attack

Algorithm for analyzing the state when “goosebumps” appear

Before you panic, remember what caused the paresthesia. It is also important to assess your condition as objectively as possible and notice additional symptoms:

If you have goosebumps:

• run around the local area, especially in the limbs,
• this is not accompanied by disturbances of consciousness, vision, breathing, swallowing,
• does not rise to the respiratory tract,

it can be any of the neuropathies of numerous nerves. This diagnosis is made by a neurologist based on a routine examination of the patient. We will not list all the diagnoses in the table, especially since their treatment is the same.

The following important information regarding paresthesia should also be noted:

1. the lower (closer to the toes) the area where the goose bumps are located, the closer to the tailbone the pathology is located;
2. a large area of ​​goosebumps running from a large (hip or shoulder) joint to the fingers indicates a pathology of the spine, while the reverse movement (from the fingers upward) indicates nerve damage;
3. if sensitivity is impaired, pain appears and goosebumps appear in a small area between the hand (foot) and shoulder (thigh), most likely a small nerve fiber is damaged (compressed);
4. pain that occurs along with goosebumps
5. Goosebumps and sensory disturbances are especially dangerous in patients with diabetes, as well as after an intestinal or cold illness;
6. anxiety and an urgent visit to a neurologist should be caused by conditions when, along with goosebumps, it is discovered that the affected area does not distinguish what kind of - sharp or blunt - object has touched it, and also does not distinguish between hot and cold water;
7. You need to visit a neurologist or vascular surgeon if the skin where the goosebumps run has turned pale, cold, and has little pale hair growing on it.

What can cause goosebumps in children

Goosebumps in children can be caused by:

• Guillain-Barre syndrome;
• intoxication (due to diphtheria or poisoning) polyneuropathy;
• encephalitis affecting the parietal region;
• scalene muscle syndrome due to an accessory rib;
• neuropathies due to muscle spasms;
• vasculitis;
• arthritis;
• taking certain medications;
• spondylosis;
• lack of B vitamins;
• hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia.

Author:

Krivega Maria Salavatovna resuscitator