Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is It?CausesTreatmentTestingSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is It?
Causes
Treatment
Testing
Seeking Medical Care
Paresthesiais an abnormal sensation that occurs without stimulation—such as when you’re at rest or when there is no immediate pain-inducing trigger.Dysesthesiais an unpleasant or painful paresthesia.
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Describing Burning Pain as a Symptom
Burning pain is a type of dysesthesia that can be a symptom of many disorders. Sometimes, a burning sensation can come on rapidly, but it’s usually gradually progressive.The severity can range from mild discomfort to profoundly painful, and it could be constant, or it may come and go.
Your burning pain might be described in one of the following ways:
You can feel a combination of these symptoms, and you might experience some relief when you take pain medication or apply a cold pack or topical pain medication to the affected area.
Pain Generators and Causes
Irritation of the nerves that control sensation can cause a burning sensation without a physical burn.Many different medical conditions can produce a burning sensation.
Some common causes of a burning sensation are:
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How to Treat Localized Burning Sensations
Sometimes, a cold pack can provide relief. If you use ice, protect your skin with a towel. Do not place ice directly on your skin.
Your healthcare provider might prescribe or recommendtopical pain medicationfor you to place on the area of burning. They will give you instructions about how often and how to use it.
Medications sometimes prescribed to treat burning pain include:
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Interventions
Sometimes, a medical intervention may be recommended to relieve chronic burning sensations. This could include injection of pain medication or anti-inflammatory,nerve block, or surgical transection (cutting) of the nerve that mediates burning pain in that area.
In addition to these interventions, you would also need treatment for the cause of your burning pain. For example, if you have diabetes, you will also need management of your blood sugar to prevent worsening neuropathy.
If you have MS, you will need disease-modifying medication to help manage your underlying condition and to prevent worsening nerve pain. If you have a pinched nerve, you may need physical therapy or another intervention to help relieve pressure on the nerve.
Complications and Associated Risk FactorsLiving withchronic pain, such as burning sensation, can lead to depression, anxiety, inability to function throughout the day, and difficulty sleeping.Additionally, overusing pain medication can lead to side effects and addiction.
Complications and Associated Risk Factors
Living withchronic pain, such as burning sensation, can lead to depression, anxiety, inability to function throughout the day, and difficulty sleeping.Additionally, overusing pain medication can lead to side effects and addiction.
If you are experiencing burning sensations, it’s important that you make an appointment to see a healthcare provider. At your appointment, your healthcare provider will ask you about your medical history, the timing and triggers of your symptoms, and if you have any associated symptoms.
They will also perform a physical examination, including inspecting your skin, testing your sensations, and testing your neurological functions. This can help identify the cause of your burning sensation and whether it is related to an injury, infection, skin, or neurological condition.
You may need additional testing, which could include:
Once the cause of your burning sensation is identified, you will likely get treatment to manage the discomfort and the underlying cause.
Whole-Body Burning Sensations
Whole-body burning sensations are very different from burning sensations in one area of the body.Hot flashes,anxiety, orpanic attackscan all cause a burning sensation in the neck, chest, or throughout the whole body.
For the management of hot flashes, your healthcare provider may recommend hormone replacement therapy or lifestyle management.If you are having whole-body burning sensations due to anxiety or panic disorder, your healthcare provider may recommend psychotherapy and possibly medication.
When to Consult a Healthcare Provider
A burning sensation is usually a slowly progressive symptom. If you have been experiencing this type of discomfort, make an appointment to see a healthcare provider.
In rare instances, a burning sensation can develop very quickly and could be severe. Get urgent medical attention if you have other symptoms along with your burning sensation, such as shortness of breath, shaking, fevers, or excessive whole-body sweating.
Summary
A burning sensation is a type of paresthesia (unpleasant sensation), and there are many different causes—such as neuropathy, skin allergy, or multiple sclerosis. Getting a diagnosis for the cause of your burning sensation is crucial because persistent burning sensation usually requires a combination of different medical interventions.
Sometimes, cold packs can relieve a burning sensation. The pain and discomfort of persistent burning sensations can be treated with management of the underlying cause and medication or interventional therapy to relieve the pain. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, get medical help so that you can feel better.
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10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pei M, Gibson CJ, Schembri M, Raghunathan H, Grady D, Ganz P, Huang AJ.Hot flashes and sleep disruption in a randomized trial im menopausal women.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2024:S0002-9378(24)00765-8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2024.07.022Flores S, Davis MD, Pittelkow MR, Sandroni P, Weaver AL, Fealey RD.Abnormal sweating patterns associated with itching, burning and tingling of the skin indicate possible underlying small-fibre neuropathy.Br J Dermatol.2015;172(2):412-8. doi:10.1111/bjd.13576National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.Yang QH, Zhang YH, Du SH, Wang YC, Fang Y, Wang XQ.Non-invasive brain stimulation for central neuropathic pain.Front Mol Neurosci.2022;15:879909. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.879909Sun J, Ocay DD, Halpin M, et al.Clinical characterization of pediatric erythromelalgia: a single-center case series.Children (Basel). 2023;10(8):1282. doi:10.3390/children10081282Freedman M, Freedman BA, Miller JS, Bierwirth P, Nelson WR.Treating erythromelalgia with interosseous membrane stimulation: an autonomic basis for the condition and Its treatment.Med Acupunct. 2024;36(2):63-69. doi:10.1089/acu.2023.0098Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nerve damage.Scripps.Heart attack, panic attack, anxiety, and indigestion: What’s the difference?Terlizzi EP, Villarroel MA.Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder among adults: United States 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 378. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pei M, Gibson CJ, Schembri M, Raghunathan H, Grady D, Ganz P, Huang AJ.Hot flashes and sleep disruption in a randomized trial im menopausal women.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2024:S0002-9378(24)00765-8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2024.07.022Flores S, Davis MD, Pittelkow MR, Sandroni P, Weaver AL, Fealey RD.Abnormal sweating patterns associated with itching, burning and tingling of the skin indicate possible underlying small-fibre neuropathy.Br J Dermatol.2015;172(2):412-8. doi:10.1111/bjd.13576National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.Yang QH, Zhang YH, Du SH, Wang YC, Fang Y, Wang XQ.Non-invasive brain stimulation for central neuropathic pain.Front Mol Neurosci.2022;15:879909. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.879909Sun J, Ocay DD, Halpin M, et al.Clinical characterization of pediatric erythromelalgia: a single-center case series.Children (Basel). 2023;10(8):1282. doi:10.3390/children10081282Freedman M, Freedman BA, Miller JS, Bierwirth P, Nelson WR.Treating erythromelalgia with interosseous membrane stimulation: an autonomic basis for the condition and Its treatment.Med Acupunct. 2024;36(2):63-69. doi:10.1089/acu.2023.0098Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nerve damage.Scripps.Heart attack, panic attack, anxiety, and indigestion: What’s the difference?Terlizzi EP, Villarroel MA.Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder among adults: United States 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 378. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Pei M, Gibson CJ, Schembri M, Raghunathan H, Grady D, Ganz P, Huang AJ.Hot flashes and sleep disruption in a randomized trial im menopausal women.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2024:S0002-9378(24)00765-8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2024.07.022Flores S, Davis MD, Pittelkow MR, Sandroni P, Weaver AL, Fealey RD.Abnormal sweating patterns associated with itching, burning and tingling of the skin indicate possible underlying small-fibre neuropathy.Br J Dermatol.2015;172(2):412-8. doi:10.1111/bjd.13576National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.Yang QH, Zhang YH, Du SH, Wang YC, Fang Y, Wang XQ.Non-invasive brain stimulation for central neuropathic pain.Front Mol Neurosci.2022;15:879909. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.879909Sun J, Ocay DD, Halpin M, et al.Clinical characterization of pediatric erythromelalgia: a single-center case series.Children (Basel). 2023;10(8):1282. doi:10.3390/children10081282Freedman M, Freedman BA, Miller JS, Bierwirth P, Nelson WR.Treating erythromelalgia with interosseous membrane stimulation: an autonomic basis for the condition and Its treatment.Med Acupunct. 2024;36(2):63-69. doi:10.1089/acu.2023.0098Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nerve damage.Scripps.Heart attack, panic attack, anxiety, and indigestion: What’s the difference?Terlizzi EP, Villarroel MA.Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder among adults: United States 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 378. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?
Pei M, Gibson CJ, Schembri M, Raghunathan H, Grady D, Ganz P, Huang AJ.Hot flashes and sleep disruption in a randomized trial im menopausal women.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2024:S0002-9378(24)00765-8. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2024.07.022
Flores S, Davis MD, Pittelkow MR, Sandroni P, Weaver AL, Fealey RD.Abnormal sweating patterns associated with itching, burning and tingling of the skin indicate possible underlying small-fibre neuropathy.Br J Dermatol.2015;172(2):412-8. doi:10.1111/bjd.13576
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.
Yang QH, Zhang YH, Du SH, Wang YC, Fang Y, Wang XQ.Non-invasive brain stimulation for central neuropathic pain.Front Mol Neurosci.2022;15:879909. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2022.879909
Sun J, Ocay DD, Halpin M, et al.Clinical characterization of pediatric erythromelalgia: a single-center case series.Children (Basel). 2023;10(8):1282. doi:10.3390/children10081282
Freedman M, Freedman BA, Miller JS, Bierwirth P, Nelson WR.Treating erythromelalgia with interosseous membrane stimulation: an autonomic basis for the condition and Its treatment.Med Acupunct. 2024;36(2):63-69. doi:10.1089/acu.2023.0098
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Nerve damage.
Scripps.Heart attack, panic attack, anxiety, and indigestion: What’s the difference?
Terlizzi EP, Villarroel MA.Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder among adults: United States 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 378. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.
National Institute on Aging.Hot flashes: What can I do?
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