Why Do I Feel Needle Pricks On My Skin?

If you get a needle prickling sensation on your body too frequently or feel like your skin is crawling, itching, and numb, then you’ll agree it can be worrisome.

Almost everyone gets this sensation at some point in their lives; however uncomfortable or painful it might be, the good news is that it is manageable.

Needle prick sensation might be temporary or more chronic, where it would need medical intervention.

You’ll get to know everything there is to know about the needle pricks on your skin, as well as practical health tips to manage it.

Needle pricking sensation all over your body

Maybe you once fell asleep on your arms, crossed your legs for too long, or smacked your elbows against a wall, and shortly after, an uncomfortable feeling creeps up on you.

A strange tingling sensation is often referred to as pin and needle.

Physicians call this pins and needle sensation “paresthesia.” It happens when you interfere with the sensory nerve that sends information to the brain and spinal cord.

When your limbs find themselves in awkward situations, it causes a roadblock, and the nerves stop getting the oxygen and energy they need to send the right messages to the brain.

It is most commonly felt in the legs, arms, hands, and feet.

Most people experience temporary paresthesia when their limbs are placed awkwardly or too much pressure is exerted on the nerves, causing the pin and needle prick sensation.

However, the feeling goes away after a short period. In prolonged or chronic paresthesia cases, symptoms might not go away for a long time.

It sometimes occurs because of some underlying medical conditions and would often require medical interventions.

Causes Of Needle Pinprick Feeling On Your Skin

Although many factors could cause pins and needles, the most common of these factors is the temporary restriction of nerve impulses in some areas of your nerve.

This could occur by leaning or resting on some areas of your body, followed by a tingling sensation of a needle pinprick on your skin.

Most pressure-induced paraesthesia happens because of awkward posture for an extended period.

However, needle pinprick can be temporary, chronic, or episodic, and it can also appear with other symptoms such as numbness and muscle wasting.

In cases of chronic needle pinprick, the condition might arise because of nerve damage.

Other causes of needle pinprick feeling on your skin are:

Diabetes

Diabetes is the leading cause of nerve damage, which could come with symptoms like numbness, itching, and needle pinprick on your skin.

Although this can be categorized into chronic cases, it remains the leading cause of nerve damage in people; peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves distant from the brain and spinal cord.

About 60% of individuals with diabetes show mild or chronic nerve damage as the first signs or symptoms of the disease condition.

If it persists for an extended period, an affected person can be disabled or become completely immobile.

Vitamin deficiencies

You need some vitamins to have healthy nerves. They include vitamin E, B1, B12, B6, and Niacin.

There is a clear link between the deficiency of vitamin B12 and peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage).

If you experience needle and pinpricks sensation on your skin, consider a diet with these vitamins in the correct proportion.

Toxic substances such as alcohol and heavy metals

Chronic alcoholics have an increased odds of having nerve damage, a condition called alcoholic neuropathy.

Also, excessive alcohol consumption has been linked to the deficiency of some vitamins, e.g., thiamine.

Toxins, heavy chemicals, and poisons can also cause nerve damage, whether through exposure to these chemicals in the environment or workplace or using certain drugs and chemicals.

Common toxins that can lead to nerve damage include alcohol, ethanol, lead, mercury, arsenic, thallium, zinc toxicity, etc.

Neuritis

Neuritis is a disease often characterized by the inflammation of one or more nerves. Autoimmune diseases, infections, or injuries can cause it. Note that Neuritis is not the same as neuropathy.

However, Neuritis for an extended period can lease to neuropathy. The symptoms of Neuritis include pain, numbness, impaired sensation, and abnormal circulation.

People suffering from Neuritis also experience needle and pinprick sensations on their skin.

Why Do I Feel Needle Pricks On My Skin?

We already explained that feeling needle pricks on your skin happen when pressure is exerted on the nerves, and blood flow is restricted to the limbs.

This might be why you’re feeling needle pricks on your skin; however, if the sensation doesn’t go away shortly or continues for a more extended period.

Then, the needle pricks the sensation you’re feeling on your skin that might result from other underlying health conditions.

Some of these conditions might include diabetes, nerve damage, inflammation of the nerves, multiple sclerosis, stroke, etc.

Seeing a doctor for a proper diagnosis is safer if this is the case.

Why Do I Feel Needle Pricks On My Fingers?

You might feel needle pricks on your fingers because of a particular type of nerve damage peculiar to the hands and fingers.

A common type of nerve damage called carpal tunnel syndrome is typical of the nerves traveling through the wrist.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway surrounded by ligaments and bones on the palm of your hands.

When the median nerves on the hands are compressed, the pressure exerted on the nerves results in symptoms, including numbness, tingling, or needle pricks in the hands and fingers.

The condition might be temporary or chronic, depending on the factors responsible and how long the sensation lasts.

Do Needle Pricks Ever Go Away?

Needle prick sensation goes away, but only if it is a temporary kind. You can ease your needle prick sensation using simple techniques or making necessary lifestyle changes.

However, permanent needle prick cases require much more than lifestyle changes or simple hacks. Treatment of your permanent needle pricks depends on the disease condition causing it.

Treating the underlying cause will help make your needle pricks disappear or happen less frequently.

How Do I Get Rid Of The Needle Prick Sensation On My Skin?

There are practical ways to eliminate the temporary needle prick sensation on your skin, ranging from simple hacks to lifestyle changes that work. They include:

Taking off the pressure on your nerves

You would realize that if you take the pressure off the affected nerve, it would immediately get better and regain its normal function.

You must avoid putting pressure on your nerves to ensure that your limbs get the oxygen and blood supply for proper functioning.

That could mean not sleeping on your arms for too long, not crossing your legs for too long, or leaning on your limbs for too long.

Moving around

Moving around can aid blood flow and a proper flow of oxygen in the body.

Sitting or standing in one spot for too long is unhealthy, so move around, let your blood vessel improve, and you’ll notice a change in those tingling feelings.

Avoid wearing tight shoes

Tight shoes can have your toes cramped and cause numbness and needle pricks on your toes.

Avoid wearing poorly fitted shoes that are too tight for your legs; wear shoes with enough breathing space for your toes.

Clench and unclench your fists

Clenching and unclenching your fists can help get blood flow back to your fingers and ease your nerves. If the sensation affects your toes and not your fingers, wiggle your toes continuously until you can feel the prickling dulling.

This simple act can help you improve circulation and get your blood moving.

If your needle prick sensation isn’t caused by restriction to nerve impulse, the underlying cause of your needle pricks should be determined.

If you consume too much alcohol, you should reduce your intake.

Malnourished individuals would need proper dietary modification for an adequate supply of all essential vitamins.

Vitamin B1, B6, B12, thiamin, and Niacin should be included in the diet to avoid nerve damage or peripheral neuropathy.

Certain antibiotics and medicines can also eliminate needle prick sensations and should only be used as prescribed by a health care professional.

If your needle pricks are chronic or long-lasting, you might need to see a doctor. Regular needle prick treatment usually depends on the cause.

For example, a patient with diabetes might get needle pricks as the first signs and symptoms; It would require such a person to get treated to stop or reduce the feeling of needle pricks on the skin.