Nose Twitching: Causes And Treatment - Healthline

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Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M.D. — Written by Kiara Anthony — Updated on August 1, 2018

Causes
Outlook

Overview

Involuntary muscle contractions (spasms), specifically of your nose, are often harmless. That being said, they tend to be a bit distracting and may be cause for frustration. The contractions can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours.

Nose twitching may be caused by muscle cramps, dehydration or stress, or it may be an early sign of a medical condition.

Causes for nose twitching

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

To maintain optimum health and proper muscle function, your body needs key nutrients and vitamins. Vitamins and minerals ensure proper blood circulation, nerve function, and muscle tone. Important nutrients your body needs include:

vitamin B
iron
potassium
calcium
magnesium
vitamin E
zinc

If your doctor believes you to be vitamin deficient, they may recommend dietary supplements. You may also need to incorporate a more nutrient-rich diet.

Medication

Certain medications can trigger muscle spasms throughout your body and on your face. Some medicines causing muscle cramps and spasms include:

diuretics
asthma medication
statin medication
high blood pressure medicine
hormones

If you begin to experience nose twitching or muscle spasms while on prescribed medication, contact your doctor immediately to discuss treatment options that avoid adverse side effects.

Nerve damage

Issues with the nervous system may also lead to nose twitching. Nerve damage from conditions (such as Parkinson’s disease) or injuries can trigger muscle spasms.

If you have been diagnosed with a nerve disorder, your doctor may recommend medication and treatment to improve associated symptoms and reduce spasms.

Facial tic disorder

Nose twitching or spasms may be a symptom of facial tics — uncontrollable facial spasms. This disorder can affect anyone, though it’s most prevalent among children.

Other than nose twitching, people diagnosed with a facial tic disorder may also experience:

blinking eyes
raising eyebrows
tongue clicking
clearing the throat
grimacing

Facial tics often require no treatment, and in some cases, resolve on their own. If they begin to affect your quality of life, your doctor may recommend treatments that might include:

therapy
medication
botox injections
stress reduction programs
brain stimulation

Tourette syndrome

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes you to experience involuntary movements and vocalized tics. Early symptoms are often noticed during childhood.

Common symptoms associated with Tourette syndrome include:

rapid eye movements
nose scrunching
head jerking
sniffing
swearing
repeating words or phrases

Tourette syndrome often requires no medication, unless it begins to affect normal mental and physical functioning. If you have been diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, discuss effective treatment options with your doctor.

Outlook

Nose twitching may be a common side effect of your recent medication or diet.

However, severe twitching or associated tics may be symptoms that require medical attention.

If you begin to notice worsening spasms or experience adverse reactions, contact your doctor to discuss the reactions and treatment alternatives as well as to schedule a visit.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Kurz JL. (2016). Muscle spasms. https://www.spine.org/KnowYourBack/Conditions/Other/MuscleSpasms
Singer HS. (n.d.). Tourette syndrome and othertic disorders. http://www.childneurologyfoundation.org/disorders/tourette-syndrome-and-other-tic-disorders/
Tourette syndrome fact sheet. (2018). https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Tourette-Syndrome-Fact-Sheet

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Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M.D. — Written by Kiara Anthony — Updated on August 1, 2018

Nose Twitching: Causes And Treatment - Healthline

Causes for nose twitching

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Medication

Nerve damage

Facial tic disorder

Tourette syndrome

Outlook

How we reviewed this article:

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