If your eye lid twitches, it can be unnerving – but you are not alone, and, in fact, it’s a pretty common occurance. According to an expert, there are a number of things that could cause it, and there are ways to stop this from happening.
Taking to TikTok, Doctor Youn aka @doctoryoun) – who has over 300 million likes on the social media platform – admitted: “Eye lid twitching like this can be so annoying” as he showed a video it adding that “it happens to so many of us”. Also called Myokymia, the repetitive involuntary spasms of eyelid muscles often occur in the upper lid. However, it can happen in both upper and lower lids.
So what causes my eyelid to twitch?
Whilst twitching is usually nothing to worry about, you should see a GP, for a non-urgent appointment, according to the NHS if you have the following:
- You have had a twitch for more than two weeks
- You have a twitch in more than one place
- The affected area feels weak or stiff
- You think a prescribed medicine might be causing your twitch
Whilst likely to be harmless with the NHS stating that “most twitches are not caused by a medical condition”, it is possible that it could be due to somehing. If you have a twitch alongside other symptoms, you may want to see a GP. This can include:
- benign fasciculation syndrome (long-lasting twitches and cramps caused by overactive nerves)
- dystonia (a group of uncommon conditions that cause muscle spasms)
- motor neurone disease (an uncommon condition that causes weakness and gets worse over time)
How can I stop my eyelid from twitching?
Dicussing treatments, he says people can try to “get more sleep, reduce the amount of caffeine intake and, if all else fails, botox injections can take care of it”. Listing other things that could be the root cause, the doctor states that it could also happen because you have anxiety, because you are tired, becauase you are stressed, because you are dehydrated and, in fact, it could be because you have a magnisium deficency.
The NHS further states: “A twitch may come and go, but will normally stop in a few days or weeks. There’s not usually any treatment for it but there are some things you can do to help” which includes:
Do
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get plenty of rest
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try to find ways to relax
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stretch and massage any muscles affected by cramps
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try not to worry about it – a twitch is usually harmless and worrying can make it worse
Don’t
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do not drink lots of caffeine, such as tea and coffee
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do not drink lots of alcohol
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do not stop taking a prescribed medicine without getting medical advice, even if you think it could be causing your twitch