Pain that a patient experiences in any part of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, is defined as face pain. Pain in the face is a symptom that can be caused by many different health conditions, with the most frequent being trauma to the face or head, and headache. One of the most common complaints reported by patients visiting emergency rooms and outpatient medical offices is facial pain.

Injury or headaches are the typical causes of face pain; however, other conditions can also be responsible for the pain. For example, pain felt in the face can originate from another location within the body, which may be caused by a variety of potential medical conditions. Face pain caused by migraine headaches can be extremely debilitating. This type of pain usually presents as unilateral throbbing in certain areas of the face.

To help facilitate movement and expression, the face uses a complex structure of nerves, blood vessels, glands, and bones. Face pain can be caused by a wide variety of underlying conditions or injuries to these nerves or bones. Examples include migraine headaches, dental problems, sinus issues, and in severe cases, trigeminal neuralgia. Although face pain is often widespread, there are several treatment options that can provide effective relief of both mild and severe face pain.