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Bell's palsy is a condition that causes short-term weakness or paralysis of the muscles in a part of your face. With paralysis, you're not able to move the affected muscles.

Bell's palsy happens when a nerve in your face, called the seventh cranial nerve, gets irritated, swollen, or has pressure put on it. This nerve runs along your skull, under your ear, and to the side of your face. It controls movements of your face like blinking, closing your eyes, smiling, and frowning.

The symptoms of Bell's palsy may go away on their own in a few weeks. Treatment is sometimes needed.

What are the causes?

The exact cause of Bell's palsy isn't known. It may be caused by irritation and swelling or an infection from a virus, such as the chickenpox (herpes zoster), Epstein-Barr, or mumps virus.

What increases the risk?

You're more likely to get Bell's palsy if you:

1. Are pregnant.
2. Have diabetes.
3. Have high blood pressure.
4. Are obese.
5. Have recently had an infection in your nose, throat, or upper airways.

Other things that may trigger this condition include:

a) A virus that's been in your body but hasn't been active.

b) A weakened immune system, which is your body's defense system. It may be weak due to:

1. Stress.
2. Not getting enough sleep.
3. Physical trauma or injury.
4. A minor illness.
5. Autoimmune syndromes.
6. Infection or irritation and swelling of the facial nerve.
7. Damage to the covering of the nerve fibers.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of Bell's palsy include:

1. Sudden weakness on one side of the face.
2. Drooping of the eyelid, eyebrow, and corner of the mouth.
3. Drooling from one side of the mouth.
4. Having trouble closing the eyelid.

If you're living with Bell's palsy, you may also develop:

1. Pain or unusual feelings in your face.
2. A lot of tearing in one eye.
3. Changes in how things taste.
4. Being sensitive to sound in one ear.
5. Pain behind one ear.
6. Pain around one side of the jaw.
7. Trouble eating or drinking.

Most of the time, only one side of the face is affected. In rare cases, Bell's palsy may affect the whole face.

How is this diagnosed?

Diagnosis of Bell's palsy will include a physical exam. Your symptoms and medical history will be checked.

You may also need to see health care providers who are specialists. This may be an expert in nerve disorders called a neurologist or an eye specialist called an ophthalmologist. You may have tests, such as:

1. An electromyogram. This test checks for nerve damage.
2. Imaging tests, such as a CT scan or an MRI.
3. Blood tests.

How is this treated?

Bell's palsy affects every person differently. Sometimes symptoms go away without treatment within a few weeks. If treatment is needed, it varies from person to person. The goal of treatment is to reduce irritation and swelling and to protect the eye from damage. Treatment for Bell's palsy may include:

a) Medicines, such as:

1. Steroids to reduce irritation and swelling.
2. Antiviral medicines.
3. Medicines for pain, like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen.

b) Eye drops or ointment to keep your eye moist.

c) Eye protection, if you can't close your eyelid.

d) Physical therapy exercises to improve movement and strength in your face muscles. This may also include acupuncture or massage.

Follow these instructions at home:

a) Take your medicines only as told.

b) If your eye is affected:

1. Keep your eye moist with eye drops or ointment as told by your provider.
2. Follow your provider's instructions for eye care and protection.

c) Do any physical therapy exercises as told.

Contact a health care provider if:

1. You have a fever or chills.
2. Your symptoms don't get better within 2–3 weeks, or your symptoms get worse.
3. Your eye is red, irritated, or painful.
4. You have new symptoms.
5. You feel light-headed.

Get help right away if:

1. You have weakness or numbness in a part of your body other than your face.
2. You have trouble swallowing.
3. You have neck pain or stiffness.
4. You have shortness of breath.

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.