Allodynia, a disorder that makes the skin excruciatingly sore to the touch

Touch is a basic human need. That's why warm touches like hand grips, hugs, and even encouraging pats on the shoulders can make you feel happy. However, for people who have allodynia, they will probably avoid coming into contact with other people as much as possible. Not for fear of being touched, but for the sake of preventing the pain that comes from touching itself - even if it's really only fleeting. Allodynia can even make your skin feel sore when touched by the wind or the fabric you are wearing. What caused it?

What is allodynia?

A pinch or slap is a touch of skin that causes pain. The pain from being pinched or slapped comes from signals sent from the nerve endings of nociceptors under the skin to alert the brain to danger. The brain then manifests this signal as pain, which makes you jump, cry, get angry, until your skin turns red.

But it's different when you have an allodynia. Allodynia is an unusual, painful sensation on the skin caused by simple, usually painless contact. For example, when you rub the skin very gently or just put your thumb on your arm.

Allodynia occurs as a result of damage or malfunctioning of the central or peripheral nervous system, which should help transmit touch signals from the skin to the brain. As a result, a simple touch that should be interpreted as something natural or relaxing is misunderstood by the brain as a harmful touch. Then, pain arises.

Allodynia itself is different from dysesthesia, which is a group of uncomfortable sensations on the skin that can take the form of a burning sensation, tingling, tingling, numbness (numbness), to the point of being pricked by a needle when touched. Allodynia causes only excruciating pain or soreness when the skin is touched.

Know the types of allodynia

There are three main types of allodynia, namely:

• Tactile allodynia is a pain caused by touch. This can include clothing that is directly attached to the skin (especially any part of the clothing that is tighter, such as a belt, bra strap, or sock at the ankle)
• Mechanical allodynia caused by movement or friction against the skin. This can happen when you dry yourself with a towel, scrub yourself in the shower, or even when air blows or moves over your skin.
• Thermal allodyna caused by extreme temperature changes (very hot or very hot) causing damage to your tissues. If your hands and feet turn blue when cold, it's best to talk to your doctor right away. This may be a symptom of a different condition called Raynaud's Syndrome.

What are the symptoms of allodynia?

The most common symptom is pain due to touch stimulation which is usually painless. You may feel a tender, painful touch. You may also feel pain when brushing your teeth or other movements along your skin or combing your hair. In some cases, you may feel that the temperature of lukewarm water or cold water feels sore on the skin.

Depending on the cause of allodynia you have, you may also experience other symptoms. For example, allodynia caused by fibromyalgia often causes anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, and fatigue. If you experience allodynia caused by migraines, you may experience painful headaches, extreme sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and vision changes.

What are the causes of allodynia?

Allodynia itself is not a disease in its own right, but rather as a symptom syndrome that generally accompanies a certain underlying medical condition. Risk factors for allodynia include fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, peripheral neuropathy (complications of diabetes or other conditions), to postherpetic neuralgia (complications of herpes zoster).

How is allodynia diagnosed?

If you suddenly feel your skin is more sensitive to touch than usual, you can do a personal check first before checking with your doctor. For example, try slowly peeling dry cotton against your skin. Does it hurt? Next, apply a warm or cold compress to your skin.

Compresses are usually healing, but if you find yourself in excruciating pain, make an appointment with your doctor for a formal diagnosis.

Your doctor can perform various tests to assess the sensitivity of your nerves. The doctor will also ask about your medical history and any other symptoms you may have. This can help your doctor begin identifying the cause of your allodynia. Tell your doctor what changes you feel in your skin.