Eyebrow Twitching

Why is My Eyebrow Twitching?

If your eyebrow is twitching, it is not necessarily cause for concern. There are many reasons why your left or right eyebrow, or both, may twitch.

Some causes of eyebrow twitching are more serious than others. But not all of the reasons should worry you.

6 Potential Causes of Eyebrow Twitching

Here are six possible reasons why your eyebrows are twitching.

1. Too Much Caffeine

Too much caffeine can lead to eyebrow twitching. If you drink too much coffee, caffeinated tea, or energy drinks, you might experience muscle spasms.²

2. Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco

Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco can all cause twitching of the eyebrows. Too much of any of them can cause a variety of health complications, including muscle spasms.²

3. Stress or Fatigue

Both stress and fatigue can cause your eyes and eyebrows to twitch.²

Stress can come from work burnout or problems at home. If your eyebrows are twitching, consider whether you have a stressor in your life.

Fatigue also causes eye strain and twitching. The muscles around the eyes, including the eyebrows, can twitch. Additionally, eyelid twitching is common.³

4. Nutritional Deficiencies

Your diet plays a big role in how your muscles function. If you have nutritional deficiencies, it can take a toll on your muscles and cause an eyebrow twitch.

Magnesium and potassium are both important for your muscles. A magnesium deficiency or low intake of potassium can lead to eyebrow spasms.^{2, 4, 5}

5. Allergies

Allergies can cause muscle twitching in your face, including your eyes, eyebrows, nose, and more. Allergies might be seasonal or stem from allergens like dust.

6. Certain Health Conditions

Certain diseases and health conditions can affect the muscles, including your eyebrow muscle.

For example, Bell’s palsy causes temporary weakness or paralysis of your facial muscles. Eyebrow twitching can be a side effect.

Dystonia can also cause muscle spasms. It’s a symptom of many health conditions like Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, alcoholic ketoacidosis, encephalopathy, encephalitis, and more. In addition, a stroke or a brain aneurysm can cause muscle spasms.¹

Multiple sclerosis (MS) attacks your immune and central nervous systems. Eye twitching is one symptom.⁶

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that can cause eyebrow twitching, too. That’s because Tourette syndrome causes involuntary movement.⁸

How to Stop Eyebrow Twitching

How to stop eyebrow twitching depends on the cause of it.

If the twitching happens because you drink too much caffeine, you should cut back on it. If it’s happening because you are not getting enough sleep, you should make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night.

You can change your diet to make sure you’re getting a balanced diet. Adding bananas, nuts, dark chocolate, and avocados to your diet can help relieve eyebrow twitching.

When to See a Doctor

Eyebrow muscle twitches should subside in a few days to a few weeks. If the twitching persists for longer or seems to get worse over time, seek medical attention.

If other symptoms accompany your eyebrow twitching, call your doctor.

Your doctor will be able to help you identify the cause of your eyebrow twitch and find the right treatment to stop it.

Can You Prevent Eyebrow Twitching?

In some cases, you can prevent eyebrow twitching.⁷

You can prevent twitching in the same ways that you can stop it from happening in the first place.

If the twitching is the result of too much caffeine, cutting back on caffeine, like coffee or energy drinks, can help.⁷

If your eyebrow is twitching because of stress or fatigue, getting some rest can help. Because dietary deficiencies can also cause twitching, making sure that you maintain a diet that’s rich in nutrients is also key to prevention.⁷