Allodynia

Allodynia refers to pain from stimulus such as touching, bumping, grazing, which is not normally painful. The pain which Allodynia concerns itself with may occur in areas other than the area stimulated. Allodynia, in essence, means other pain.

Cutaneous allodynia

Cutaneous allodynia is a sense of severe pain from day to day activities such as combing ones hair, wearing glasses, earrings or something as simple as shaving.  The stimulus, which under normal circumstances would not be painful, is extremely painful to the person suffering cutaneous allodynia.  Sufferers report that putting in an earring can be feel like searing pain, or brushing ones hair is like a white-hot knife combing through their hair.

Cutaneous allodynia is thought to be from a transient increase in the responsiveness of central pain neurons which send out mistaken or overly senstive process information from touch to the skin.  It is associated with individuals that also suffer from migraine headaches.