Sensory disorders of the skin (synonyms: Allocheiria; Anesthesia of the skin; Berger’s paresthesia; Loss of sense of touch; Dysesthesia; Hemianalgesia; Hemianesthesia; Hemihypalgesia; Hemihypesthesia; Hemihypesthesia; Hemiparesthesia; Hypalgesia; Hyperalgesia; Hyperpathia; Hyperesthesia; Hyperesthesia of the skin; Hyperesthesia of the body surface; Hypoesthesia; Hypesthesia; Hypesthesia of the skin; Congenital analgesia syndrome; Position-dependent paresthesia; Lhermitte’s sign; Paresthesia; Paresthesia of the skin; Pain hypersensitivity; Sensitivity disorder; Sensitivity disorder of the skin; Disorder of deep sensitivity of the skin; Synesthesia; Touch sensation disorder; Loss of touch sensation; Temperature sensation disorder; Deep sensation disorder of skin; Loss of touch localization; Vibration sensation of skin; Formication; Formication of arm; Burning sensation of skin; Hands falling asleep; Sensitivity disorder of skin; Absence of sensation of heat; Absence of sensation of cold; Increased sensitivity to pain; Tingling; Tingling of skin; Tingling of leg; Cold sensation; Needling sensation; Needling sensation of skin; Furiness; Tingling of skin; Disturbance of sense of sensation; Numbness of skin ICD-10 R20. -: Sensitivity disorders of the skin) are neurological symptoms due to a partial or complete loss of sensitivity (sensation/perception) in areas of the body.
The different sensitive qualities can be distinguished on the skin:
- Touch sensation
- Movement/force
- Sense of position
- Pain sensation
- Temperature sensation
- Vibration sensation
Sensory disturbances can be divided into:
- Hypesthesia – decreased sensitivity of the skin in relation to the above qualities.
- Hyperesthesia – increased sensitivity.
- Paresthesia (false sensation)
- Dysesthesia – unpleasant or painful misperception to a normal stimulus.
According to the occurrence of the sensory disturbance, the following additional classification is possible:
- Dissociated sensory disturbance – occurs after partial spinal cord damage; pain and temperature cannot be perceived, unlike touch.
- Complex nerve damage resulting in only partial sensory disturbances
- Peripheral sensory deficit – occurs after lesion of one nerve; deficits affect only fibers of that nerve
- Polyneuropathy – generic term for certain disorders of the peripheral nervous system that affect multiple nerves – primarily small nerves in the arms and legs; often glove- or sock-shaped.
- Cross-sectional sensory disturbance – occurs after damage to the spinal cord (cross-sectional syndrome); the sensory disturbance occurs above a certain level (there is often dysesthesia)
- Radicular sensory disturbance – occurs after the lesion of a spinal nerve root; the sensory disturbance exists strictly in the affected dermatome/skin area, which is autonomously supplied by the sensitive fibers of a spinal nerve root/spinal cord root (a special form of radicular sensory disturbance is the so-called breeches anesthesia)
Sensitivity disorders can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Course and prognosis: If symptoms persist for a long time, a doctor, usually a neurologist, should be consulted to check whether it is a short-lived nerve irritation or a questionable disease.
