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Facial Weakness or Droop — Stroke or Bell's Palsy
Also described as face drooping, one side of face weak, crooked smile.
Sudden facial droop is a stroke until proven otherwise — call 044 2025 2025 immediately. One distinguishing feature helps: in Bell's palsy the forehead is also weak and the eye will not close, whereas in stroke the forehead is usually spared. Do not delay care to work this out yourself.
🚨 Get emergency care if you have
- •Sudden facial droop with arm weakness or slurred speech — call emergency services now
- •Facial weakness with severe headache or vomiting
- •Facial weakness with confusion or reduced consciousness
- •Inability to close the eye, risking corneal damage
- •Facial weakness after a head injury
What causes facial weakness?
Stroke
Sudden weakness, usually with the forehead spared, often with arm weakness or speech difficulty. Time-critical.
Bell's palsy
Sudden one-sided weakness including the forehead, often with ear pain or altered taste. Most recover well.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome
Facial weakness with a painful blistering rash in or around the ear, from shingles.
Middle ear infection
Facial nerve involvement complicating a long-standing ear infection.
Tumour of the facial nerve or parotid
Gradual, progressive weakness rather than sudden onset.
How it is investigated
- ✓Urgent CT or MRI brain to exclude stroke
- ✓Examination of forehead movement and eye closure
- ✓Ear examination and hearing assessment
- ✓Blood sugar and blood pressure
Not every patient needs every test. The consultation decides which of these apply to you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell Bell's palsy from a stroke?▼
In Bell's palsy the whole side of the face is weak, including the forehead, and the eye will not close. In stroke the forehead usually still moves, and there is often arm weakness or speech difficulty too. This distinction guides doctors, but it is not reliable enough to act on at home — treat sudden facial droop as an emergency.
Will Bell's palsy get better?▼
Most people recover substantially, and steroids started within 72 hours improve the odds — which is why early presentation matters. Protecting the eye with lubricants and taping it closed at night prevents corneal damage while recovery happens.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a consultation. Symptoms overlap between harmless and serious conditions, and only an examination can tell them apart. If you are worried, see a doctor.
Plan your first visit
Not sure which specialist to see? Tell our care team the reason for your visit and we will help you choose.
- Bring previous prescriptions, relevant test reports or scan images, a medication list and photo ID.
- If you plan to use insurance, bring your policy details. OPD, tests and admission benefits depend on your individual plan and approval.
- Your first consultation determines which tests or treatments are needed; not everyone needs every test listed on this page.
Appointments are requests until confirmed. In a medical emergency, call 044 2025 2025 or go to the nearest emergency department.