How do I know whether it is a tension headache or a migraine?
Tension-type headache is usually a mild to moderate pain, like a tight band around the head, that does not get worse with movement, light or sound and does not cause nausea. In migraine, the pain is stronger, may be on one side only, often comes with nausea and sensitivity to light and smells, and lasts from hours to days. If you are unsure, speak to a doctor, because the path changes.
What do the temples feel when there is tension?
Many people describe a pressure or throbbing on both sides of the head, and temples that become sensitive to touch. It is not a diagnosis: it may be tension in the muscles around the skull, eye strain or lack of sleep. Sudden, very severe pain in one temple only, or with pain when chewing, is not ordinary tension and calls for medical assessment without delay. If the pattern repeats, speak to your doctor.
Can a clenched jaw cause a headache?
It can contribute. Clenching or grinding the teeth is a repeated activity of the chewing muscles, and people who do it often report facial tiredness and pain near the temples. Problems with the jaw joint are also associated with tension-type headache. Massage can give the muscles a feeling of rest, but it does not treat bruxism, and the dentist is the one who assesses the teeth and the joint.
What is the Toque Crânio Facial?
It is a massage that combines work on the face with work on the scalp, to ease tension in the head and mental tiredness. It is performed by massage therapists and can be booked directly, without a prior consultation. Before starting, the team asks where you feel the tension and adjusts the pressure, which you can ask to increase or decrease during the session. It is a well-being massage and not a treatment for a headache.
What is the difference between the Toque Facial and the Crânio Facial?
The Toque Facial is a gentle face massage that relaxes the facial muscles, softens the expression and brings out the skin's radiance. The Toque Crânio Facial goes beyond the face and adds the scalp, to ease tension in the head and mental tiredness. In general, people who feel the pressure in the head and temples choose the Crânio Facial, and those who feel the face tired and the jaw tense choose the Facial. The team helps you choose when you book.
Is a head massage good for you?
For many people it is a pleasant moment of rest, and medical sources list head and neck massage among the measures that doctors may recommend for tension-type headache. The studies, however, are small and very different from one another, and reviews have not found rigorous evidence that manual therapies reduce pain. For this reason, massage should be seen as a possible relief and not as a treatment.
Scalp massage: what does it feel like?
It is usually gentle pressure, with slow movements over the scalp, forehead and temples, and many people describe a feeling of warmth and rest. If your scalp is sensitive or sore, tell the massage therapist, who will adjust the touch, and you can ask to stop at any time. It is not a hair or skin treatment: for hair loss or a scalp with sores, speak to the doctor in a separate consultation.
Relaxing facial massage or facial cleansing: which to choose?
They serve different purposes. The clinic's facial massage is a gentle massage that relaxes the muscles of the face and softens the expression, performed by massage therapists. Facial cleansing is a cosmetic treatment that treats the surface of the skin, and it is neither part of this massage nor performed by massage therapists. If you are mainly looking for relief from tension, choose the massage. If you want to treat pores, blemishes or texture, the clinic describes those treatments on other pages.
Can the massage make my headache worse?
In some people, strong pressure on a sensitive area can increase the pain, and people with migraines may be more sensitive to touch during an attack, so it is best to let the team know. That is why the pressure is adjusted and can be reduced at any time. If you are having a severe attack, of migraine or otherwise, it is better to postpone the massage and speak to a doctor. If the pain increases during the session, tell the massage therapist straight away.
When should I not have a face or head massage?
Tell the team if you have infected skin, active herpes, inflamed acne, rosacea in a flare, sores or a recent injury on the head or face, and if you are allergic to oils or scents. In these situations, the massage should be postponed or assessed. Fever, acute infection and a new, intense headache also call for a doctor's opinion first. If you are or might be pregnant, say so before starting.
When should I see a doctor first about a headache?
See a doctor before booking if the pain is sudden and very severe, appeared after a blow, comes with fever and a stiff neck, with changes in vision or speech, weakness or confusion, or if it is getting worse. Also if the pain is new after the age of 50, if it wakes you from sleep, if there is pain in the temple when combing your hair or in the jaw when chewing, or if you take painkillers very often. In an emergency, call 112 or SNS 24 (808 24 24 24).
How many sessions are needed?
There is no right number, and the answer depends on you and on what you feel. A massage can be a moment of relief and some people come back when the tension returns, with no fixed plan. If headaches recur every week, the important thing is to understand the cause with a doctor, not to increase the number of massages. The team helps you think about the rhythm when you book, and you can always talk to them again after the first massage to say how you felt and adjust what makes sense next.
Can I book the massage directly, in Algés?
Yes. The Toque Crânio Facial and the Toque Facial can be booked directly, by WhatsApp, phone or email, without a prior consultation, at the clinic in Algés, in Oeiras. Only drainage massages require prior medical referral, and these are not those massages. The price and duration are explained when you book, with no commitment, and the team helps you choose the massage that makes the most sense. If you are unsure whether your complaint needs a doctor first, ask when you book.
What should I say and bring to the massage?
Come in comfortable clothes and, if you can, without rushing, so you can enjoy the moment. Before starting, tell the team where you feel the tension, whether you have migraines or pain today, whether you are allergic to oils or scents, whether you are pregnant and whether you have sensitive skin, sores or herpes on the face. If you wear contact lenses, it may be more comfortable to take them out, and if you have long hair, bear in mind that it may end up with oil on it.
