A surprising household item that can cause headaches

Burning candles can create issues for those with sensitivities to fragrances, says UCI Health neurologist

IN THE NEWS: Burning candles at home can be a surprising contributor to headaches for people who experience sensitivity to fragrances. Dr. Crystal Jicha, a board-certified neurologist with UCI Health who specializes in headaches and facial pain disorders, recently told Parade that people who experience headaches regularly, especially migraines, can be more sensitive to scents released from burning candles.

“It’s unclear whether these are symptoms caused by changes in the brain that start before a classic migraine attack or if these scents trigger a migraine attack. Either way, approximately 25% to 75% of individuals with migraine will exhibit sensitivity to smell.”

Jicha says paraffin candles release stronger scents and should be avoided by those with sensitivities. She adds that studies on smell sensitivity in people with migraine show that perfumes, particularly sweet fragrances, and roses or flowers are ranked as highly bothersome.

Jicha is a board-certified UCI Health neurologist who specializes in headaches and facial pain disorders, including migraines, cluster headaches, occipital neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, low and high-pressure headaches. She is skilled in treatment procedures that include nerve blocks, trigger point injections, sphenopalatine ganglion blocks and Botox. As an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, Jicha has a special interest in how headaches impact women's health and underserved populations.

For an appointment, call the UCI Health Headache Program at 714-880-7812.