What is Bell’s palsy?

What is Bell’s palsy?

Bell’s palsy causes temporary paralysis, or palsy, of facial muscles. It occurs when a condition, such as a viral infection, causes inflammation and swelling of the seventh cranial nerve (the nerve that controls facial muscles).

With Bell’s palsy, your face droops on one side or, rarely, both sides. You may have a lopsided smile, or an eyelid that won’t close. These effects typically last several months and go away without treatment. The condition gets its name from Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon who first described it during the 19th century.