Before my mother's appointment, my sister and I got into a discussion

[conuly]

wherein she suggested that my mother would have to take off her mask to have her temperature taken and I wondered when the last time my sister saw the doctor was, because even pre-pandemic it's been ages since they took your temperature under the tongue. Before all this it was in the ear, and now - at least at the door, I don't know how they do it during the appointment - it's the forehead check.

The forehead check always makes me itchy. Or, I say itchy, but it's more like a tickle. Is that just me?

Poll #24999 Is it just me?

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 70

View Respondents

Does having your temperature checked with the forehead thermometer do this to you?

View Answers

Yes
4 (5.7%)

No, how could it - it doesn't touch?
50 (71.4%)

Maybe? I don't know, I haven't had my temperature taken this way
16 (22.9%)

If yes, is it itchy or tickly? Pick as many as you've experienced

View Answers

Itchy
3 (7.5%)

Tickly
4 (10.0%)

Something else
3 (7.5%)

I clicked no or maybe, but I wanted to vote
36 (90.0%)

Comments

[gingicat]

I never feel a thing, such that I'm not even sure if it's getting my forehead or my hair!

[wpadmirer]

We own one of those thermometers at home and use it often. Never had any reaction to it.

[sixbeforelunch]

I've never had that reaction, but it sounds like it could be an ASMR thing for you.

[conuly]

Yeah, probably. I have the same reaction if you put your finger close to my forehead.

[lovelyangel]

I actually bought a forehead scanning thermometer during a recent Amazon sale. It cost like $22 and is just like the ones used at doctors' offices. I've been using it roughly daily, it's so fast and convenient. And I never feel anything.

[julian]

The not-quite-touching makes me feel *edgy*. (And as if it's itchy but isn't.)

[conuly]

YES.

[shadowkat]

Also, at every doctor's appointment - they also take my temperature with the thermometer under the tongue. I get the forehead test at the door, and the under the tongue bit in the room with the nurse, who is wearing a shield and a mask, when she does it.

When I had to go into the office - they took my temperature on the my wrist not forehead.

[conuly]

Interesting! I haven't had a doctor do under-the-tongue in ages. I assumed it was because people do tend to try to talk.

[shadowkat]

Every single doctor appointment, even the gynecological one. They hand me the thernometer and tell me to put it under my tongue. Then put the gadget on my finger to test oxygen levels.

[bibliofile]

Under the tongue is standard for my clinic, where temp & BP and weight checks are the prelude to many appointments.

[mindstalk]

Ditto, on all points. Though it's been a few years since I went in. I hadn't even heard of forehead scanners before this pandemic.

[pauamma]

I had my temperature taken this way exactly once, last Friday, and I was too busy with the novelty of it to pay attention to any tickling or itching.

[conuly]

I promise, if you felt it, you would've felt it.

[pauamma]

Then I would change my vote to "didn't feel anything, but won't naysay others' experiences" if there were such an option.

[hafnia]

it doesn't make me itchy or anything, but I understand why it does and it has to do with one of your senses — your body knows when things are near you. You're not the first person to ask this question either, tho not specifically about thermometers: https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1oc6tv/eli5_what_is_that_sensation_in_your_forehead_when/ :)

(It's all over Quora too!)

[archersangel]

at med-express they use the one they drag across your forehead & it feels kind of not irritated, but SOMETHING afterwards.

my PCP (or rather the nurse) does the in the ear one. except for the last time i went in Oct. this year & they did the point-at-the-forehead one when i went in.

[zhelana]

they're still taking it under the tongue at my doctor.

[highlyeccentric]

You don't have a box for 'no, but it doesn't surprise me that it does others'. I'd guess you're feeling a very localised heat change (if i recall correctly, the infrared radiation converts to thermal energy and reflects back to the scanner, at intensity varying depending on the original temperature of the thing scanned).