Teal Lights and Shared Stories: The Facial Pain Association Marks Facial Pain Awareness Month This October

Landmarks worldwide will glow teal in solidarity. The month also features patient stories, educational resources, and ways for everyone to get involved

SUWANEE, Ga., Oct. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- October is Facial Pain Awareness Month, and the Facial Pain Association (FPA) is marking it by honoring the people who live with neuropathic facial pain every day. As the leading national nonprofit for this community, the FPA brings together patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and advocates to build awareness and raise understanding of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP), and other neuropathic facial pain disorders.

Awareness days this month include:

October 7: Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day

October 10: Geniculate Neuralgia Awareness Day

October 14: Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Awareness Day

October 25: Occipital Neuralgia Awareness Day

Neuropathic facial pain brings sudden, severe pain to areas of the face including the cheek, eyes, mouth, and jaw. A smile, a conversation, a meal, or brushing teeth can set off an attack that lasts minutes or even hours, sometimes many times a day. Without a diagnosis and proper care, it can upend every part of a person's life.

"Too many people living with neuropathic facial pain face it without answers," said Melissa Baumbick, CEO of the Facial Pain Association. "This October, we're making this community visible to everyone. From landmarks glowing teal around the world to billboards in communities across the country, every display is a chance to reach someone who is still searching for a diagnosis or the right care. And when patients and families share their stories, they help the public, healthcare providers, and researchers understand the pain that this community lives with every day. Our goal is to make sure everyone living with facial pain knows where to find support."

Everyone can help raise awareness and support the facial pain community this October. Pick up teal merchandise, host a fundraiser, share your story on social media, or help spread the word about facial pain disorders. Visit https://www.facepain.org/face-today-together/ to get started and be sure to tag the FPA when you post on social media.

This year the FPA is making neuropathic facial pain more visible than ever. Through a partnership with Lamar Advertising Company, Facial Pain Awareness Month billboards will appear on available Lamar displays nationwide throughout October. The campaign focuses on trigeminal neuralgia and aims to reach people who may be suffering without answers and connect them to the FPA's resources and support.

The partnership started with Kristin Pierce of Lamar Advertising in Panama City, Florida, who contacted the FPA after watching a close family member live with trigeminal neuralgia. "I've seen firsthand how life-altering and painful this condition can be," said Pierce. "Because of that, I’m very passionate about helping raise awareness and letting others who may be suffering know they are not alone."

The facial pain community will also see teal, the official color of facial pain awareness, lighting up more than 80 buildings, bridges, and monuments in solidarity. The lineup spans famous skyscrapers, sports stadiums, and small-town village halls. Find a landmark near you at https://www.facepain.org/blog/light-it-up-teal-2026/.

Site	Location	Date
Sloss Furnaces	Birmingham, AL	October 7
Mayo Clinic Health System AZ	Phoenix, AZ	October 7
San Diego Convention Center	San Diego, CA	October 21
“M” Sign City of Moreno Valley	Moreno Valley, CA	October 7
New Hope-Lambertville Bridge	Delaware/New Jersey	October 7
Mayo Clinic Health System FL	Jacksonville, FL	October 7
City of Tampa City Center	Tampa, FL	October 7
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park	Tampa, FL	October 7
Old City Center	Tampa, FL	October 7
Tampa Riverwalk	Tampa, FL	October 7
River Tower Park	Tampa, FL	October 7
Tampa Bridges	Tampa, FL	October 7
Savoy Automobile Museum	Cartersville, GA	October
Willis Tower	Chicago, IL	October 7
Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens	Rockford, IL	October 7
Martin Luther King Bridge	Fort Wayne, IN	October 7
Longfellow Bridge	Boston, MA	October 7
Museum of Science	Boston, MA	October 7
TD Garden	Boston, MA	October 7
Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge	Boston, MA	October 7
High Rock Tower	Lynn, MA	October 7
Charles M. Braga Jr. Memorial Bridge	Somerset, MA	October 7
Fore River Bridge	Weymouth, MA	October 7
Kenneth F. Burns Memorial Bridge	Worcester, MA	October 7
USBank Stadium	Minneapolis, MN	October 7
Mayo Clinic Health System MN	Rochester, MN	October 7
Route 35W Bridge	Roseville, MN	October 7
Edina City Hall	Edina, MN	October 7
Kansas City Convention Center	Kansas City, MO	October 7
The Saint Louis Science Center’s James S. McDonnell Planetarium	St. Louis, MO	October 7
Nebraska State Capitol	Lincoln, NE	October 9
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge	Omaha, NE	October 7
The Concord Hotel	Concord, NH	October 7
Midland Park Borough Hall	Midland Park, NJ	October 4-10
Northampton Street Bridge	Phillipsburg, NJ	October 7
Jamestown City Hall & City Infrastructure	Jamestown, NY	October 7
The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge	Poughkeepsie, NY	October 7
Lights On Rochester – Municipal Buildings	Rochester, NY	October 7
Terminal Tower	Cleveland, OH	October 7
Westmoreland County Courthouse	Greensburg, PA	October 7
State Capitol Building	Harrisburg, PA	October 7
Lower Trenton Bridge	Morrisville, PA	October 7
BOMA Building	Philadelphia, PA	October 7
Eagles Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)	Philadelphia, PA	October 7
Market Street	Philadelphia, PA	October 7
The Gulf Tower	Pittsburgh, PA	October 7
Koppers Building	Pittsburgh, PA	October 7
One Oxford Centre	Pittsburgh, PA	October 7
Sakonnet River Bridge	Portsmouth, RI	October 7
Henley Bridge	Knoxville, TN	October 20
Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge	Nashville, TN	October 7
City Hall	Houston, TX	October 7
Arch Building at Seattle Convention Center	Seattle, WA	October 7
Science World	Vancouver, BC, CA	October 7
City of Brampton Clock Tower	Brampton, ON, CA	October 7
City Hall & Guideway	Burnaby, BC, CA	October 7
Niagara Falls	Niagara Falls, ON, CA	October 21
Matagarup Bridge	Main Roads, Western AU	October 7
Mount Street Bridge	Main Roads, Western AU	October 7
Northbridge Tunnel	Main Roads, Western AU	October 7
Joondalup Bridge	Main Roads, Western AU	October 7
Sky Ribbon	Main Roads, Western AU	October 7
Graham Farmer Freeway	Main Roads, Western AU	October 7
The Bell Tower	Perth, AU	October 7 & 21
Trafalgar Bridge & Perth Council House	Perth, AU	October 7
Perth Council House	Perth, AU	October 7
Rock of Cashel	Cashel, IE	October 7
Casino Marino	Dublin, IE	October 7
Collins Barracks & National Museum	Dublin, IE	October 7
Custom House	Dublin, IE	October 7
Dept. Of Education, Marlborough St.	Dublin, IE	October 7
EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum	Dublin, IE	October 7
Fraleigh	Dublin, IE	October 7
Kildare St.	Dublin, IE	October 7
National Concert Hall	Dublin, IE	October 7
National Library of Ireland	Dublin, IE	October 7
Phoenix Park Roundabout	Dublin, IE	October 7
St. James’s Hospital	Dublin, IE	October 7
St. Stephen’s Green (Wolfe Tone Monument)	Dublin, IE	October 7
Kilkenny Castle	Kilkenny, IE	October 7
Limerick City and County Council Buildings	Limerick, IE	October 7
Tower 42	London, UK	October 7
Rochester Cathedral	Rochester, Kent, UK	October 7
Hamilton Town House	South Lanarkshire, UK	October 7

For more information on facial pain and its awareness month, visit www.facepain.org.

About the Facial Pain Association: The Facial Pain Association (FPA) is a volunteer-led, community-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the largest patient organization serving everyone affected by neuropathic facial pain. A worldwide leader in trusted information and healthcare guidance, the FPA offers education, personal support, and advocacy for patients, their loved ones and caregivers, and the healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat them.

Contact:

Natalie Merrithew

FPA Manager of Marketing, Communications, and Events

Nmerrithew@facepain.org

800-923-3608

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/421e9a24-f91f-49f2-bbdc-b2a7a0a4a8f3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6868fa38-a51d-480f-a364-1b457027722b

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