Why is my temperature higher on my temple than my forehead?

September 28, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, the temple region often presents a higher temperature reading than the forehead. This physiological difference, which explains why is my temperature higher on my temple than my forehead, is primarily due to the concentration of blood vessels just beneath the skin.

Quick Summary

The temperature difference between your temple and forehead is normal and primarily caused by the superficial temporal artery located near your temple, which carries warm blood close to the skin's surface, affecting temperature readings more significantly than the forehead.

Key Points

Arterial Proximity: The superficial temporal artery, which carries warm blood, runs just beneath the skin at the temple, causing it to have a naturally higher surface temperature than the forehead.
Blood Flow's Influence: The direct access of warm arterial blood near the surface at the temple means that blood flow changes, like during a fever, will register more prominently there.
Environmental Impact: External factors such as sweat, air currents, or sunlight can affect the forehead's skin temperature more significantly than the temple, contributing to the difference.
Accurate Measurement Technique: For a reliable temporal reading, a thermometer must be moved in a specific motion across the forehead to the temple, following the path of the temporal artery.
Consistency is Key: When monitoring for fever, using one consistent measurement location and proper technique is more important than the small natural temperature differences between facial regions.
Seek Medical Advice for Concerns: While usually normal, if you experience significant, painful, or one-sided temperature asymmetry, especially with other symptoms, it warrants medical consultation.

The Physiology Behind Temperature Differences

The human body is a complex system of thermoregulation, and minor temperature variations across different skin surfaces are completely normal. The sensation of one area feeling warmer than another, or a thermometer giving different readings, is linked directly to the underlying anatomy, specifically the location and proximity of major blood vessels to the skin's surface. While the difference is usually small and nothing to worry about, understanding the reason behind it can help in taking more accurate temperature readings.

The Role of the Superficial Temporal Artery

At the core of this phenomenon is the superficial temporal artery. This artery is a major vessel that branches off the external carotid artery, and it runs up the side of your head, just beneath the skin at your temple. Because this artery is so close to the surface, the warm blood flowing through it has a more significant impact on the surface temperature of the temple than the blood vessels located deeper or more sparsely distributed across the forehead. This is the main reason why a temporal scan thermometer, which is designed to read this artery, can give a higher reading than a simple forehead scan.

Factors Influencing Regional Skin Temperature

Several factors can cause localized temperature fluctuations on the face, contributing to a warmer temple reading. These include:

Blood Flow: The proximity of the temporal artery means that blood flow changes, such as those caused by exercise or infection, will have a more immediate and noticeable impact on the temperature of the temple. The forehead's skin is often cooler due to less direct arterial access.
Environment: External factors play a significant role. For example, a cool breeze can cool the forehead more quickly than the temple, which is often protected by hair or the side of the face. Conversely, direct sunlight can heat up the forehead more intensely.
Sweat and Moisture: Sweating is the body's natural cooling mechanism. The forehead has numerous sweat glands, and the evaporation of sweat can effectively cool the surface, potentially causing a lower reading compared to the temple, where there may be less sweat.
Body's Thermal Response: When the body regulates temperature, it can constrict or dilate blood vessels. These changes don't happen uniformly across the entire face. In certain situations, this can cause a transient difference in temperature between the two areas.

Comparison of Temperature Measurement Sites


Measurement Site	Vascular Proximity	Susceptibility to External Factors	Accuracy for Core Temperature	Common Usage
Forehead	Less direct arterial access; blood vessels are generally smaller and deeper.	High; easily influenced by air currents, sweat, and external heat sources.	Lower than rectal or tympanic, but can be a good screening tool.	Temporal thermometers, touchless infrared scanners, fever strips.
Temple (Temporal Artery)	High; temporal artery is close to the skin's surface.	Moderate; less influenced by wind than the center of the forehead, but still susceptible to environmental changes.	Closer to core body temperature than the forehead, often used for initial screening.	Temporal artery thermometers (swipe thermometers).
Rectal	Closest to the body's core temperature.	Very Low; internal measurement is least affected by external factors.	Most accurate measure of core temperature.	Infants and young children where precise readings are critical.
Oral	Closer to core temperature than skin, but can be affected by food/drink.	Low, but can be affected by recent hot or cold beverages.	Relatively accurate, but less so than rectal or tympanic.	Adults and cooperative older children.

Using Thermometers Accurately on the Head

To get the most accurate temperature reading from the head, particularly with a temporal artery thermometer, it is crucial to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Standard procedure typically involves a swipe motion across the forehead and temple, but there are important nuances:

Start at the center of the forehead, and keep the thermometer in firm, but gentle, contact with the skin.
Move slowly and deliberately towards the hairline above the ear.
Ensure the area is dry. Sweat or moisture can cause an inaccurate reading by facilitating evaporative cooling.
Wait if coming from a cold environment. Allow about 15 minutes for your body to acclimatize to indoor temperatures before taking a reading.
Use one consistent site. If tracking your temperature over time, always use the same location for consistency.

When to Be Concerned About Temperature Differences

In most cases, a temperature difference between the temple and forehead is normal and does not signal a health problem. However, there are scenarios where you should pay closer attention:

Significant asymmetry: If one temple consistently feels much hotter than the other, or if there's significant pain, it could be a sign of a more serious issue like temporal arteritis. This condition causes inflammation of the temporal arteries and requires medical attention.
Combined with other symptoms: If a higher-than-usual temperature reading is accompanied by other signs of illness, such as fatigue, headache, or body aches, you may be developing a fever.
Inconsistent and unreliable readings: If you are consistently getting inconsistent or unreliable readings from a temporal thermometer, it may be better to use a different method, such as an oral or rectal thermometer, for a more accurate result, especially for young children.

For more detailed information on body temperature regulation and measurement, you can consult reliable sources such as the Mayo Clinic's guide on thermometers.

Conclusion

The reason for a higher temperature reading at the temple compared to the forehead is a normal physiological occurrence rooted in the proximity of the temporal artery to the skin's surface. While external factors like sweat and environment can also play a role, the higher concentration of warm blood flow near the temple is the primary reason for this temperature discrepancy. Understanding this difference is key to interpreting temperature readings from temporal thermometers correctly. While normal, pay attention to the consistency of your readings and any other symptoms that may accompany a high temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is completely normal for your temple to feel warmer than your forehead. This is because the superficial temporal artery, a blood vessel carrying warm blood, runs very close to the skin's surface in the temple area, influencing the local temperature.

Readings will differ because a temporal artery thermometer measures the temperature of the blood flowing through the temporal artery near the temple, which is typically warmer. A forehead thermometer that doesn't follow this path may take a reading from a less vascular area, resulting in a lower temperature.

Yes, sweat can significantly affect forehead temperature readings. As sweat evaporates, it cools the skin's surface, which can cause an infrared thermometer to provide an inaccurate, lower reading.

A proper temporal artery reading is often considered closer to the core body temperature than a static forehead scan because it specifically measures the heat from a major artery. However, both are considered screening tools and may not be as accurate as internal measurements like rectal or oral.

While minor differences can occur, a significant and persistent difference in temperature or pain on one side could be a sign of temporal arteritis or another vascular condition. If you are concerned, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like a headache, you should consult a doctor.

For the most accurate reading, ensure the skin is dry, follow the manufacturer's specific instructions, and perform the proper motion of scanning from the center of the forehead across to the temple area. Avoid taking a reading immediately after exercising or coming from a cold environment.

While the impact is generally minimal, the thickness of the skin and hair can slightly affect the heat dissipation from the temporal artery. However, studies have shown that ethnicity or skin tone does not significantly impact the accuracy of readings.