Swollen face: why swollen face and what to do?

Many people are often worried about the problem they find in the morning in their mirror – a swollen face. This problem cannot be covered with clothes or concealed with foundation, it must be fought, and for this it is important to know the cause of this condition.

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Causes of facial swelling

Let's list the main causes of facial swelling:

• the face most often swells due to fluid retention by the body;
• diseases of the cardiovascular and urinary systems, liver pathologies, endocrine disorders;
• vitamin deficiency, disorders of basic metabolism;
• incorrectly chosen diets, prolonged fasting, lack of sleep, overwork of the body;
• evening edema is usually of cardiac origin;
• morning swelling often signals kidney problems;
• drinking alcohol the day before, or abusing alcohol in general;
• allergic nature of the swelling (reaction to drugs, food products, animals);
• thrombus formation or narrowing of the superior vena cava;
• infectious lesions of the nasopharynx, oral cavity;
• thyroid dysfunction;
• insufficient blood supply to the head during sleep due to an incorrectly selected pillow or an unnatural sleeping position;
• the presence of chronic hypertension, the development of a hypertensive crisis;
• improper use of cosmetics or their abuse.

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Why does the face swell?

To successfully combat this unpleasant condition, it is necessary to understand why the face swells.

Swelling of facial tissues is a consequence of the body's water imbalance, which occurs with irrational and irregular nutrition, and can also be a manifestation of more serious diseases when the process of removing consumed fluid is disrupted.

The face swells for many reasons, appearing mostly in the morning or evening, especially during hot periods.

Swelling may be a consequence of renal and cardiovascular pathologies, hormonal disorders, and is often found in people who drink alcohol, in pregnant women, and in the premenstrual and climacteric periods. Metabolic disorders, in particular, electrolyte metabolism, provoked by irregular and unbalanced nutrition, prolonged fasting, and overwork of the body contribute to the appearance of swelling on the face.

Regular occurrence of facial swelling without any apparent reason is a serious reason to see a doctor.

Why is my face sometimes swollen in the morning?

If swelling appears regularly in the morning, you should look for provoking factors that cause it. Remember, for example, how much liquid you drink at night: perhaps you like to have evening tea parties, or have heavy dinners with alcohol. In such situations, the appearance of swelling on the face is inevitable.

It is also important what food you eat in the evening: overindulgence in salty and spicy foods (smoked foods, herring, chips, dried fish, chili peppers) causes excess fluid accumulation in the tissues, and swelling is guaranteed in the morning.

Excessive emotionality, tearfulness, and poor sleep also contribute to the phenomenon of morning facial swelling.

The use of cosmetic creams, masks, lotions immediately before bedtime causes a rush of blood to the delicate tissues of the face and, as a consequence, the same morning swelling. It should be noted that some cosmetic products can also provoke the development of allergic reactions, which, in addition to facial swelling, are characterized by itching and redness of the skin.

A swollen face in the morning may be associated with an awkward and uncomfortable sleeping position, which provokes stagnation of blood and lymph, worsens the processes of outflow and drainage of fluid from facial tissues. Inadequate head position, too high and hard pillow, stuffiness and high temperature in the room, too close location of heating devices in relation to the head of the bed - all this contributes to the appearance of facial swelling by the time of awakening.

Try to re-equip your sleeping place: change your pillow to a softer and lower one (some people try to do without a pillow at all), make sure that the length of the bed corresponds to your height. Move the head of the bed away from active heating devices (radiators, fireplaces, heaters), thoroughly ventilate the room in which you sleep before going to bed.

Also, do not forget that sleep should be complete: insomnia and lack of sleep, chronic fatigue will immediately affect your appearance. Prepare for sleep thoroughly, do not drink a lot of liquid at night, especially coffee, strong tea and alcoholic drinks.

Why does my face swell after drinking alcohol?

Drinking alcoholic beverages, even in moderation, is quite a big burden on the kidneys, liver and cardiovascular system. It is a kind of intoxication of the body, in which many metabolic processes and vital functions fail. Why does the face swell after alcohol? Because the course of almost all processes in the body is disrupted, especially the urinary and vascular systems, the acid-base balance, ionic equilibrium suffers, significant dehydration of the body begins, to which it reacts with increased accumulation of fluid in the tissues.

The fight against facial swelling after drinking alcohol will be unsuccessful without eliminating the main cause of swelling - regular alcohol consumption.

Facial swelling and other local edemas caused by exposure to ethyl alcohol in different concentrations can be eliminated after the restoration of the functional capacity of all major body systems and the normalization of disrupted metabolic processes.

A swollen face is typical for almost all patients who have been drinking alcohol for a long time. This is due to functional disorders of renal microcirculation, electrolyte and protein metabolism disorders, and liver problems. Such swelling usually subsides only 10-12 days after stopping drinking alcohol. Chronic alcoholics who have been abusing alcohol for several years may have a swollen face for life.

In general, with the right adequate approach, it is necessary not only to get rid of the symptom of facial swelling, but to restore first of all those metabolic disorders and electrolyte balance that were provoked by long-term consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Absolute abstinence from alcohol, normalization of nutrition and adequate sleep, replenishment of vitamins, microelements, and amino acids lost by the body are the main aspects of combating withdrawal syndrome, a characteristic feature of which is a swollen face.

Why do alcoholics have swollen faces?

Facial swelling in alcoholics becomes pronounced and constant with chronic alcohol dependence, especially with a decent history of drinking alcoholic beverages. Persistent facial swelling is a fairly serious sign of impaired functional capabilities of the body, disorders of vital processes and systems. Alcohol-induced damage to the heart muscle, renal parenchyma, damage to the liver structure up to cirrhosis or toxic hepatitis, the development of heart failure, increased blood pressure against the background of vascular sclerosis - this is far from a complete list of reasons that provoke the appearance of significant facial swelling in chronic alcoholics.

People who are overly fond of alcoholic beverages can be recognized immediately by their characteristic appearance: increased dilation of capillaries, blurriness and swelling on the face, visible enlargement of the nose. This process is reversible, but it requires a sufficient period of time and, most importantly, a complete and irrevocable refusal from alcoholic beverages in any form.

Why does my face swell with a hangover?

A hangover is far from the most pleasant morning condition. It usually occurs after drinking alcohol the night before. Among other manifestations of vegetative disorders in a hangover, in most cases, swelling of the face of varying intensity is noted.

Everyone knows that drinking alcohol causes dehydration. However, this is not due to a lack of fluid in general, but due to its incorrectly disturbed balance in the body: damage to the kidneys by ethyl alcohol creates a certain stressful situation for them, which worsens their normal excretory function, and causes the unremoved fluid to accumulate in the tissues of the body, in particular, on the face. A violation of the acid-base balance, electrolyte and water metabolism also plays a role, especially if the intake of alcoholic beverages was accompanied by the consumption of spicy, salty and fatty foods.

If the hangover syndrome is not permanent, the swelling of the face will disappear on its own within 2-3 days.

When does the face swell during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, a pregnant woman's hormonal balance changes, her water-salt metabolism is rebuilt, and her need for additional fluid increases, since the body now requires a much larger volume of blood than before, and it should also be less viscous. For this and many other reasons, swelling is common to most pregnant women.

A slight swelling of the face, especially in the second half of pregnancy, is a completely physiological condition. However, it is always better to be on the safe side, especially in such an "interesting" situation, and consult your gynecologist. You may have to take some tests to rule out kidney disease, cardiovascular system disease, liver pathology, which can begin at almost any time.

During pregnancy, the load on organs and systems increases significantly, so it is extremely important to diagnose the problem in time and solve it, preventing negative impact on the body of the expectant mother and the developing fetus.

When does the face swell a lot?

If your face is very swollen, you must first determine the root cause of this condition. Perhaps you should change your lifestyle, visit a doctor, and undergo appropriate examinations. In any case, this problem requires a serious attitude, since the causes of facial swelling may not only be poor nutrition, drinking alcohol, and frequent sunbathing on the beach - these may also be quite serious pathological conditions, and you cannot do without the help of a specialist.

Cardiac dysfunction is manifested by difficulty breathing, pain in the heart area and behind the breastbone, but one of the symptoms may also be significant swelling of the face.

Poor circulation also causes puffiness and pastosity of the facial area and signals problems in the functioning of the vascular system.

Pathology of the urinary system provokes the appearance of quite strong characteristic swelling mainly in the eye area.

An allergic reaction is characterized by a rapid, and sometimes instantaneous, increase in symptoms; the face swells almost “before your eyes.”

All these conditions cannot go unnoticed by a doctor, as they have a high probability of an unfavorable course and the development of complications.

When do lips on the face swell?

If the face has not changed its appearance, but the lips are visibly swollen, one can suspect some independent disease of the lips, in particular, various manifestations of cheilitis (an inflammatory process on the lips).

Cheilitis is an inflammation of the lips of an eczematous or allergic nature, provoked by the intake of various food additives, dyes, chemicals, as well as the impact of external factors: trauma, too dry or frosty air, mechanical damage to the lips. In addition to swelling, cheilitis can be accompanied by itching, a burning sensation, peeling skin, the appearance of microcracks.

An allergic reaction in the form of angioedema is provoked by various types of allergens: food, infectious, medicinal.

Swelling of the lips may also be associated with hypersensitivity to a decrease in ambient temperature, pathology of the digestive system and excretory organs, liver disease, and disorders of the autonomic and vascular systems. Disturbances in the local function of lymph and blood flow often contribute to swelling of the lips.

If half of your face is swollen?

Partial swelling of the face can be due to many reasons:

• traumatic injury to a part of the face with damage to soft tissues as a result of a blow or bruise from a fall;
• swelling due to an insect bite (tick, bee, wasp, etc.);
• the result of local inflammatory processes in nearby organs (sinusitis, otitis, conjunctivitis, pathological processes of the teeth and gums), as well as purulent diseases of the skin of the face (boils, carbuncles, etc.);
• angioedema (an allergic reaction that often affects the lower half of the face and neck);
• persistent erythema causing swelling of the upper face;
• vascular and ischemic disorders.

What pathology exactly caused the swelling of half of the face can only be determined based on the anamnesis, visual examination and some laboratory tests. Of course, the cause of the blood and lymph circulation disorder can only be confirmed by a qualified specialist who diagnoses a specific disease and prescribes appropriate treatment.

When does the right side of the face swell?

If the right side of the face is swollen, it may be due to numerous problems that need to be diagnosed and identified:

• dental problems with teeth and gums (periodontitis, gumboil, postoperative period after tooth extraction or cyst, abscess);
• neuralgia and neuritis of the facial and trigeminal nerves, accompanied by pain and facial asymmetry;
• vascular pathologies, ischemia of some facial tissues associated with impaired blood supply to certain areas;
• insect bites, injuries, bruises, the presence of other external factors;
• angioedema of half of the face;
• development of right-sided otitis or conjunctivitis, accompanied by pain in the ear and lacrimation;
• right-sided sinusitis or sinusitis, accompanied by a runny nose or nasal congestion;
• Skin diseases (dermatitis, furuncular lesions, folliculitis) begin with the appearance of a rash or a painful bump-shaped protrusion, later the swelling spreads to healthy tissue.

When does the left side of the face swell?

Unilateral edema is manifested by visible swelling of one half of the face while the opposite side is normal.

The left side of the face can swell for exactly the same reasons as the right. The main reasons can be dental, neurological, otolaryngological problems, which are revealed only after conducting a number of additional studies.

Left-sided swelling of the face can be caused by an inflammatory process in the left part of the head, or an allergic manifestation of individual sensitivity of the body. Diseases of the vascular system (thrombophlebitis, vascular ischemia), lymph circulation disorders (lymphangitis, filariasis) contribute to significant fluid retention in the tissues on the affected side.

Unilateral swelling of the face may occur as a result of pathological processes in the central nervous system, affecting the vasomotor nerve fibers unilaterally. Such a disease as facial paralysis is also accompanied by a decrease in lymphatic drainage and a violation of systemic blood flow on the affected side.

What if your face is swollen after a tanning bed?

Swelling of the face after visiting a solarium or sunbathing on the beach can be caused by several reasons:

• an allergic reaction to ultraviolet radiation or sunscreen cosmetics (ointments, creams, tanning oil), especially if you are using them for the first time. Usually, such a reaction is accompanied by visible redness, puffiness of the face and skin itching, up to lightning-fast total swelling of the body;
• increased blood pressure due to excessive sunbathing. In this case, significant swelling of the face is observed as a result of increased and sharp blood flow to the head, which may be accompanied by headache and dizziness;
• A common sunburn also causes tissue swelling. In particular, prolonged sunbathing on the beach, especially during the so-called "active sun" period, has an extremely negative effect on the water balance of the skin. Any burn, household or sunburn, provokes fluid accumulation in the affected tissues. This process is a kind of reaction of the body to local damage.

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What if a child's face is swollen?

If a child's face is swollen, first of all it is necessary to exclude renal pathology and excretory system disorders: most often, this is what is associated with edema of varying degrees in preschoolers. Inflammatory processes (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis), hereditary and congenital defects in the structure of the urinary system manifest themselves in the form of excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the face. However, against the background of edema, other characteristic symptoms should also be present: pain in the kidney area, hematuria, urination disorders, etc. Such edema can have varying intensity and manifests itself in a child mainly in the morning after waking up.

The face of children can swell due to significant protein loss due to various pathological conditions, such as liver disease.

The allergic nature of swelling on the child's face is characterized by virtually instantaneous development, the appearance of a feeling of heat, itching, possible respiratory disorders and impaired consciousness: these symptoms are associated with damage to the vascular wall and increased permeability in response to the allergen entering the sensitive child's body. Help in such a condition should be immediate.

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How to get rid of a puffy face?

In order to effectively get rid of a puffy face, you need to know what exactly led to this condition.

If the swelling was caused by stressful situations, lack of sleep, overwork, then the answer is simple - you just need to rest a little, get enough sleep, and everything will return to normal.

If you use night nourishing cosmetics, you need to apply it to your skin no later than 3 hours before bedtime, otherwise the moisture from the cream will not have time to distribute and will remain in the surface tissues until the morning.

Morning facial puffiness can be easily removed with ice cubes made from chamomile, sage, and mint infusions: simply wipe your face with them.

A great way to improve microcirculation in facial tissues is manual therapy, or simply massage. You don’t have to go to a salon, you can do it yourself by kneading, pinching and patting the surface of the skin, thereby activating blood flow.

By the way, salon procedures can also help in the fight against puffiness: all kinds of masks, special massages, lymphatic drainage - each procedure is selected individually.

It is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat right, without overeating and controlling the amount of salt in food, to get rid of a swollen face. Water balance in the body is no less important. However, remember that if all the above recommendations do not bring results for a long time, you still need to see a doctor to get rid of such an unpleasant problem as a swollen face forever.