Swollen face: main causes and tips to alleviate this discomfort

Cast the first stone whoever never looked in the mirror and came across a swollen face in the morning! For many, this happens sporadically and/or the swelling is very subtle, to the point of not causing discomfort. For others, it can prove to be quite significant and raise doubts about its causes.

Swelling in the face can arise after drinking alcohol or eating too much sodium. Or even after sleeping for hours on your stomach. But when it is persistent and/or brings other symptoms, the case should be investigated. Understand more about it and check out some tips to soften and prevent swelling on the face.

Main causes

Swollen face can be a simple, one-off manifestation, but it can also be a symptom of a more serious problem. Discover some of its main causes:

• The position in which the person sleeps;
• Excessive alcohol consumption;
• Consumption of foods rich in salt;
• Little water intake;
• thyroid problems;
• Circulatory or kidney problems;
• Allergic sinusitis or rhinitis;
• Contact allergy.

These are just some of the causes that can have a swollen face as a symptom. That’s why it’s important to seek medical help, so that each case is investigated with its particularities.

Understand morning swelling on the face

Most people find their face swollen soon after waking up. Check out the most likely reasons for this:

Sleep in an inappropriate position

This is the first point to consider. Luciana de Abreu (CRM: 52.85487-5), dermatologist at Clínica Dr. André Braz (RJ) explains that when we lie in a horizontal position with the head lower than the body, this triggers the accumulation of lymphatic fluid on the face due to the worsening of lymphatic drainage at night.

fluid retention

According to the expert, fluid retention can occur due to increased salt intake in food associated with low water intake (impairing the renal excretion of these salts) or even hormonal dysfunctions, such as hypothyroidism and pregnancy – due to the increase of female hormones.

Daniela Neves (CRM-MG 43,317), also a dermatologist, adds that hormonal changes during the menstrual period, use of medications (ibuprofen, estrogen), cirrhosis and angioedema can also lead to water retention.

Excessive alcohol consumption

Juliana Garcia Dias (RQE 22895), endocrinologist and full member of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology and of the Endocrine Society, comments that alcohol is a peripheral vasodilator. That is, it increases the flow of blood to the periphery of the body: to the hands, feet and face.

“Due to the effect of inhibiting the antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) in the kidney, there is an increase in diuresis, which generates a response to a perception of dehydration by the body, favoring retention to avoid the maintenance of fluid loss”, he explains.

allergies

Swollen face can be a sign of both a skin allergy and a respiratory allergy (allergic rhinitis, for example).

Endocrinologist Juliana highlights that it happens because, after or during exposure to an allergenic agent, the body reacts leading to extravasation of fluid outside the vessels to the affected area in order to neutralize the offending agent.

It is common for a swollen face to be a sign of contact allergy to a product that has been applied directly to the skin, such as creams, makeup or even nail polish. “Especially when the swelling is associated with itching and peeling of the skin of the face”, comments Luciana.

It can also indicate allergies to medications or foods, and can lead to an anaphylactic reaction, which is quite serious and manifests as facial swelling of the eyes and mouth (even tongue), swelling in the throat and impaired breathing. “This is a life-threatening medical emergency, requiring emergency hospital care”, highlights the specialist.

By now you know that swelling on your face in the morning can simply be from your sleeping position, but it could also be related to a more serious problem like an allergy that will likely need to be investigated.

Tips and tricks to soothe puffy face

Check out guidelines that help to soften and/or prevent the face from being swollen:

1. Drink plenty of water: this guideline is essential to avoid fluid retention, as low water intake makes it difficult to eliminate toxins through urine.
2. Washing your face with ice water: a simple but very effective strategy to reduce swelling. Luciana adds that spraying cold thermal water on the face several times a day is also a great option.
3. Sleeping with a higher pillow: a habit that will help to prevent the accumulation of lymphatic fluid on the face.
4. Avoid excess salt: in this way, fluid retention, one of the most common causes of swelling, is avoided.
5. Chamomile tea compress: with a calming effect, chamomile tea helps to reduce swelling considerably. Soak a cotton ball in the tea and place it on the swollen area for about 10 minutes.
6. Massage: Luciana comments that gemstone rollers or metallic rollers to massage the face also fight swelling.
7. Facial treatments: Facial lymphatic drainage treatments and/or the dermatologist-prescribed seaweed and draining facial masks will help deflate the eye and face area.

If the measures taken at home do not work, it is worth seeking the help of a doctor who, in addition to investigating the cause of the problem, will indicate the most appropriate treatment.

when to seek help

Morning swelling usually subsides after a few hours. However, when it persists beyond the morning period, it is interesting to investigate the cause.

“When the swelling appears quickly and increases progressively in a few minutes or hours, accompanied by itchy skin, swelling in the eyes and coughing or hoarseness, the case is serious and the person should be promptly sent to the hospital”, guides Luciana.

There are also cases in which there is inflammation (redness and local heat or associated pain) or underlying infection, which according to Luciana can be a warning sign of a more serious condition that requires prompt medical care and treatment.

Frequently asked questions about swollen face

As swelling on the face can have several causes, it is common for doubts to arise. Clarify the main ones below:

Why do we wake up with a swollen face? “The lying position changes the action of gravity in our circulatory and lymphatic system, favoring the arrival of extracellular fluid on the face”, highlights endocrinologist Juliana.

Why in some cases is it accompanied by redness? Some inflammatory and infectious conditions cause redness and swelling in the face. “One example is facial cellulitis (a bacterial condition that requires urgent medical treatment). It is also common in allergic conditions, and it is essential never to self-medicate and always seek specialized medical attention”, Daniela emphasizes.

Is it common for a swollen face to be accompanied by a headache? This can happen, Juliana points out, but it is not as common as redness. Therefore, in case of symptoms associated with swelling of the face, the ideal is to seek medical help.

What situations require anti-inflammatory treatment? “In some cases post-surgery or inflammatory response, use may be necessary. However, it is worth remembering that the use of anti-inflammatory drugs should always be guided by the doctor”, emphasizes Juliana.

A punctual swelling, which appears when you wake up and with signs of improvement, should not be a cause for concern. But when persistent and / or associated with other symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice.

In any case, adopting simple measures, such as drinking plenty of water, not exaggerating in the consumption of salt and alcohol, sleeping with the highest pillow and washing your face with cold water in the morning, are recommendations to avoid or reduce swelling on the face. Also check out how to identify fluid retention.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.