Facial swelling: causes and treatment

A beautiful, radiant health face is the dream of all women. Beauties pay special attention to caring for it. Therefore, they get very upset if one morning in the mirror, instead of the usual reflection, a swollen, sick-looking image suddenly appears in the mirror.

In this case, the problem undoubtedly arises of finding the reason why the face swells in the morning. The occurrence of morning swelling is facilitated by metabolic disorders, when the usual diet changes abruptly, vitamin hunger appears, and dehydration of the body regularly occurs.

In fact, swelling indicates some problem in the body . Failure of any important organ to function properly leads to similar problems. There are many reasons for facial swelling. They are divided into two groups: external causes and causes associated with pathology.

Causes and symptoms of swelling on the face

The most serious causes of facial swelling include the following:

  • Heart disease - in this case, swelling is observed in the cheekbones, as well as in the upper and lower eyelids. This swelling occurs in the late afternoon, accompanied by shortness of breath and changes in skin color. The skin takes on a blue tint, and the oval of the face itself loses its clear contours. A secondary sign of cardiac edema is an enlarged liver (pain appears in the right hypochondrium) and thickening of the skin on the face (the swelling is not loose or watery, but dense).
  • Kidney problems - swelling of the face in the morning, which appears within an hour after waking up, is the most famous symptom of this disease. First, the lower eyelids swell, after which the swelling “creeps” onto the cheekbones, forming a characteristic “bag”. With renal edema, the natural color of the skin changes to a lemon-bronze hue, and the resulting compaction has a watery structure. A secondary symptom of this edema is high blood pressure.
  • Allergic reaction - such swelling appears at any time of the day, affecting the tissues of the face and neck, and angioedema can be either local or very extensive (Quincke's edema). However, both mild and severe disorders manifest themselves with terrifying speed, literally affecting both the face and mucous tissues. Therefore, any transient and severe swelling of the face is a good reason to contact an allergist.
  • Osteochondrosis - one of the symptoms of this disease is swelling of the cheeks and eyelids, which occurs against the background of hearing loss and vision problems. A secondary symptom of this disorder is the sensation of fluid under the skin. It seems to the victim that a large dropsy has appeared on his face.
  • Mechanical tissue trauma or surgery - in this case, swelling appears at the site of a future hematoma or suture.
  • Infectious diseases of the organs of vision - with such ailments, the entire face swells very rarely; usually swelling appears in the area of ​​the eyelids, brow ridges and bridge of the nose. Secondary signs of infectious edema are a glossy shine and the appearance of a network of blood vessels on the surface of the skin, as well as purulent discharge from the eyes and nose.

Facial swelling can also occur due to less serious reasons. This disorder is a consequence of an unhealthy lifestyle or bad habits. In this case, swelling can be caused by the following reasons:

  • lack of sleep, as well as its excess;
  • refusal of the traditional three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner) in favor of occasional snacks;
  • systematic consumption of unhealthy foods (fast food, smoked meats, pickles, spicy dishes);
  • smoking and alcohol abuse;
  • deficiency or excess of water in the body;
  • irregular work schedule, leading to physical or mental fatigue.

In most cases, only cosmetic treatment of facial swelling is required, which consists of relieving symptoms.

Well, more serious cases require a long stay in a hospital clinic.

Clinical and cosmetic treatment of edema

Cardiac and renal edema are treated using traditional therapy for the corresponding ailments. In this case, you cannot do without the help of specialized specialists, and the treatment process itself can last for many months. In especially severe cases, surgical intervention is not excluded.

Angioedema of the face in a child or adult can be cured only after identifying the allergen that caused the corresponding reaction of the body. Before this, the treatment process will be associated with the relief of symptoms, and at first the patient may even need emergency care. For example, Quincke's edema spreads very rapidly and leads to blockage of the trachea, causing the death of the victim.

Traumatic swelling goes away on its own, but the natural regeneration process takes too long.

To speed up the wound healing process, the patient is prescribed antiseptic drugs, wound healing ointments, and means to improve blood circulation. Moreover, such treatment is practiced regardless of the location of the problem. That is, traumatic swelling of the face and legs is treated according to a similar scheme.

Clinical treatment of infectious edema requires long-term use of appropriate medications and complete isolation from others. The patient is placed in the infectious diseases department and observed for some time after completion of treatment. Because before removing swelling from the face, it is necessary, first of all, to destroy the virus that caused such a disorder. In addition, after the swelling is removed, you need to make sure that the victim is not a carrier of the causative agent of an infectious disease.

In all other cases, you can turn to cosmetic treatment for facial edema, eliminating all external manifestations of this disorder using the following procedures:

  • Lifting - skin tightening eliminates age-related changes and masks defects associated with the individual anatomical characteristics of the patient.
  • Myalifting - electrical stimulation of the facial muscles helps relieve age-related puffiness. This procedure is usually recommended for patients in their thirties and older adults, regardless of the cause of facial swelling.
  • Therapeutic massage - it stimulates metabolic processes in tissues, eliminating lymph stagnation and improving blood flow. Therefore, massage relieves the effects of any swelling and is used at any age.
  • Darsonvalization - tissue stimulation with high-frequency currents can eliminate even old edema caused by chronic diseases. This procedure is recommended not only for older patients, but also for young people with facial swelling after kidney disease, heart disease, spine disease or mechanical injury.
  • Mesotherapy - injections of special solutions can combat any swelling, eliminating the external manifestations of even old ailments. Therefore, intradermal injections are recommended even for chronic patients who want to regain their blooming appearance before completing the main therapy.

Facial swelling caused by an extended party or too much sleep can be dealt with without the use of expensive cosmetic procedures. In this case, you can rely on folk remedies.

Betekhtin Mikhail Sergeevich

Dermatologist, Cosmetologist

Sign up

Causes associated with a specific pathology

In addition to external factors, there are internal characteristics of the body, disruptions in the functioning of internal organs or systems.

Allergic reaction

Allergic reactions are often a good reason for morning swelling of the face. The body can react negatively to cosmetics, including skin care products, inappropriate food, and various insect bites.

In this case, swelling is sometimes accompanied by high body temperature, redness, itching, and rash. Such swelling is very dangerous because it often develops into Quincke's edema, which blocks breathing.

Read the new article in the section: Gallstone disease: treatment without surgery and diet

Low-quality cosmetic products are often the cause of confusion for many women, who in the morning, when they see a swollen face, wonder: why did this happen? In fact, some cosmetics simply clog the pores of the face, depriving it of breath. As a result, swelling appears on the face.

Thyroid dysfunction

If the functioning of the thyroid gland is disrupted, the production of hormones in the body decreases.
This factor always leads to iodine deficiency, as a result of which the body’s self-regulation system is completely disrupted. With pathology of the thyroid gland, the functioning of almost all organs is disrupted. Thus, stones in the gall bladder or kidneys, the formation of which is caused by a lack of hormones produced, prevent the removal of fluid from the body. As a result, swelling or swelling on the face is guaranteed.

Metabolic disease

A swollen face in the morning can be caused by pathologies such as metabolic disorders and metabolic problems . With proper functioning of metabolic processes, the body is filled with vital substances (vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, proteins), and thanks to them, they are removed from the body.

Main stages of metabolic processes:

  1. Necessary substances are replenished in the body.
  2. Absorbed in the digestive tract.
  3. Distributed and absorbed in tissues.
  4. Decomposition products that are not absorbed in the body are released.

Metabolic disorders often occur after severe stress.

Violation of at least one of the above points causes considerable harm to the body. If decay products, including accumulated fluid, cannot be properly absorbed or excreted from the body, they will accumulate in the tissues.

You might be interested to know about: Quick-acting laxative in tablets

This leads to swelling of various types, including on the face. Metabolic disorders often occur after severe stress. Therefore, psychological state is very important for health.

Important! Swelling on the face is not a disease. This is a warning that the metabolic processes in the body are not working correctly, and the functioning of all organs is disrupted.

Cardiovascular diseases

Morning swelling of the face is often caused by heart failure or other pathologies of the cardiovascular system . In such a case, during a night's rest, the left arm becomes numb, shortness of breath and heart pain appear.

Disorders of the kidneys and urinary system

In searching for an answer to the question of why the face swells in the morning, studying the functioning of the kidneys and bladder plays an important role. Any pathology of these organs necessarily causes morning swelling of the face.

If swelling appears regularly, this indicates serious problems with the kidneys, which cannot cope with the fluid entering the body. As a result, the accumulated water remains in the tissues.

Hormonal disbalance

Hormonal imbalances in the body sometimes cause swelling on the face . Basically, this is a problem of pregnancy and menopause. However, during pregnancy this problem is temporary and quickly goes away with the birth of the baby. In case of menopause, special treatment is necessary.

Infectious diseases

Don't forget about all kinds of infectious diseases. In particular, this applies to diseases of the oral cavity and nasopharynx, where facial swelling is an integral symptom of the disease. In this case, they are caused by a progressive inflammatory process.

Blood clots

Sometimes the presence of morning edema is explained by the formation of blood clots . Their origin is due to blood thickening. As a result of thrombus formation, the uniform distribution of fluid throughout the tissues and its normal removal from the body are disrupted.

High blood pressure

Very often, hypertensive patients suffer from swelling of the face , and they repeatedly wonder: why is the face so swollen in the morning? High blood pressure makes it difficult for the body to rid itself of excess fluid.


Often swelling on the face can be due to high blood pressure

In this case, swelling can occur not only in the morning, but throughout the day. If the problem worsens, the possibility of a hypertensive crisis cannot be ruled out. Using cosmetics or cosmeceuticals, only a temporary effect of getting rid of edema is observed. In fact, the problem needs to be solved thoroughly by starting treatment for hypertension.

Decreased immunity

Immunity is usually called the body’s resistance to external factors and diseases, including the effects of allergens and the occurrence of infectious diseases. When immunity decreases, the body is unable to fight external influences. This factor causes many symptoms, including facial swelling in the morning.


Decreased immunity is the cause of edema

Having considered the answers to the question of why the face swells in the morning, the conclusion suggests itself that many of the reasons are directly or indirectly related to the oversaturation of the body with fluid and its problematic elimination.

Only a doctor can correctly determine the cause of the water balance failure.

There is no need to worry too much if swelling is a rare occurrence. Regular facial swelling cannot be a coincidence. Moreover, it warns of any problem.

It is worth remembering that self-treatment is not advisable. Only a doctor can correctly determine the cause of the water balance failure.

Why facial swelling occurs and how to cope with this unpleasant phenomenon, watch this video:

What does the appearance of facial swelling indicate, what can be done about it:

Methods to combat swelling on the face: the use of hardware techniques and other methods. See details below:

Home remedies for swelling

Facial swelling in a child or adult that is not associated with a chronic disease can be eliminated using the following folk recipes:

  1. Contrast shower or wash - change the temperature and wash for 15 seconds with either hot or cold water. The therapeutic effect is based on stimulation of blood circulation, which begins to fail when the face swells.
  2. Contrast compress - brew a spoonful of dry St. John's wort, lingonberry, chamomile and calendula in a glass of boiling water. The prepared broth must be cooled and another hot portion made. Next, you need to moisten the bandage in a hot broth and apply it to your face for 60-90 seconds. Then take another bandage, soak it in a cold solution and place it on your face for a minute and a half. This is the best way to relieve facial swelling in the morning, caused by too much of a party.
  3. Diuretic tea - brew green tea in 2/3 glass and add 1/3 milk. This cocktail has a pronounced diuretic effect and relieves swelling of the face and legs due to kidney problems.
  4. Potato mask - the raw root vegetable is cut into slices and placed on the face. The potatoes, boiled in their skins, are mashed with a fork and the resulting pulp is applied to the swelling. To enhance the effect, you can add dill or parsley to the hot mask. The essential oils of these plants enhance the therapeutic effect of any compress.

A home remedy, of course, will not cure severe swelling of the face, but it will cope with a mild disorder without problems, especially if, in addition, you adhere to the basic rules for preventing facial swelling.

How to get rid of facial puffiness in the morning

There is a quick emergency way to get rid of facial puffiness in the morning, and it is popular with many - this is an ice massage. The face is wiped with an ice cube, which can be prepared from mineral water, cucumber juice, or chamomile decoction.

But the ice method is strictly prohibited for people suffering from rosacea.

Otherwise, the most effective way to get rid of puffiness is homemade anti-edema face masks. They will help improve blood circulation and expel excess fluid. There are a large number of recipes for making homemade masks. Let's look at the most popular of them, which you can quickly prepare in the morning and go to work fresh and not swollen:

  • A mixture of dill and sour cream. 2 teaspoons of sour cream are mixed with 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh dill. The mask is applied to the face for 10-15 minutes, then washed off with cool water.

  • Cucumber mask. Grate fresh, preferably cold, cucumber on a coarse grater. The resulting paste is applied for 20 minutes. This mask is popular for facial swelling after drinking alcohol. Alternatively, you can add 1 teaspoon of honey.

  • A mixture of essential oils. Take essential oils of rosemary, geranium and juniper and mix 2 drops of each of them in a tablespoon of any oil (vegetable, olive, soybean, etc.). The mixture is applied to the face with light massaging movements. Excess oil is removed with a cotton swab.

  • Tea tea mask. Brew a very strong infusion of black or green tea. The infusion is cooled, and then a napkin or gauze is moistened in it and applied to the face. Used tea bags can be placed on your eyelids.

  • Gelatin mask. Mix 1 teaspoon of gelatin and half a glass of water, add 1 teaspoon of sour cream and apply to the face for 15 minutes.

Prevention of edema

From the point of view of prevention, it is absolutely unimportant why the face swells, because its task is not to find out the reasons, but to prevent the occurrence of such a disorder. Therefore, the simplest preventive measures will be useful to any person suffering from such edema. Moreover, for effective prevention it is enough to follow the simplest tips:

  • Sleep on a hard pillow - it raises your head above your body, preventing the flow of fluid. It's also best to sleep face up (on your back) or on your side rather than on your stomach. In the latter case, slight swelling of the face will appear even in a healthy person.
  • Drink at least two liters of water per day, but limit your fluid intake three hours before bed. In this case, you can prevent swelling even in case of kidney problems.
  • Have dinner no later than eight o'clock in the evening, limiting your consumption of salt, smoked meats and marinades. This advice will be useful for heart patients, allergy sufferers, and apparently healthy people. After all, proper nutrition is the key to successful treatment of any ailment.
  • Start your morning with a contrast shower - it increases the speed of blood flow and stabilizes lymph exchange in the tissues. After contrast washing, the face swells much less than before.

That's all. Now you know how to remove swelling from your face and how to prevent the occurrence of this disease.

How to get rid of facial puffiness

First you need to find out the reason why your face swells in the morning. If you think that it lies in some disease, then first of all consult a therapist. He will prescribe tests and examinations for you, and if a problem is identified, a course of treatment.


But regardless of the reason, it is recommended:

  • limit salt intake to 3 g per day. It’s better, at least temporarily, to switch to a salt-free diet;
  • refrain from “heavy food”;
  • organize a diet (4 hours before bedtime);
  • include in the diet fruits that remove fluid (citrus fruits, apples, carrots, watermelon);
  • drink diuretic herbal infusions, such as “bear’s ear”;
  • use face masks against swelling, which you can make yourself or buy at a pharmacy;
  • make contrast compresses;
  • wipe your face with ice cubes along the massage lines.
Rating
( 2 ratings, average 4 out of 5 )
Did you like the article? Share with friends:
For any suggestions regarding the site: [email protected]
Для любых предложений по сайту: [email protected]