Swelling on the face: causes and what to do to deflate

Swelling in the face, also called facial edema, corresponds to the accumulation of fluids in the tissue of the face, which can happen due to several situations that must be investigated by the doctor. The swollen face can happen due to dental surgery, allergy or as a result of diseases such as conjunctivitis, for example. The swelling can also extend to the level of the throat depending on its cause.

It is normal for the person to wake up with a swollen face in some situations due to the pressure of the face on the bed and the pillow, however when the swelling happens suddenly and without an apparent cause, it is important to consult the doctor to identify the cause and appropriate treatment can be started.

Main causes

Some situations that can cause facial edema are:

• After dental surgery, in the face, head or neck region; During pregnancy and in the early days of postpartum; During cancer treatment, after a chemotherapy or immunotherapy session; In case of allergy that can be caused by food or products that you have applied to your face; after a day of overeating, especially containing excess salt and sodium; after sleeping for many hours straight, especially if you lie on your stomach; when sleeping for a few hours, it is not enough to rest properly; In case of infection in the face or eyes, such as conjunctivitis, sinusitis or allergic rhinitis; During a migraine attack or cluster headache; Due to the side effect of medications such as aspirin, penicillin or prednisone; After insect bites in the head region or neck; Trauma involving the head region; Obesity; Reaction to blood transfusion; Severe malnutrition; Sinusitis.

Other more serious conditions that should always be evaluated by the doctor include changes in the salivary glands, hypothyroidism, peripheral facial paralysis, superior vena cava syndrome, angioedema, or kidney disease, which causes swelling mainly in the lower part of the eyes.

What to do to deflate the face

1. Apply cold water and ice

Washing your face with ice water is a simple but very effective strategy. Wrapping a pebble of ice in a napkin leaf and wiping it around your eyes in a circular motion is also a good way to remove excess fluid from that region, because the cold will promote a decrease in the diameter of the small blood vessels, which helps to decrease edema simply and quickly.

2. Drink water and exercise

Drinking 2 glasses of water and going for a walk or jog for about 20 minutes before having breakfast will also promote increased blood circulation and the formation of a greater amount of urine, which will naturally eliminate excess body fluids. After that, you can have breakfast avoiding processed foods, preferring plain yogurt or a diuretic fruit juice, like pineapple with mint, for example. Check out more examples of diuretic foods.

However, it is important to go to the doctor to have tests done and to check if the swelling is not caused by a cardiac, pulmonary or renal disorder that can be complicated if the person drinks a lot of water and walks or runs fast.

3. Perform lymphatic drainage on the face

Lymphatic drainage on the face is also an excellent natural solution to deflate the face. See the steps to drain the face in this video:

4. Take a diuretic medicine

The last option should be to take a diuretic medicine, such as Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide or Aldactone, which should always be prescribed by the doctor. These stimulate the kidneys to filter more blood, which helps the body to eliminate more water and sodium through the urine, and in addition, they also help in controlling blood pressure, but are contraindicated in some situations, such as kidney failure, severe liver disease or dehydration, for example. Learn more examples of diuretic remedies.

Warning signs to go to the doctor

Therefore, it is recommended to seek medical help if you have signs and symptoms such as:

• Swelling on the face that appears suddenly; If there is redness of the eyes and a lot of puffiness or crust on the eyelashes; Facial swelling that causes pain, looks stiff or that seems to get worse over time, instead of getting better little by little; breathe; if you have a fever, sensitive or very reddish skin, because it may indicate an infection; if the symptoms do not decrease or increase; appearance of edema in other parts of the body.

The doctor should know more details about how the swelling on the face came about, what seems to improve or worsen the swelling, if there was an accident, an insect bite, or if the person is taking any medication, or undergoing any health treatment or procedure aesthetic.