Swelling of the face: reasons, how to quickly remove it, warning

Why the face swells: reason 1

So, why does the face swell? The first reason is the “weakness” of blood and lymphatic capillaries and vessels. 80-90% of the fluid from the tissues of our body is absorbed into the venous bed, and 10-20% into the lymphatic bed.

If for some reason the permeability of the walls of the blood capillaries is impaired, then they have difficulty absorbing this entire volume of liquid. Swelling begins to form.

The swollen tissue begins to compress the blood capillaries, which further disrupts the flow of fluid. Facial swelling increases.

How to help?

We use vascular strengthening agents and creams to support the “weak” walls of capillaries and blood vessels. And, just in case, we are planning a visit to a phlebologist if the swelling is very severe.

What causes swelling on the face and how to get rid of it

Facial swelling is not uncommon and can occur quite suddenly. The good news is that there are many medical and traditional methods you can use to reduce swelling. Svetlana Dyatlova, a therapist at one of the capital's private medical centers, told a correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency how to keep her face fresh.

- Why does the face swell at all? There can be a lot of reasons, ranging from diet to various diseases. The most common reason is a large amount of salt, which enters the body with food and drinks. This also happens due to alcohol consumed the day before, dehydration, allergies, and hormonal changes. Even stress can have a negative impact on the face. Also, swelling in the morning may indicate kidney disease. If there are such suspicions, it is necessary to be examined, explains S. Dyatlova.

How to eliminate swelling that appears after sleep? As an emergency measure, wash your face with cold water immediately after waking up. Or add slices of fresh cucumber or potatoes. You can also make a warm compress (for example, with a used tea bag), but use this technique with caution so as not to damage sensitive skin.

In general, you should exclude salty foods before bed and try to avoid them altogether. Better pay attention to protein and potassium-rich dishes.

Women definitely need to remove their makeup before going to bed, because otherwise the skin may become inflamed, which in turn can cause swelling.

Drink plenty of fluids. As practice shows, many people do not drink, even when they really want to. On average, you need to consume about 1.5 liters of clean water per day.

The number of hours of sleep and its quality are very important. Before going to bed, it is useful to go for an hour's walk in the fresh air. In general, the more a person moves and plays sports, the better fluid is removed from the body.

Swelling occurs due to allergic reactions to any foods, insect bites, etc. If the reaction is serious - the airways become swollen - you must urgently go to the hospital. In milder cases, taking antihistamines or applying ice to the affected area is sufficient. However, if the swelling gets worse or you see little or no improvement, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Depending on the cause of the allergic reaction and swelling, the doctor will prescribe the necessary treatment.

Why the face swells in the morning: reason 2

Incorrect sleeping position or poor pillow. The lymphatic system consists of more than just lymphatic vessels and capillaries. But also from the lymph nodes - a kind of filtration centers.

On the head we have several areas of accumulation of lymph nodes. And the most “suffering” during sleep are the lymph nodes near the ear and under the lower jaw and chin.

If we squeeze the lymphatic capillaries and the vessels leading to them at night, then in the morning we can admire a somewhat swollen face. And “squeezing” is very simple - lie face down in a pillow, put your face on something hard, prop up your jaw or chin.

How to help?

Study the location of lymph nodes on the face. Choose a position and pillow to make both you and your lymphatic system comfortable. Ideally, sleep on your back using a bolster.

Puffy face in the morning

Let's look at a number of reasons for facial swelling, why sometimes in the morning a healthy person may develop swelling:

• If your diet included fried, over-salted or too fatty foods in the evening, then salt can retain water in the body, which will lead to swelling.
• If you drank a lot of liquid before going to bed.
• This is mainly the case with those who have eaten a lot of salty foods. A person is constantly thirsty, and he regularly runs to the kitchen for a new glass of clean water. In the morning, your face may be swollen.
• Another reason for facial swelling could be that someone had too much at a party and did not calculate the amount of alcohol they drank. In the morning he will probably see an unsightly picture in the mirror.

Those who regularly devote their time to electronic devices, that is, to the computer, also have a chance to see swelling on their face in the morning. And all because, having stayed up until late at night, a person did not get enough sleep, and he needs to get up early.

If you find something similar in yourself, don’t worry, change your lifestyle.

Why does the face swell during the day: reason 3

Incorrect posture. A slouched back causes the head and neck to be in an incorrect position. At the same time we have:

• a kind of pocket is formed under the chin, where, under the influence of gravity, liquid flows and stagnates there - helps the formation of a double chin;
• pinched, due to constant overstrain, the neck muscles block the free flow of lymph from the facial lymph nodes, which causes general puffiness of the face.

How to help?

Gymnastics to strengthen the back, swimming to straighten the spine. All kinds of exercises to relax the neck muscles.

What can cause facial swelling?

An allergic reaction can cause angioedema of the face. The reasons that provoke such swelling are all kinds of allergens that come into contact with a person (foods, medications, insect poison and others).

Allergic swelling of the face, as a rule, is accompanied by additional symptoms, in particular, the following may appear:

• rash and itching;
• difficulty breathing;
• in severe cases - loss of consciousness.

If the swelling is accompanied by cyanosis, then it is likely that the cause of the pathology is vascular in nature. In this case, the likely cause of facial swelling is thrombosis of the superior vena cava.

Infections localized in carious teeth, paranasal sinuses and tonsils can lead to worsened outflow and stagnation of lymph in the lymph nodes of the lower jaw. This leads to unilateral or bilateral swelling of the face, which disappears along with the subsidence of the inflammatory process.

Less common causes of facial swelling are scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and cavernous sinus thrombosis, which is usually observed after inflammation of the paranasal sinuses or other parts of the face. This disease is typical for people with diabetes and reduced immunity.

Swollen cheek, swelling under the eyes - what does this mean?

Facial swelling is often the result of mechanical trauma. In this case, the swollen cheek hurts, swelling occurs under the eyes, and sometimes skin damage and bleeding are visible. Symptoms may be the result of a beating, a fall, or a traffic accident.

For mild head injuries without associated symptoms (loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, severe headache), cold ice packs provide relief. The occurrence of additional symptoms or a dent in the skull indicates serious damage. In such cases, you should urgently consult a doctor.

Dental problems also cause facial swelling. Diseases associated with the formation of periodontal abscess are accompanied by severe pain, redness of the skin around the tooth, and difficulty eating and speaking. Characterized by asymmetrical swelling of the face on one side.

Periodontal abscess

Diseases occurring with inflammatory swelling of the face

• Inflammation, a deep infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, developing as a complication of inflammation of the hair follicle, sweat or sebaceous gland. Intramuscular or intravenous antibiotic therapy is required around the apex or vestibule of the nose and upper lip because, due to the anatomical connections of the vessels in this area with the vessels of the brain, inflammation can cause a life-threatening complication.
• Complications of rhinitis and paranasal sinuses.
• Inflammation of the orbit, eyelids and lacrimal system.
• Mumps.
• Erysipelas: streptococcal inflammation of the skin and connective tissue of the lymphatic system.
• Inflammation of the soft tissues of the sublingual and submandibular area, most often developing as a result of periodontal changes.

Ways to eliminate swelling at home

You can effectively relieve swelling at home using several methods. But it should be borne in mind that they are effective only for eliminating pathology caused by lack of sleep, tears, alcohol, but not diseases:

• a contrast shower followed by a compress with a cold towel (10 minutes) helps;
• you can apply an ice cube wrapped in cloth to your face, but not to your eyes (or use a bag of frozen vegetables);
• Sometimes prolonged exposure to cold water helps (direct a shower with ice water on your face);
• if you put tea bags on your eyes, the swelling will go away in 10-15 minutes;
• green tea with milk, taken orally, will help get rid of swelling in 1-2 hours;
• do a light massage along the lymph drainage lines (under the eyes - towards the nose, on the forehead and cheeks - towards the outer edge of the face).

If the swelling does not go away, but you absolutely must get rid of it, use diuretics. However, their regular use is unacceptable.

Drugs to eliminate swelling

Diuretics can be medicinal or homeopathic. The most effective natural product is a decoction of bear's ear herb. Simply brew it according to the instructions and take it orally. By following the treatment regimen, you can get rid of swelling in a few days.

If the swelling is associated with allergies or bruises, then the use of homeopathic preparations will not work.

Among the medications that best help relieve swelling after sleep caused by disease or pathology are:

Canephron, Phytolysin, Eufillin (contraindicated in heart disease), Furosemide.

These tablets are made from natural ingredients and are often used in complex therapy of kidney diseases.

To treat morning swelling, ointments that have a local effect are used. An excellent choice would be Dolobene gel or Troxevasin.

You can get rid of an allergic reaction that occurs in the form of swelling only after using antihistamines (Suprastin, Tavegil).

Anti-edema masks

You can treat a swollen face with natural masks. They help both as part of complex therapy and as an independent remedy:

1. Potato
   . Use a raw vegetable, grated. You need to keep it on your face for 15 minutes.
2. Sour cream
   . Use 10% sour cream, crumble a little dill. Keep for no longer than 15 minutes.
3. Cucumber
   . The grated pulp is applied to the tumor area. Keep for up to 20 minutes.
4. Buckwheat
   . To prepare, take 2 tablespoons of cereal and grind it in a coffee grinder. Steam in boiling water for 2 minutes, then apply to the swelling until it cools completely.
5. Cognac
   . If there is an alcoholic drink left after the party, add 1 tsp. to 1 yolk, a few drops of sour lemon juice and tea (green). Mix with 5 drops of sunflower oil and 1 tsp. ointments for varicose veins (it is better to use gel). Apply to face for 15 minutes.

An ice cube will help enhance the results. In emergency situations, you can remove swelling with regular frozen water, but ideally you should keep cubes of herbal decoction in the freezer: chamomile, oak bark, sage, mint, lemon balm.

Localization of edema

The localization of swelling depends on various factors, for example, the anatomical features of the body area, its horizontal or vertical position, the type of disease, if any.

There is such a thing as “pastiness” of the face or pasty swelling of the face. When this word is used, they mean small, barely noticeable swelling. This swelling is most often observed in the morning, specifically on the face and eyelids.

Why is this happening?

• This can happen if a woman sleeps in an incorrect position (excessive fluid flow to the soft tissues);
• The next reason is deterioration of lymphatic drainage , due to long-term inactivity of the facial muscles;
• skin and fatty tissue compared to other areas

Causes of facial swelling in women

Consequently, the causes of facial swelling can be both diseases and negative local effects on the skin.

Swelling associated with diseases:

• Disruption of the functioning of the endocrine system (hormonal disorders) and the functioning of internal organs (hypothyroidism, hypoparateriosis, hypothalamic-pituitary syndrome, diabetes mellitus), all these diseases lead to fluid retention in the tissues;
• Skin characteristics inherited (any allergy, intolerance to heat or extreme cold);
• Helminthic infestation (roundworms and pinworms are most often the cause of facial swelling). Facial swelling in this case is the immune system’s response to parasites;
• Allergies , for example, to house dust, dust mites. An allergic reaction is manifested by swelling of the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose. The outflow of fluid through the nasolacrimal canal is disrupted, breathing becomes difficult, swelling of the eyelids and pastiness of the entire face occurs;
• Taking sedatives, glucocorticoids , and antidepressants;
• Arterial hypertension (high blood pressure);
• If there are inflammatory processes on the face, for example, rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa), sinusitis (inflammation of the maxillary sinus), conjunctivitis (inflammatory process in the conjunctiva - this is a thin tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid), frontal sinusitis (inflammation of the frontal sinus);
• Osteochondrosis of the cervical or upper thoracic spine; with these diseases, pain occurs, which leads to muscle spasm, impaired blood supply, and disruption of the outflow of blood and lymph from the head.

Swelling due to poor lifestyle

It should be remembered that swelling on the face is often the result of an unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet.

Excessive accumulation of water in the body is caused by:

• Excess salt in the diet – by eating a lot of salty foods, we increase the concentration of sodium in the blood;
• Insufficient amount of protein in food;
• Alcohol use – a puffy face in the morning is often a sign of excessive drinking the previous day;
• Lack of physical activity.

Ways to relieve facial swelling resulting from an unhealthy lifestyle include black tea compresses, restorative masks, gentle facial massage and, above all, lifestyle and diet changes.