Nightmare in the mirror. Why do swelling appear on the face and how to deal with it?

Why does the face swell?

The human body is permeated by a complex lymphatic system. A transparent liquid moves along it, which removes cell waste products, fungi, bacteria, toxins and even parasites. Our immunity also depends on its work.

The state of lymph is affected by:

1. Food,
2. Beverages,
3. Bad habits,
4. Physical activity.

After an alcoholic party, there will be swelling in the morning. Cigarettes, soda, fast food and other harmful substances negatively affect the movement of lymph. The same applies to physical activity - the muscles contract and the lymph moves, but if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, then the fluid will be almost motionless. And motionless liquid holds harmful substances in one place, which leads not only to swelling, but also to acne, rashes, allergies and even diseases.

Edema can also appear for a number of other reasons:

• inflammation that damages cells and tissues - symptoms include redness, itching, fever and pain;
• injuries - accompanied by bruises and hematomas;
• allergies - itching may occur;
• kidney and thyroid diseases.

Symptoms

Facial edema is characterized by puffiness, the appearance of bags under the eyes, and changes in skin tone. However, the characteristics of the symptoms depend on the reason for the swelling of the face.

• Swelling of the face in the morning, associated with lack of sleep, is manifested by swelling of the eyelids.
• Cardiac edema, as a rule, can be distinguished by its characteristic bluish skin and appearance in the upper part of the face. In addition, cardiac edema usually appears in the evening. Initially the ankles swell, then the face. At the same time, other symptoms are also troubling.
• With liver edema disorders, the complexion becomes yellowish.
• Allergic swelling of the face develops as a reaction to an allergen. In this case, the skin in the area of ​​​​swelling turns pale, and red spots may appear in other places. Allergic edema is accompanied by other manifestations.
• With hypertension, red spots appear on the swelling. If you press on them, white marks appear.
• Characteristic swelling of the face in women and men appears after plastic surgery (rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty). Its causes are related to the consequences of surgical interventions. The size of the swelling depends on how much tissue is affected. Such symptoms after rhinoplasty may not disappear long enough until the rehabilitation period has passed.
• Swelling after lip augmentation with hyaluronic acid and other methods affects the lower part of the face and lips in particular. How long the swelling lasts depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the traumatic nature of the intervention.

External causes of facial swelling after sleep

Even absolutely healthy people who do not have bad habits and exercise regularly experience swelling. Most often this happens in the morning due to some evening events.

Tears

Even if you cried over a movie before going to bed, in the morning you can see swollen eyelids and a slightly irregular face shape in the mirror. And if grief happens in life, then it’s better not to look in the mirror at all. Due to crying, the drainage function of tissues is disrupted and therefore swelling appears quickly and can last for quite a long time (in bad cases, even until the evening).

Insufficient water consumption

If you drink little clean water, your body experiences stress and tries to somehow make up for the deficiency by retaining liquid. Naturally, this is immediately visible.

Food too salty

Salt retains water in subcutaneous fat. There are 100 milliliters of water per 1 gram. If you overdo it with salty foods, you'll wake up swollen in the morning.

Sweet

Cakes are deposited not only on the sides, but also on the face in the form of swelling. Yes, sugar also retains moisture, albeit in smaller quantities. But we also eat sugar in larger quantities than salt.

Alcohol

Not only do alcoholic drinks contain a lot of calories, they negatively affect the brain and the health of the entire body, and also dehydrate tissues. And if you drink a bottle of something strong at night, you will wake up in the morning with a terrible dry mouth and a swollen face. It is also worth considering that alcoholic beverages are usually drunk with some kind of food and most often it is far from healthy.

Stress

Stress negatively affects the general condition of the body. This is also why moisture is retained and swelling appears. This is why you may not look your best after a hard week. Drink chamomile tea, master meditation and learn to calm your mind and emotions.

Illiterate care before bedtime

Moisturizing masks and creams that you apply right at night can turn into swelling. Therefore, carry out skincare procedures at least an hour before going to bed.

General information

Facial swelling can occur in people of different ages and for a variety of reasons.
But it is important to understand that the appearance of characteristic symptoms of facial swelling is associated with certain health problems or the impact of negative factors on the body. The occurrence of swelling is the result of lymph stagnation, which develops as a consequence of uneven outflow of fluid from the body. Sometimes the reasons for this phenomenon are quite understandable, such as abuse of alcohol or too spicy and salty foods, after which severe swelling of the face is often noted in the morning. In this case, it is enough to adjust your habits and restore the body’s water balance, after which the condition will return to normal. But the reasons for such pathology may be less harmless. What diseases and conditions may be associated with swelling of the face and how to get rid of such a symptom will be discussed in this article.

Physiological causes of edema in women

Women have their own gender-specific causes of edema. Most often they are associated with changes in hormonal levels.

• Critical days,
• Pregnancy,
• Menopause.

All these reasons are related to the work of progesterone. It becomes active after ovulation. Its goal is to maintain the pregnancy, even if it does not occur. During such periods, you need to carefully monitor your diet and mood to minimize swelling.

With age, the activity of estrogen decreases, which seems to oppose progesterone. Therefore, women over 45 years of age are more likely to experience edema. Moreover, not only the face suffers, but also the legs, which experience constant stress, and the hands.

Pathogenesis

Edema develops as a consequence of excessive accumulation of fluid in the cavities and tissues of the body. Liquid accumulates pathologically in the intercellular space when the water balance in the cells is disturbed.

A positive water balance in the body is usually associated with excessive sodium retention by the kidneys. If the sodium concentration in the intercellular fluid increases, the total flow of water into it increases, and thirst develops. As a result, a person drinks more, against this background the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is activated, which provokes water retention by the kidneys.

In the body, a positive sodium balance is determined by its proportional distribution in the interstitial and intravascular spaces, as well as the concentration of sodium mainly in the interstitial space due to nephrotic syndrome, chronic circulatory failure, liver cirrhosis , etc.

The main cause of sodium accumulation during edema is hypersecretion of aldosterone, which is provoked by hypovolemia or decreased cardiac output.

Disturbances in the local water balance are provoked by various factors: a decrease in the oncotic pressure of the blood plasma; increase in hydrostatic pressure in capillaries; increase in oncotic pressure of interstitial fluid; violation of lymph ; reduction of mechanical pressure of tissues; increasing capillary permeability.

Swelling of the face due to illness

If you have gotten rid of all the visible causes, but your face continues to swell, then you should consult a therapist. Because such manifestations can be signs of serious illnesses.

• Heart problems
  - developing hypertension and heart failure provoke fluid retention.
• Kidney diseases
  - it is the kidneys that are responsible for cleansing the body and removing excess moisture from it. If they do not work well, then the person wakes up in the morning with terrible swelling of the face and neck, but over time almost the entire body will swell.
• Allergy
  - it is with redness and swelling of the skin that an allergic reaction begins.
• Problems of the digestive system
  - for example, when protein is difficult to digest, tissues retain fluid.

In general, in order to get rid of the unpleasant manifestations of various diseases, you need to take care of your health.

Diagnosis of facial puffiness

Puffiness of the face, the causes of which cannot be determined by systematizing the patient’s complaints, requires the use of additional laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods.

General methods for diagnosing puffiness:

• general blood analysis;
• blood chemistry;
• Analysis of urine.

Special diagnostic methods that help determine the disease that causes facial puffiness:

• electrocardiogram;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
• Ultrasound of the heart for contractility;
• analysis for blood clotting levels.

The results of a general blood test show the presence or absence of allergic reactions and inflammatory processes in the body. If basophils and or eosinophils are elevated, there is a high probability of allergies. Inflammation is indicated by leukocytes and ESR - these indicators are increased.

If you are allergic to insect bites, leukocytes may be below normal, and basophils and ESR may be high.

A biochemical blood test determines the presence of proteins, calcium, iron and mineral salts in the body. With puffiness, there is a high content of sodium salts and calcium; low protein content; calcium and iron provoke swelling both with their deficiency and excess.

A urine test shows the rate at which fluid is eliminated from the body; By taking a urine test 3-4 times a day for 4-7 days and having a controlled diet, you can calculate the ratio of the amounts of vital chemical compounds entering the body and excreted in the urine.

An electrocardiogram determines the heart rate over a given time period. For high efficiency, the analysis must be repeated at different loads and at rest several times a day. An abdominal ultrasound shows the size of the internal organs (liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys), as well as a color image of their surface.

Ultrasound for the contractility of the heart muscle shows the strength of contractions (fraction 40, critical indicator below 25). An analysis for the level of blood clotting is taken from the earlobe. The longer the blood clots, the more fluid leaves the blood vessels.

Allergies as a cause of facial swelling

Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock and other outcomes of an allergic reaction, which are manifested by severe swelling. This is very dangerous and at the first symptoms, medical attention is needed.

Main causes of allergies:

• The influence of antibiotics, vaccines, painkillers and other medications;
• Bites from snakes, spiders and insects (most often wasps and bees);
• Household chemicals;
• Food (everyone has their own allergen);
• A different climate zone (in the first days of travel, you may notice that your face does not look as good as always);
• Plant pollen, poplar fluff (in spring, allergies worsen in many people precisely because of the flowering of plants);
• Pets (most likely the problem is wool and feathers, but some cannot tolerate animal waste products);
• Decorative and skincare cosmetics (therefore, it is important to test the product first on a small, inconspicuous area of ​​the body, and then use it on the desired area).

A person first encounters allergies in childhood and adolescence, but some people learn about intolerance to certain foods in adulthood. It is in such situations that a person may get scared and not understand what is happening. How to help the victim?

If you are allergic to something, it is better to limit contact with a dangerous product. And when coming into contact with an allergen, you should remember several important points:

1. Stay calm, even if swelling has already begun. Nervous tension can make the situation worse.
2. Take any anti-allergy medication (they can make you drowsy. So don't drive).
3. Call an ambulance. Even if the swelling has begun to subside, consulting a doctor is necessary.

Keep in mind that in such situations, speed and clarity in actions are important. That is why you should not be nervous and fuss.

Types of swelling

Doctors at the Quality of Life clinic treat edema of various origins: • Heart disease. In such cases, the face swells slowly over several weeks or even months. The swelling is often symmetrical and increases in the evening. As a rule, in the initial stages they occur on the legs, in severe cases they spread to the abdominal area and face. The skin is often very cold and the swelling is dense. With such edema, shortness of breath is observed, which intensifies in a horizontal position, and low tolerance to physical activity. Sometimes tachycardia is observed, lips turn pale. As the deficiency is compensated, swelling decreases or disappears. • For venous insufficiency. As a rule, such facial swelling is also characterized by manifestation in the evening, they are accompanied by a feeling of heaviness and fatigue. First, the legs swell, then the face; in severe cases, trophic changes appear on the skin - thinning, itching, redness, peeling. • For kidney diseases. They can develop very quickly - in less than a day. Swelling appears mainly around the eyes, and is especially noticeable in the morning after waking up. Less commonly, they are localized on the legs and abdominal wall. When changing position, the body quickly shifts. Often there is an accumulation of fluid - ascites or hydrothorax. Edema skin becomes soft or tight, pale and dry. With kidney pathologies, the amount of urine excreted may decrease, its color, composition and consistency may change. Sometimes blood and protein may appear in the urine. It starts to hurt in the lumbar region. Nonspecific manifestations include headaches and weakness. Shortness of breath and liver enlargement are often not observed. Renal edema can be caused by past infectious diseases (tonsillitis, viral infections), and patients with such disorders should be observed and treated by specialized specialists - rheumatologists, nephrologists. • Edema of allergic origin . They develop very quickly (in just a few minutes) and are regional in nature. Such disorders arise as a result of contact with allergens and are localized on different parts of the face - eyes, eyelids, mucous membranes, lips. Sometimes they can appear on the arms, elbows and knees. With allergic edema, itching and various rashes are possible. In severe cases, bronchospasm can make breathing difficult (often on exhalation). Swelling of the larynx can cause suffocation and threaten life, so patients prone to such reactions need to be prepared for dangerous situations. It is important to discuss in advance with your doctor a list of medications that will allow you to safely wait for an ambulance and always have them on hand.

In addition, the face may swell due to diseases of the ENT organs. Swelling is provoked by inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx, throat and maxillary sinuses. In such cases, there is a general deterioration in the condition, headaches, fever, runny nose or cough. The symptom may go away only after the source of infection is eliminated. If the disease is chronic, manifestations of swelling of the facial skin are possible only during periods of exacerbation.

Often the face swells due to dental diseases. This can be caused by caries, inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, cysts and other disorders. In such cases, not the entire face swells, but only one area - in the jaw area. Without dental intervention, the swelling will not go away, but will only grow.

Another reason is endocrine diseases. With a lack of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism), characteristic swelling occurs, localized in the upper part of the face, on the shoulders or lower extremities. The tongue may also swell and the neck may become significantly enlarged. Such symptoms require urgent consultation with an endocrinologist, since hypothyroidism can cause irreparable harm to health.

The localization of edema allows us to talk about the reasons for its occurrence:

•The accumulation of fluid in the frontal region may indicate osteomyelitis (Pott's tumor) with periosteal abscess (rare).

•Swollen eyelids often indicate the presence of eye diseases - conjunctivitis, stye, chalazion, inflammation of the lacrimal sac, as well as orbital complications of sinusitis. The latter include periosteal abscesses, orbital soft tissue inflammation and orbital abscess.

•Swelling of the cheeks. Localization of fluid accumulation in this area may indicate odontogenic infiltrate/abscess of the cheek, erysipelas or osteomyelitis of the jaw (very rarely) as a complication of maxillary sinusitis.

•Swelling of the parotid gland. Often, the accumulation of fluid in this part of the face indicates the presence of general inflammation of the salivary glands, recurrent mumps, acute bacterial parotitis or parotid lymphadenitis caused by atypical mycobacteria.

•The base of the nose and upper lip most often swells due to bruises. • Swelling of the submandibular area in newborns may indicate inflammation of the connective tissue • Tumors in the chin area - Ludwig's syndrome.

The face may also swell as a result of inflammation and deep skin infections that occur as a complication of folliculitis, inflammation of the sweat or sebaceous glands.

In such cases, local antibacterial therapy is required, since due to the anatomical connection of this area with the blood vessels of the brain, inflammatory processes can provoke a life-threatening condition.

Should I take a diuretic for facial swelling?

Some specialists prescribe diuretics for edema. Yes, they can help, but you must remember the consequences:

1. Failure of hormonal levels, which leads to impotence in men and irregular cycles in women;
2. Possibility of developing diabetes mellitus;
3. Greater fatigue due to leaching of calcium and other beneficial substances from the body;
4. Salt deposits;
5. Frequent urination, which leads to insomnia;
6. Violation of metabolic processes.

Therefore, before using extreme measures, use safe methods first. For example, self-massage, compresses and cleansing the body can help you.

Treatment

Pre-hospital assistance

To eliminate the physiological causes of facial swelling, it is necessary to adjust the diet, normalize the daily routine, avoid stress, and select suitable cosmetic preparations. Mild allergic edema in the absence of signs of breathing difficulties and the presence of a previously established diagnosis can be eliminated with the help of antiallergic drugs.

In other cases, self-medication is not recommended. It should be borne in mind that self-administration of diuretics can lead to the development of serious side effects and disorders of the body.

Specialized treatment

Many patients require adjustments to their diet and eating regimen. The tactics of conservative treatment are determined by the etiology of the disease or condition that provoked facial swelling:

• Hormonal fluctuations in women
  . Hormonal medications and sedatives are used.
• Hypothyroidism
  . Replacement therapy with levothyroxine is carried out. If there is a lack of iodine, iodine-containing medications are prescribed.
• Allergic reactions
  . Antihistamines and glucocorticosteroids are effective. In severe cases, resuscitation measures are necessary.
• Kidney diseases
  . For glomerulonephritis, antibacterial agents and drugs to correct immunity are indicated. For systemic diseases, treatment of the underlying pathology is required. In all cases, medications with symptomatic effects are used.
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels
  . Cardiac glycosides, nitrates, vasodilators, B-blockers, anticoagulants, and drugs to improve cardiac muscle metabolism may be recommended.
• Intoxication
  . If edema is associated with smoking and drinking alcohol, the patient is advised to give up the bad habit and is given medicinal and non-medicinal treatment to eliminate the addiction.
• Poisoning
  . In some cases, gastric lavage is possible. Carry out detoxification measures.

For hypovitaminosis, vitamin preparations are prescribed, for acute infections, symptomatic therapy is carried out, for ENT diseases, antibiotics and symptomatic drugs are used, and sinus punctures are performed. Surgical treatment is rarely required. In case of heart defects, surgical correction is performed. Tonsillitis and sinusitis can be considered as indications for tonsillectomy, maxillary sinusotomy, and frontotomy.

How to quickly relieve facial swelling at home

Swelling can be removed using very simple methods at home.

Contrast wash

- alternately wash your face with cold and warm water. This procedure refreshes, tones and improves skin color. Be sure to try it! There's no need for any preparation or extra expenses - just open the tap and adjust the temperature.

Massage

- improves blood flow and lymph movement. You can even do a massage using your hands (hands are the best tool to always have with you). Watch the video and repeat simple exercises to get rid of swelling.

1. Use your fists to walk along the side and back surfaces of the neck (do not touch the front surface of the neck), moving from top to bottom from the jaw to the collarbones.
2. Press your chin from below with your fist, and lower your head to meet the fist.
3. Use the back of your hand to rub your chin with pressure.
4. Between two fingers folded into the Victoria sign, three ears up and down.
5. Place your palms tightly with the edges towards your nose and press your thumbs to your chin. Slowly, without lifting the ribs from the skin, open your palms and, as it were, squeeze everything out of your face towards your ears.
6. Using your fingertips, run over the area under your eyes. This will not only remove swelling, but also save you from unsightly bags.

As a result, the skin should turn red and burn a little.

Disorders associated with swelling of the eyelids

Swelling around the eyes is a common problem that not only causes discomfort, but can also indicate serious problems. They represent the accumulation of excessive amounts of fluid in an area of ​​loose connective tissue. As a result, significant swelling forms around the eyes.

Initially, the area around the eyelids is prone to swelling. This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of the subcutaneous fat layer. In addition, this area of ​​the face contains many blood vessels. Swelling around the eyes is an alarming sign that there is a malfunction of the internal organs in the body. Aesthetics are very important, but many people forget about the importance of health before facial beauty. A cosmetologist will only relieve the external manifestations of pathology, which over time can lead to serious internal complications.

However, not in all cases swelling indicates a disease. Excessive consumption of liquids or salty foods can also cause swelling, but they go away on their own within a day and do not require medical intervention. You should contact a specialist if the violation has become systematic.

Swelling around the eyes is divided into the following types: • Inflammatory . They occur as a result of bacterial infection of the eyes. A pathogenic attack leads to the accumulation of pus and swelling of the eyelids. Visually, this disorder looks like redness of the moving folds around the eyes and compaction at the site of the inflammatory process.

• Allergic . With such swelling, external irritants enter directly into the mucous membranes of the eyes or along with food. The most aggressive form of the pathology is Quincke's edema - the face, back of the hands, neck and feet become very swollen. The disorder is often combined with food allergies, bronchial asthma, and urticaria. • Traumatic . They occur as a result of damage to the eyes, nerve tissue and facial muscles. With such swelling, the eyelid becomes more voluminous. • Reactive . They arise due to an inflammatory reaction in the paranasal sinuses.

Thus, swelling around one or both eyes may be caused by an infection or eyelid disease. The most common of these are stye, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, tear duct infection, keratitis and dry eye syndrome. So, with barley, the ciliary bulb becomes inflamed, and an abscess forms in the area of ​​the affected eyelid. Conjunctivitis is accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye, and blepharitis is accompanied by inflammation of the ciliary edges of the eyelids. With these disorders, burning, itching, swelling and redness are observed. With dry eye syndrome, the production of natural tears decreases or completely stops.

Cosmetic procedures against puffiness in the morning

If you go to a cosmetologist with the problem of facial swelling, he will most likely recommend you a lymphatic drainage massage and a visit to the sauna.

But to get a massage with special cups, you don’t have to go to a specialist. Massage cups can be purchased here. By the way, they can be used in any zone. They not only help in the fight against edema, but also get rid of cellulite, wrinkles and make the body contours clearer.

Video instructions for those who want to do everything right.

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Post from Annette (Anna Melnikova) (@melannett)

Classification

Depending on the characteristics of this pathology, edema is divided into local and general.

• Local - manifest themselves as a result of dysfunction of a specific organ.
• General – a consequence of common diseases that manifest themselves throughout the body.

Taking into account the causes of manifestation, the following varieties of this pathology are distinguished:

• congestive heart disease;
• congestion of non-cardiac origin;
• hungry;
• renal;
• inflammatory;
• toxic;
• hormonal;
• allergic;
• neurotic.

If your face swells in the morning - what to do, folk remedies

Woke up, your face is swollen, but you urgently need to run errands? Simple but effective ways can help you.

Parsley and sour cream mask

Turn 3-4 sprigs of parsley into a paste and mix with a tablespoon of sour cream.

Wash your face with cold water, apply the mask to swollen areas of the face, and rinse after 15-20 minutes.

Potato mask

Grate half a peeled potato, mix with 1 teaspoon of milk and 1 teaspoon of buckwheat flour (you can use rice or wheat flour).

This mask can also be applied to swollen areas (even the area under the eyes). After 15-20 minutes, wash off.

Tea compress

Cool the tea bags in the refrigerator and apply to the swollen areas.

Homemade compress

Soak cotton pads with a natural homemade composition. For example, mint infusion. If you care about the environment, then buy reusable discs. They can be used several times, and when they become unusable, you can safely throw them away. They are biodegradable and will not harm our planet.

Diet

Diet for edema

• Efficacy: healing effect
• Dates: as prescribed by a doctor
• Cost of products: 1400-1500 rubles per week

You can avoid the appearance of edema by adjusting your diet. The diet should be varied, but at the same time you need to exclude some foods from it and introduce foods that are useful for edema.

It is beneficial to consume the following foods:

• Dairy products.
• Lean meat, fish.
• Products containing potassium: bananas, potatoes, parsley, dried apricots, apricots, pumpkin, melons.
• Fruits.
• Dried fruits.

It is recommended to exclude the following foods from your diet:

• Salty foods – it is advisable to reduce the amount of salt to 1-1.5 g per day.
• Sugar and artificial sweeteners should also be kept to a minimum.
• Coffee, tea and other caffeinated .
• Spicy dishes.
• Soda, juices from concentrates.
• Semi-finished products.
• Alcohol.

Tips and tricks for preventing edema

To prevent swelling, you need to take care of your health every day.

• Try to eat right and avoid foods that retain fluid.
• Drink enough water.
• Do a facial massage. The Guasha Heart massager is very helpful in preventing edema. It improves blood circulation, relaxes muscles and speeds up the elimination of toxins. Beauty 365 has a good option. They also have an amber massager. He does his job just as well.

• Play sports. An active lifestyle helps you stay healthy and full of energy.
• Get enough sleep! Good sleep has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the entire body.
• Use high-quality night cosmetics that are specially selected for your skin type.
• Breathing exercises stimulate lymph flow through the work of the diaphragm.
• Visit a sauna or bathhouse. This is simply the best thing we can do for our lymphatic system.

At the “Flourish” marathon there is a whole block that is dedicated to cleansing the body and lymph separately. The most effective but gentle methods that are suitable for everyone and are absolutely safe. And cleansing is necessary for those who suffer from edema (and not only). Also in the marathon: Comprehensive work on rejuvenation, healing and transformation of the entire body - from hair to fingertips. Within a week of the marathon you will notice great changes.