The reason why your face is swollen

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1. What is a swollen face? Facial swelling is a condition in which the face gradually swells to resemble a circle. The condition is not usually serious but can make you feel self-conscious. Everyone may encounter this problem at least once in their life.
Several causes of facial puffiness occur when fat accumulates on the sides of the face and are often associated with obesity but can also be caused by Cushing's syndrome. This symptom occurs when the body is exposed to large doses of the hormone cortisol over a long period of time.

2. Causes of facial swelling 2.1. Swollen face can be an undesirable effect of some common drugs, such as:
ACE inhibitors in the treatment of high blood pressure (enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril) ; ARBs in the treatment of high blood pressure (irbesartan, losartan, valsartan); Drugs belonging to the group of corticosteroids; Estrogen; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen); Thiazolidinediones (pioglitazone, rosiglitazone) in the treatment of diabetes. 2.2. Drug Allergies Swollen face may not be a side effect of medication, but an allergic reaction in your body. This can cause swelling in the face and swelling in other parts of the body. A drug allergy can cause an itchy rash on your skin and breathing problems, sometimes so severe that emergency care is needed. Common triggers are after the use of antibiotics (such as penicillin), aspirin, ibuprofen, antiepileptic drugs, and chemotherapy drugs.

2.3. Insect stings Small creatures like bees, wasps, and spiders can bite or sting hard on your face, causing swelling in your face or other parts of your body, causing your skin to swell and irritate. This usually gets better in a few hours or days. Allergic reactions can aggravate the bumps, which can sometimes go away on their own. In some cases, this can be a sign of a serious reaction called anaphylaxis. What makes you feel short of breath and need urgent medical attention.
2.4. Sunburn Some people can burn their skin on their face after only about 15 minutes of working in direct sunlight. Along with painful, dry, and itchy skin, severe sunburn can cause facial swelling and blistering. You may even experience other symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Therefore, you should cover up with a hat and protective clothing, use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day.
2.5. Food allergies If you are allergic to things you eat or drink, your body will react when you come into contact with them. Certain everyday foods can trigger an allergic reaction: fish, nuts, and dairy are common triggers. This can cause swelling in the face within minutes, especially around the lips and eyes, as well as the tongue and roof of the mouth. You may also feel lightheaded, nauseous, and itchy on your skin or inside your ears, mouth, or throat.
2.6. Angioedema Angioedema is when too much fluid builds up under your skin, usually around your face. It's not always clear what causes it, but it can happen as an allergic reaction to many things, including pollen, latex (in rubber), insect bites, food, water and even sunlight. The drug can also cause angioedema, even in the absence of an allergic reaction.

2.7. Sinusitis Sinusitis usually begins with the common cold. This makes it easier for bacteria to infect the sinuses, the small hollow areas near the cheekbones. Stuffy, blocked nose is the most obvious symptom. Pain and swelling that occurs around the nose, cheeks, eyes, and forehead results in a puffy face that can get worse when you bend over. Your doctor can help you with your treatment with rest, pain relievers, and sometimes antibiotics.
2.8. Preeclampsia If you're pregnant and your face swells and your hands or feet suddenly swell, it could be a sign of this serious condition. You may also have a headache, nausea, shortness of breath, or an upset stomach. These signs can begin around the 20th week of pregnancy and raise blood pressure. Contact your obstetrician immediately if you notice symptoms. Preeclampsia has many negative effects on the pregnant woman herself and her unborn baby.
2.9. Cellulitis Bacteria infect the lower layers of the skin. In children, the condition is most common on the face and neck. The first sign is usually a swollen and red face that is warm and sensitive to the touch. These symptoms may be accompanied by chills, fever and sometimes nausea, drowsiness, and trouble thinking. You may see red streaks, bumps, or sores on your skin.
2.10. Contact dermatitis Contact dermatitis is a condition in which facial skin becomes swollen with itching, redness, and inflammation caused by touching jewelry, makeup, or plants such as poison ivy. Sometimes it's an allergic reaction but it can also be toxins like battery acid or bleach. Or just too much of any substance. Even saliva can dry out and inflame your lips if you lick too much. When faced with this situation you need to try to find out and avoid exposure to those causes. Over-the-counter medications and creams are often enough to ease these symptoms.
2.11. Cushing's syndrome When you have Cushing's syndrome, your face is swollen and looks like the moon. This is a characteristic feature of this syndrome. It happens when your adrenal glands make too much of the “stress hormone” cortisol for too long. You may also have more fat around your belly and neck, weaker muscles, and bruises or stretch marks. Treatments include surgery if a tumor is causing the condition, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or medications that lower your cortisol levels.
2.12. Vena Cava Syndrome Advanced Vena Cava Syndrome causes swelling of the face with signs of swelling in the arms, neck and upper body. However, the syndrome is not likely to occur unless you have lung cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or other cancers that have spread to the chest. The superior vena cava is the vein that carries blood back to the heart from the head, neck, and chest. If it becomes blocked, usually from cancer, it is called superior vena cava syndrome. With this syndrome, you may start to cough more and have difficulty breathing. When you feel short of breath, the thing to do is to immediately contact a medical facility for immediate emergency care.

3. Face is swollen what to do? When you experience facial swelling, you need to try to determine the cause of your facial swelling. That cause can be due to allergies, swelling of the face, use of drugs to treat facial swelling, or a swollen face after waking up. If the swelling of the face is not too serious, here are some measures you can apply immediately:
Apply cold to reduce swelling when injured: do it by applying a cool, clean towel to your face. can relieve itching, swelling and pain. You can apply this method at any time of the day to reduce unpleasant allergy symptoms. Elevate the head of the bed (or use extra pillows) to help reduce facial swelling. Avoid touching hot areas with your face because high temperatures can make facial swelling worse. If the level of pain and swelling in the face do not improve, then you need to immediately go to a medical facility for medical examination and treatment. Perform laboratory tests to check necessary, find out the cause and be consulted by a specialist for appropriate treatment. Depending on the type of allergy as well as the severity of the symptoms, the treating doctor will suggest the most appropriate and effective plan for each case. Treatments to reduce facial swelling caused by common allergies may include:
Treatment of Cushing's syndrome depends on the cause. In some cases, the doctor will operate to remove the tumor. In other cases, the doctor may treat it with drugs, physical therapy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy; If you're on long-term steroids, the best way to reduce the impact of your symptoms and reduce facial swelling is to reduce your dose or stop using it altogether. If you must continue to take the medicine, your doctor will give you the lowest possible dose, eg every other day, when the Cushingoid changes can be alleviated. If this doesn't resolve facial swelling and other symptoms, your doctor may suggest trying other alternative treatments.

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