What is the best way to reduce swelling in your face?

Question

Accepted Answer

Facial swelling can be a symptom of a range of medical conditions. These can range from minor, easily-treatable ailments, to more serious conditions requiring urgent medical attention. Identifying the possible cause of the swelling helps determine the most appropriate treatment.

Common causes of facial swelling include:

Allergy/Anaphylaxis
Cushing syndrome
Hypothyroidism
Infection
Injury
Preeclampsia - high blood pressure associated with pregnancy
Surgery
Sinusitis

Facial Swelling Causes and Treatments

Causes of Facial Swelling

Associated Symptoms

Treatment

Allergy/Anaphylaxis

Medication
Foods, such as nuts, eggs, fish and shellfish
Plants
Insect bites
Pollen
Animal dander
Venom

Sneezing
Itchy and runny nose or eyes
Stuffy nose
Itchy or sore throat
Itchy hives
Difficulty breathing
Throat swelling
Coughing
Rapid pulse
Sweating
Dizziness
Fainting
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal cramps
Diarrhea

Mild allergic reactions can usually be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) medications including antihistamines (tablets, creams, eye drops and nasal sprays) and corticosteroid creams if not contraindicated.

Home remedies, such as a cold compress, ice pack or soothing cream can also provide some relief. More severe allergic reactions may be associated with other symptoms of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening. If you suspect anaphylaxis you should call 911 and go to the emergency department.

Cushing syndrome

Weight gain around abdomen
Weight loss around arms and legs
Thin skin
Purple stretch marks
Slow healing
Acne

You should contact your health care provider if you think you have Cushing syndrome, a condition where you have increased levels of cortisol in your body, especially if you are taking corticosteroid medication. Hypothyroidism

Lack of energy
Weight gain
Dry skin and hair
Hair loss
Constipation
Sensitivity to cold

You should contact your health care provider if you think you have hypothyroidism, a condition where your thyroid gland is underactive.

Infection

Fever
Pain
Redness
Bumps or blisters (abscesses)
Bumpy skin like an orange peel
Bad breath
Toothache or sensitivity
Headache
Muscle ache
Weakness and fatigue
Loss of appetite

If you think you have a bacterial infection you should contact your health care provider. You may require an antibiotic or other treatment.

If you think you have a viral infection, such as mumps, you should call your health care provider. Cold compresses and OTC pain relief such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) may also be used if not contraindicated.

Injury

Sport
Motor vehicle
Fall
Fight
Work- or home-related

Cuts
Bruises
Lacerations
Broken bones
Confusion
Sleepiness
Blurry or Double vision
Seizures
Slurred or confused speech
Weakness
Pupils of different sizes
Blood or fluids coming out of you ear or nose

Swelling associated with a minor injury may be treated at home with a cold compress or ice pack, which can be applied for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours. An NSAID, such as ibuprofen, may also help with the pain and swelling if not contraindicated.

If the swelling doesn’t improve or is associated with a more serious injury such as a broken bone, a traumatic head injury or concussion, you should contact your health care provider or go to the emergency department.

Preeclampsia

Swollen hands
Weight gain of 5 pounds or more
Headache
Spotted or blurred vision
Pain in your upper abdomen

Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure associated with pregnancy, can be life-threatening. If you think you have preeclampsia you should contact your health care provider.

Sinusitis

Infection
Inflammation

Fever
Headache
Pain
Pressure
Redness
Tenderness
Thick yellow or green discharge from nose
Dry cough

Sinusitis may resolve by itself. However, a range of self-care options can help relieve the symptoms of sinusitis at home. Nasal rinses, breathing steam, using a decongestant or steroidal nasal spray, or taking an antihistamine or NSAID may also help if not contraindicated.

If your symptoms do not improve after three days, or do not go away after 10 days, you should contact your health care provider.

Surgery Ask your health care provider for the best way to manage swelling associated with your surgery.

What is the best way to reduce swelling in your face?

Official answer

Related questions

Read next

Does Feverfew interact with any drugs?

What is Apronax called in the USA?

Can you take ibuprofen on an empty stomach?

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups

Causes of Facial Swelling	Associated Symptoms	Treatment
Allergy/Anaphylaxis Medication Foods, such as nuts, eggs, fish and shellfish Plants Insect bites Pollen Animal dander Venom	Sneezing Itchy and runny nose or eyes Stuffy nose Itchy or sore throat Itchy hives Difficulty breathing Throat swelling Coughing Rapid pulse Sweating Dizziness Fainting Nausea Vomiting Abdominal cramps Diarrhea	Mild allergic reactions can usually be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) medications including antihistamines (tablets, creams, eye drops and nasal sprays) and corticosteroid creams if not contraindicated. Home remedies, such as a cold compress, ice pack or soothing cream can also provide some relief. More severe allergic reactions may be associated with other symptoms of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening. If you suspect anaphylaxis you should call 911 and go to the emergency department.
Cushing syndrome	Weight gain around abdomen Weight loss around arms and legs Thin skin Purple stretch marks Slow healing Acne	You should contact your health care provider if you think you have Cushing syndrome, a condition where you have increased levels of cortisol in your body, especially if you are taking corticosteroid medication.
Hypothyroidism	Lack of energy Weight gain Dry skin and hair Hair loss Constipation Sensitivity to cold	You should contact your health care provider if you think you have hypothyroidism, a condition where your thyroid gland is underactive.
Infection Cellulitis Mumps Dental abscess	Fever Pain Redness Bumps or blisters (abscesses) Bumpy skin like an orange peel Bad breath Toothache or sensitivity Headache Muscle ache Weakness and fatigue Loss of appetite	If you think you have a bacterial infection you should contact your health care provider. You may require an antibiotic or other treatment. If you think you have a viral infection, such as mumps, you should call your health care provider. Cold compresses and OTC pain relief such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) may also be used if not contraindicated.
Injury Sport Motor vehicle Fall Fight Work- or home-related	Cuts Bruises Lacerations Broken bones Confusion Sleepiness Blurry or Double vision Seizures Slurred or confused speech Weakness Pupils of different sizes Blood or fluids coming out of you ear or nose	Swelling associated with a minor injury may be treated at home with a cold compress or ice pack, which can be applied for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours. An NSAID, such as ibuprofen, may also help with the pain and swelling if not contraindicated. If the swelling doesn’t improve or is associated with a more serious injury such as a broken bone, a traumatic head injury or concussion, you should contact your health care provider or go to the emergency department.
Preeclampsia	Swollen hands Weight gain of 5 pounds or more Headache Spotted or blurred vision Pain in your upper abdomen	Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure associated with pregnancy, can be life-threatening. If you think you have preeclampsia you should contact your health care provider.
Sinusitis Infection Inflammation	Fever Headache Pain Pressure Redness Tenderness Thick yellow or green discharge from nose Dry cough	Sinusitis may resolve by itself. However, a range of self-care options can help relieve the symptoms of sinusitis at home. Nasal rinses, breathing steam, using a decongestant or steroidal nasal spray, or taking an antihistamine or NSAID may also help if not contraindicated. If your symptoms do not improve after three days, or do not go away after 10 days, you should contact your health care provider.
Surgery		Ask your health care provider for the best way to manage swelling associated with your surgery.