Facial swelling
Puffy face; Swelling of the face; Moon face; Facial edemaFacial swelling is the buildup of fluid in the tissues of the face. Swelling may also affect the neck and upper arms.
Considerations
If the facial swelling is mild, it may be hard to detect. Let the health care provider know the following:
- Pain and where it hurts
- How long the swelling has lasted
- What makes it better or worse
- If you have other symptoms
Causes
Causes of facial swelling may include:
- Allergic reaction (allergic rhinitis, hay fever, or a bee sting)
Allergic reaction
Allergic reactions are sensitivities to substances called allergens that come into contact with the skin, nose, eyes, respiratory tract, and gastroin...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAllergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is a diagnosis associated with a group of symptoms affecting the nose. These symptoms occur when you breathe in something you are ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleBee sting
Insect bites and stings can cause an immediate skin reaction. The bite from fire ants and the sting from bees, wasps, and hornets are most often pai...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Angioedema
Angioedema
Angioedema is swelling that is similar to hives, but the swelling is under the skin instead of on the surface. Hives are often called welts. They a...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood transfusion reaction
Blood transfusion reaction
A hemolytic transfusion reaction is a serious complication that can occur after a blood transfusion. The reaction occurs when the red blood cells th...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Cellulitis
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a common skin infection caused by bacteria. It affects the middle layer of the skin (dermis) and the tissues below. Sometimes, muscle...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye)
Conjunctivitis
The conjunctiva is a clear layer of tissue lining the eyelids and covering the white of the eye. Conjunctivitis occurs when the conjunctiva becomes ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Drug reactions, including those due to aspirin, penicillin, sulfa, glucocorticoids, and others
- Head, nose, or jaw surgery
- Injury or trauma to the face (such as a burn)
- Malnutrition (when severe)
- Obesity
Obesity
Obesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Salivary gland disorders
- Sinusitis
Sinusitis
Sinusitis is present when the tissue lining the sinuses become swollen or inflamed. It occurs as the result of an inflammatory reaction or an infect...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Stye with swelling around the infected eye
Stye
Most bumps on the eyelid are styes. A stye is an inflamed oil gland on the edge of your eyelid, where the eyelash meets the lid. It appears as a re...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Tooth abscess
Tooth abscess
A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection.
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Home Care
Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling from an injury. Raise the head of the bed (or use extra pillows) to help reduce facial swelling.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you have:
- Sudden, painful, or severe facial swelling
- Facial swelling that lasts a while, particularly if it is getting worse over time
- Difficulty breathing
- Fever, tenderness, or redness, which suggests infection
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Emergency treatment is needed if facial swelling is caused by burns or if you have breathing problems.
The provider will ask about your medical and personal history. This helps determine treatment or if any medical tests are needed. Questions may include:
- How long has the facial swelling lasted?
- When did it begin?
- What makes it worse?
- What makes it better?
- Have you come into contact with something you might be allergic to?
- What medicines are you taking?
- Did you recently injure your face?
- Did you have a medical test or surgery recently?
- What other symptoms do you have? For example: facial pain, sneezing, difficulty breathing, hives or rash, eye redness, fever.
Facial pain
Face pain may be dull and throbbing or an intense, stabbing discomfort in the face or forehead. It can occur in one or both sides.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleDifficulty breathing
Breathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough air
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleHives
Hives are raised, often itchy, red bumps (welts) on the surface of the skin. They can be an allergic reaction to food or medicine. They can also ap...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleRash
Rashes involve changes in the color, feeling or texture of your skin.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleEye redness
Eye redness is most often due to swollen or dilated blood vessels. This makes the surface of the eye look red or bloodshot.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleFever
Fever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...
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References
Dinulos JGH. Urticaria, angioedema and pruritus. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide in Diagnosis and Therapy. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 6.
Guluma K, Lee JE. Ophthalmology. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 57.
Matlock AG, Pfaff JA. Otolaryngology. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 58.
Pedigo RA. Oral medicine. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 56.
Review Date: 2/2/2023
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.