A Puffy face or a bloated face in the morning may be problematic and unappealing if it becomes an everyday condition. It generally results from fluid retention, which can arise from several factors.
Home care methods and other treatment options can ease the issue and prevent it further by addressing the underlying cause. Here, in this blog, we will shed light upon the various causes for swollen face in the morning and ways to treat or avoid it.
Causes for Swollen Face in the Morning
If you are experiencing bloating on face after waking up, the reasons could be something minor which could be tackled at home, or it could be something serious, which will require medical intervention. Here are the reasons:
Lifestyle Choices — Diet, Sleep Pattern and Skincare
- Diet:
Consuming certain food items in the evening or at night could be one of the causes for swollen face in the morning. For example —
Eating foods that are high in sodium can cause the body to retain more water.
Drinking alcohol may cause mild dehydration in the body, in response to which the body might retain water in certain areas such as the face. - Sleep pattern:
If you are taking too little or too much sleep, both could be the reason for swelling on face due to normal overnight fluid retention. Also, due to incorrect sleeping positions, the puffiness might be exacerbated. - Skincare:
If you are a person who loves makeup, but pays less heed to aftercare then you might experience a puffy face very often. Falling asleep with makeup on can cause a skin reaction called contact dermatitis, which can lead to swollen face and eyes, redness, or irritation.
Most of the instances are no cause for concern, but if you are experiencing severe symptoms, such as swollen eyes or trouble opening your eyes then you will be needing medical supervision.
Physical Factors and Health Conditions
Physical factors or health conditions could also be the reason for swelling on face that could result in a bloated face in the morning:
- Allergies and anaphylaxis
- Sinus infection or sinusitis
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Hypothyroidism
- Cellulitis
- Angioedema
- Actinomycosis
- External eyelid stye
- Broken nose
- Pre-eclampsia (in pregnant women)
- Menstruation (in women)
How to Treat It?
As per the cause, various home care techniques and medical treatment options can reduce or prevent a puffy face in the morning.
Treatment Options at Home
- Use of cold water, tea bags or coffee grounds:
Splashing cold water or giving cold compress to the face with the help of a towel can reduce bloating on face. Also, you can use tea bags or coffee grounds on the affected area to constrict the blood vessels on the face. - Exercises:
A quick morning jog or exercise can promote circulation in the body, as well as the face. This, in return, reduces bloating. - Face yoga:
It targets your facial muscles, your neck, and your shoulders. If you remain consistent with the facial yoga techniques, it can help tone your face, improve muscle structure and reduce morning puffiness. - Use of massaging techniques with jade rollers:
A light massage on the face with the help of a jade roller helps in promoting circulation and aids in drainage of lymphatic fluid from face. This reduces puffiness. - Use of facial products:
Various face serums for women, creams, and masks are available in the market that are specially designed to reduce a puffy face.
Medical Treatment Options
If an underlying condition is leading to a puffy face, medical treatment may be compulsory, but that might not always be required. For example, as per some medical sources, treatment is not necessary for many sinus infections. Over-the-counter medication may help relieve face swelling in morning along with other symptoms. However, a doctor may recommend antibiotics, and in some cases or supplements and dietary modifications to treat the condition. If a person has hypothyroidism, medication can make up for the low levels of hormone. For people with Cushing’s syndrome, doctors aim to find the source of the excess cortisol and reduce its levels.
Tips to Prevent or Avoid Face Puffiness
If you see that your face is puffy in the morning, you can apply the following strategies to lower the effects over consecutive days:
- Avoiding refined carbohydrates later in the day
- Not consuming food just before bed
- Avoiding foods items that are high in sodium, especially late evening or at night
- Avoiding oversleeping
- Sleeping on the back and not on the stomach
- Staying hydrated throughout the day
- Avoiding alcoholic beverages
Conclusion
By now you must have understood the possible causes for swollen face and face swelling in morning; if not treated or managed, it may be alarming or irritating over a period of time. You can implement various dietary and lifestyle changes, as per your convenience to prevent the issue. These strategies may be applicable only if it is not associated with any underlying health issue, else medical guidance will be required to treat it, if it is persistent and troublesome.