Experts explain the reasons that make your face swollen and explain what you should do and avoid to relieve the condition.
Did you come back from vacation with a swollen face? Or do you wake up in the morning and don’t understand why your face is so big? The reasons why this happens are many. Fortunately, there are also many ways to reduce or eliminate discomfort.
Or it can make your face swell
“Morning swelling appears on the face – and it has several causes. During sleep, the lymphatic system slows down and, since it is responsible for the absorption of fluids by the cells, there is a predisposition to this swelling. But the most important triggers are in a diet rich in sodium, in the consumption of alcoholic beverages, medications, hormonal alterations, sleep position and even genetic causes,” explains dermatologist Dr. Mônica Aribi, effective member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology and Coordinator of the Cosmiatric Sector of the Ipiranga Hospital.
“Thyroid disorders are also related to this type of swelling. The gland produces a hormone that regulates metabolism and body temperature. If it produces too little, metabolic changes can also cause swelling to increase,” she says. If so, it’s wise to go to a doctor to prescribe the correct medication, the dermatologist advises.
“Edemas are also closely related to skin inflammation produced by the stress hormone, which is cortisol. The more this hormone is produced, the more it attacks the skin structure, and the greater the edema. The eye contour region, because it has a slightly thinner structure, when we release cortisol due to stress, difficulty sleeping, a lot of work, shifts, it suffers a lot, because all this compromises its structure due to the inflammation produced”, underlines Ludmila Bonelli, cosmiatrist, specialist in dermatocosmetics and scientific director of Be Belle.
How to avoid puffy face
Some actions indicated by the experts can help solve or relieve the puffy face problem. To watch:
Drink more water and eat more vegetables. “Eating more vegetables and drinking lots of water throughout the day are the best ways to combat the causes of bloating. Coconut water and green tea are also options,” explains the doctor. For best results, it’s also important to consume less sodium.
Wash your face with cold water. As soon as you wake up, wash your face with cold water and a specific soap for your skin type, preferably with botanical extracts with an anti-inflammatory, calming and decongestant action, such as chamomile and fennel. This helps reduce edema.
Use thermal water. The night before, leave your package of thermal water with calming active ingredients in the fridge. “Immediately after washing the face, in the morning, spray on the face. The cold temperature of the product refreshes and decongests the skin. It is also rich in trace elements, mineral salts that help provide a better water balance, with complementary phyto-draining action,” he explains dr. monica.
Perform a facial massage. “Facial massage provides an improvement in blood circulation, which contributes to efficient oxygenation and ensures that skin cells are properly nourished,” explains vascular surgeon Dr. Aline Lamaita, a member of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery.
A care routine is essential
Apply a caffeine-containing cream to the eye area. “All of the above tips and tricks can help, but also consider a caffeine-based eye cream. This is because caffeine constricts blood vessels and as a result reduces puffiness,” explains the doctor.
Remember vitamin C and sunscreen. “Internally, vitamin C works to impart topical antioxidant action, with a decrease in collagen-degrading enzymes, which is especially important if your diet is to blame for your bloating,” says Dr. monica. “Sunscreen should be used daily to prevent skin damage,” she adds.
Do physical exercises. “The exercises not only increase the heart rate, which improves blood flow. Furthermore, the muscle contraction itself already contributes to the drainage of fluids,” explains Dr. monica. Dr. Aline also points out that exercise also helps with weight control. “Extra pounds put more pressure on the heart and reduce blood flow throughout the body, predisposing bloating problems,” says the vascular surgeon.
How to avoid swelling on the face
To never wake up with a swollen face again, you need to change some lifestyle habits and add some types of skin care. Check out some expert advice:
Change your sleeping position. Lying on your stomach or side is like “crumpling” your face, which is why it promotes morning puffiness. “If possible, prop your head up with more than one pillow and sleep on your stomach. This also helps not to mark your face so much, which is related to the appearance of wrinkles,” says dermatologist Dr. Monica Aribi.
In skincare, try seaweed extracts: Some seaweed extracts act as metabolic stimulants, which help improve cellular energy production, helping with bloating. But also invest in products that act against edema: this is the case with those that have decongestant active ingredients.
Food matters too
Keep an eye on the amount of water. Drinking water is good for solving and also avoiding the problem. So make sure you consume at least 2 liters of water per day and increase your intake if necessary.
Watch out for extra sugar and salt in your diet. Consuming more canned, pickled, processed and ultra-processed products that are high in sodium can be dangerous. These foods can also be more potentially inflammatory, high in sugar, simple carbohydrates and bad fats. Also keep an eye out for canned juices and light, diet and zero products, which also have a lot of sodium in their composition,” says Dr. Mônica.
Don’t give alcohol a chance. “Alcohol affects every membrane, mucous membrane, from the pancreas and liver to the skin. The first effect is dehydration, as it effectively removes all liquids from the skin. This dehydration can also result in swelling of the face, especially in the eye region “, says the dermatologist.
Finally, the dermatologist points out that it is also important to remember to remove make-up before going to bed. “The inflammation of the skin makes the swelling worse and sleeping with makeup on will contribute to this. If the problem is persistent, a hormonal medical investigation will be required,” he points out. Therefore, if these changes do not resolve the problem, it is best to see a doctor to investigate a hormonal imbalance.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
