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Ive dealt with facial swelling for as long as I can remember and in various forms.
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If it’s possible for you to relateperhaps youre Googling cortisol faceyoure in the right place.
Im also happy to assure you there is light at the end of the swollen tunnel.
However, the best treatment for you may be different.
Face massages can help reduce puffiness.
As youll soon learn, it can vary based on your own personal needs.
Thats why we asked experts to break down all the options.
And, of course, my own facial swelling still makes an unexpected comeback every now and then.
Im pretty puffy as I write this, in fact.
Is it my period or because I stopped some medications for an allergy patch test?
Fortunately, Ive learned how to depuff my faceand fastduring moments like these.
Facial swelling and puffy face FAQs
What is facial swelling?
To put it simply, its when your face looks puffy or rounder than usual.
Basically, think of it as the bodys sewage leak due to a plumbing issue.
(And gross?)
Is that the same thing as cortisol face?
When we dont sleep, dont eat right or drink alcohol, what do we have?
We have puffy faces, he says.
However,actualcortisol face or moon face is a medical condition, according to Dr. Frank.
Does stress give you cortisol face?
Excess cortisol leads to salt and water retention as well as fat deposits in the face.
And as for whether stress can cause it?
Stress does not cause high enough cortisol levels to manifest as cortisol face, she clarifies.
What causes facial swelling and puffiness, then?
What causes facial swelling and puffiness depends on each individual.
Charles County Dermatologic Surgery.
Still, many experts point to lifestyle as the main cause.
For many of us, the primary culprits are dietary and lifestyle choices and the ways we manage stress.
Ada Ooi, celebrity facialist and founder of001 Skincare, agrees.
Why do I have a puffy face in the morning?
So why does your face tend to look its puffiest when you first wake up?
Puffiness is more common if you consume triggers before bed, says Ooi.
If you cant pinpoint a trigger, consider what you ate for dinner.
Moreover, staying up late can contribute to systemic inflammation.
Eat well, meditate, and do things that decrease stress.
This is going to manage your internal cortisol levels.
Be sure to get tested for allergies, especially of the food varietytheyre a common cause of facial swelling.
Consult with a health-care professional for allergy management.
Doing so was a game-changer for me.
Once you know your triggers, try your hardest to avoid themand anything salty.
To start, try eating less sodium-packed foods before bed.
Its sad, but trust me when I say its worth it.
Over all, its best to opt for unprocessed, low-sodium foods.
Shaheen agrees: Drink an adequate amount of water to keep your body and skin well-hydrated.
Dehydration can lead to puffiness.
Both alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate your body and contribute to puffiness.
Limit your intake of these beverages, Shaheen says.
I know that my leisurely morning walks have made a major difference in my facial swelling.
Shaheen agrees, saying, Engaging in regular physical activitycan help improve circulation and reduce water retention.
Also, try togo bed and wake up at the same timeeveryday.
As noted above, nighttime is a prime time for your face to puff up.
Sleeping with your head slightly elevated can prevent fluid from accumulating in your facial tissues, says Shaheen.
Try snoozing on an extra pillow, or invest in a wedge.
Try giving yourself a face massage.
This can help move excess fluids away from your face.
you’re free to go about this several ways.
Ooi recommendsusing a gua sha,for example, while others prefer to use their hands.
3as her favorite for the job.
Face massages can help reduce puffiness.
No matter your preferred face-massage technique, its important to lubricate your face properly beforehand, says Shaheen.
She also advises starting your massage at the center of your face.
Start at the center, usually the nose or chin, and move outward, she says.
Use your fingertips to apply gentle pressure and make small upward and outward circular motions.
you’re free to perform a facial massage for about five minutes a day, Shaheen continues.
Consistency is key for seeing results over time.
(And I amproof of that!)
Keep a cold spoon in the freezer or opt for caffeine-infused tea bags.
Both methods promote vasoconstriction and reduce swelling effectively.
you’re free to also use anice rolleror ice face mask for seamless tool and wear.
This congestion can obstruct the normal flow of fluids, causing puffiness in the face, says Shaheen.
Engaging inregular physical activitycan help improve circulation and reduce water retention, she says.
Finally, there are countless skin-care products specifically formulated to help depuff the face, such asDr.
Zion x Murad Retinol Eye Maskand Clarins V-Facial Depuffing Mask.
Angioedema is a life-threatening allergic reaction that presents as sudden severe facial swelling.
Painful swelling is a sign that you could have a serious infection.
