Here are 4 causes of a swollen face

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and noticed that your face has gotten bigger, it may make you feel a little scared. After all, facial swelling is not as common as, for example, eyelid twitching. A swollen face isn’t always a cause for concern (hangover, anyone?), and in most cases, the solution is relatively simple and may even involve waiting it out. That said, a lot depends on exactly how swollen your face is and whether it’s changing rapidly. In some cases, this may signal a medical emergency.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common reasons for this reaction, because yes, not knowing why your face is swollen is extremely disturbing. (And we endure – we will start with the more serious problems first, and then move on to less important causes of facial swelling.)

You may be suffering from an allergic reaction.

Of all the reasons your face may be swollen, allergic reactions are probably the most urgent. Not only can they get worse quite quickly, but they can also be a sign that there are other troubling things going on in the body, Zachary Rubin, M.D., a pediatric allergist in Illinois, tells SELF. When the immune system detects an allergen, mast cells release histamine and other chemicals that cause blood vessels to leak. They leak fluid, which helps get rid of the intruder and literally “pushes out the skin,” says Dr. Rubin, hence the swollen face.

The most common culprits are food, medications and insect bites, but a reaction can occur All— even something that was previously harmless. New allergies can appear at any time, so take seriously the signs that you may be developing one. For mild symptoms, you can use an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Benadryl, which will help reduce swelling within 30 minutes to a few hours, Dr. Rubin says.

However, if the swelling is sudden and severe; Your lips, tongue, eyelids or throat are swollen; you have difficulty breathing; and/or you have nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, call 911 and get help as soon as possible because a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis may occur. And if you know you have a serious allergy and already have an EpiPen – an epinephrine auto-injector – now is a good time to use it to hopefully slow or stop your symptoms while you call for help.

You can fight the infection.

According to Jay Lee, a family medicine physician in southern California, facial swelling may indicate a viral or bacterial infection, especially if there is also skin discoloration, fever, and tenderness or feeling hot. tells SELF that he has seen a significant number of people with this problem. “Sometimes you’ll notice that people look swollen because all the immune system cytokines and white blood cells are getting into that area, and the mechanism by which the body gets them there is fluid,” Dr. Lee says. “That’s a good answer…. It’s your body doing what it’s supposed to do.