Facial puffiness/swelling - photos included

[Zebra102]

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been dealing with random episodes of facial puffiness/swelling, and I can’t figure out what’s triggering it. It’s really frustrating, I’m hoping someone here might have ideas or suggestions!

When it happens, the swelling lasts for at least a week, sometimes longer. My lower face becomes visibly swollen and puffy, and it completely changes how I look and it makes me feel a bit rubbish

I’ve attached a couple of photos to show the difference. One is when my face looks normal, and the other is during one of these episodes. My weight and age are the same in both photos, though I know the lighting is different - this was the best comparison I could find. Even with the same lighting, the difference is always obvious.

I’ve tried increasing my water intake and cutting back on salt, but it hasn’t made any noticeable difference.

Does anyone have any tips or ideas about what could be causing this or how to manage it?

Thanks in advance!

Can kidney issues cause facial swelling?

I had some blood tests a few months ago (around the time these photos were taken) which included liver and kidney function and they all came back fine.

What about doing a lymphatic massage around your face to see if you can drain the fluid

Hope someone more useful comes along op

Have you tried Dr Google

Thanks I haven’t tried that, but I’ve ordered a jade roller and gua sha this morning which should arrive during the week after googling, hopefully that helps!

I’m trying to work out if it’s something about my lifestyle which is triggering the episodes. But I eat a generally healthy diet so I’m confused.

Hormonal water retention? Honestly though I really can see hardly any difference 🤷🏽‍♀️

read this. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352587823000360

I haven’t had facial fillers, it’s random swelling I have had since being a teenager, did you link the wrong research study?

That’s reassuring that it doesn’t seem hugely noticeable, it makes me quite self conscious. It could be linked to my cycle, I’m going to track it for a while and see if there’s a pattern. Thanks

I get a very puffy face before my period - is it linked to your cycle? Eating bread also sets it off. I use massage and clean eating to manage it. A pain though, I sympathise

Hello. I can’t see much of a difference. Does it swell one sided or all over? I’ve woken up today with the right side of my face also around my jaw and mouth slightly swollen. I’ve got myself in a right tiz over it. 39 years old

Could be a mild allergy to certain foods. Oral allergy syndrome even if it's always the lower part of your face/lips. I suffer with this. I'm allergic to certain toothpastes and if I use them I swell.
Could be a minor form of angioadema too, do you ever get it anywhere else on your body?
These photos show the difference for me. It's my lips, cheeks and chin area. Just from toothpaste x

@dontcomeatme i did start collegan two weeks ago but that’s all that’s different. What is angiadenoma?

it’s actually made me really anxious and I can’t stop obsessing about it now. Does it stay swollen for long ? I can see the difference in the photos you posted x

I had a period of this when I was under a lot of stress and undergoing multiple investigations for cancer. It definitely triggered an auto-immune response. Could this be something to consider for you?

(It all eventually resolved by itself when I got better).

@SpiralSister was it your whole face? I’m not really stressed. It’s bizarre. Barely noticeable but it is swollen on the right side.

It moved round my face! Sometimes eye, sometimes lips, sometimes cheek! It was really odd. Glad you’re not stressed, I do wonder whether it’s worth ruling out anything auto immune though.

@spiral how do I do that? Ask the doctors?

I would. Wishing you well!

Angioadema is basically an auto immune response to something external, like a reaction but not always allergy. Mine gets triggered with heat, stress, allergens, exercise, new products etc. Anything. It's bizarre.
Try a strong antihistamine like fexofenadine. If the swelling goes down you know its a reaction of some sort x

I would look into herbal medicine

I second the person who mentioned PMS as I think I get puffy before my period.
My face also looks fat when my hair is to short so could it be as simple as a less flattering hair do?

Thanks all. I’m around day 10. So ovulation time. I think it’s got to me more because it only seems to be the one side. It isn’t hugely noticeable but enough o start my anxiety off.

angiodenoma, so is the a specific test for this? I am such an anxious person. It could be something like this.

@RealPerson to with what? Inflamtion? What types would you suggest looking at?

@dontcomeatme can I ask how long it stays puffy for after initial reaction.

went to the doctors today he just said it is strange I don’t know what it could be and to go back if it gets worse. Felt so unheard. I intend booking another general appointment asking to speak with a female doctor. I have a few other symptoms od like to discuss. I just need someone who has the time to listen (not easy these days)

@Zebra102 a friend had a similar issue, no idea of cause, lots of investigation and it turned out to be an allergy to specific type of feathers that were in a pillow and duvet. I forget whether it was duck, goose or eider but it was one particular type.

It was intermittent because the feathers are normally contained in the pillow or duvet but sometimes poke out and escape and then lying on it all night with skin contact caused a reaction. So would happen periodically but not every day.

May not be same for you but also look for anything in contact with your face including pillow cases and towels (do you use the same washing powder/detergent every time or do you buy different ones? try using something like Fairy or a non-bio and see if that helps), anything you put on your hands (lotion or handwash) because often people will rest their chins on their hands and not notice (this was something else my friend was advised to consider before allergen was identified), mouth wash, make up removers, lip gloss/lipstick, foundation and so on. So much that you never think about ends up in contact with your face.

Good luck.

@Fightingtobepositive
Mine can get quite severe so maybe a couple of days. But strong histamines should bring it down fairly quickly. Have you tried some?

It would persist if you were still in contact with the allergen/cause. The thing with angioedema is stress can make it worse, so if you're anxious about the swelling it could prevent it from going down 🤦🏻‍♀️ strange disorder.
I would definitely go back and see a different GP, that's not okay x