Facial swelling can occur for three main reasons: an underlying medical condition, water retention or a serious blow or hit to the face. If you recently had an accident or invasive dental treatment, swelling might be hard to avoid. Ask your doctor if there's anything you can in these cases to ease the swelling. If you experience difficulty breathing, dizziness or other serious side effects along with the facial swelling, see a doctor immediately, as this could indicate a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Step 1
Apply an ice pack to the swollen area. This works best if the swelling is restricted to one specific area, such as a cheek or near the mouth or nose. Wrap the ice pack on a thin towel to avoid burning your face. Apply for a few minutes at a time, then give your skin a break and apply again.
Step 2
Talk to your doctor if you're taking any prescription medications. Some drugs, such as oral contraceptives, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, and some type 2 diabetes medications can cause water retention, which can present as facial swelling. Your doctor might be able to switch you to a different drug to stop the swelling.
Step 3
Take an antihistamine if the facial swelling is due to an allergy. Hay fever, as well as allergic reactions to animal dander, dust, cosmetics, or pollen can cause facial swelling. Make an appointment with an allergist if you have severe and/or persistent allergies.
Step 4
Ask your doctor about antibiotics. Anything from a tooth abscess to a sinus infection or bacterial conjunctivitis can cause facial swelling. If infection is the reason your face is swelling, you may need antibiotics.
Step 5
Reduce your sodium intake, which can lead to water retention, causing you to look bloated and swollen -- sometimes, in the face area. Read food labels and avoid packaged foods that are high in sodium, as well as fast foods. Additionally, do not use table salt and flavor your food with herbs and spices rather than salt when cooking.
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