Facial swelling

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Edema, central on the face

Puffy face; Swelling of the face; Moon face; Facial edema

Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling from an injury. Raise the head of the bed (or use extra pillows) to help reduce facial swelling.

You should call your health care provider if you have:

• Sudden, painful, or severe facial swelling
• Facial swelling that lasts a while, particularly if it is getting worse over time
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever, tenderness, or redness, which suggests infection

Emergency treatment is needed if facial swelling is caused by burns or if you have breathing problems.

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The health care team will ask questions about your medical and personal history to determine treatment or if any medical tests are needed. Questions may include:

• How long has the facial swelling lasted?
• When did it begin?
• What makes it worse?
• What makes it better?
• Have you come into contact with something you might be allergic to?
• What medications are you taking?
• Have you recently injured your face?
• Have you had a recent medical test or surgery?
• What other symptoms do you have? For example:
  • Facial pain
  • Sneezing
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Hives or rash
  • Eye redness
  • Fever

Review Date: 02/06/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).