For some types of puffiness, however, the cure often lies in the cause, and discovering what’s going on will be key. Read on below for the many reasons why your face could be puffy, as well as what to do about it.

Typical morning grogginess aside, there are all sorts of reasons why you might notice swelling around your face and eyes when you first wake up. And while you can certainly shrug it off and move on with your day, it may be worth looking into the various reasons why it occurs, especially if it seems to happen all the time — or if it’s been getting worse.

Waking up to a puffy face is super annoying, but rest assured it’s usually just a side effect of the build-up of fluid in the tissues of the face from lying down all night. But it could also point to other things, including underlying health issues like allergies or hormonal imbalances.

1. You Slept On Your Face

One of the most common causes of morning puffiness? Sleeping face down on your pillow. Gravity wins when we sleep on our faces. The lymphatic fluid in your body flows downward and pools when you sleep, which results in puffy eye bags and a swollen appearance.

It is recommended to sleep on your back whenever possible, or use a pillow to slightly elevate your head to counteract the effects of gravity. Sleeping this way will help the lymphatic fluid flow downward, away from your eyes and cheeks, so you wake up actually looking refreshed.

2. Your Allergies Are Acting Up

Pollen, dust, animal dander — it’s all swirling around endlessly, and it can turn you into an allergic mess.  So if you’re constantly sneezing and rubbing your eyes before bed, this may be the culprit.

Making sure your environment is allergen-free by dusting, using air filters, and even changing your pillowcases more often.

3. Your Skincare Is Too Powerful

If you have an extensive nighttime skincare regime, or have recently added a few new products, go ahead and read the labels. Using skincare that have strong active ingredients, such as retinol, benzoyl peroxide, or alpha hydroxy acids cause the skin to exfoliate — a wanted result.

But if these products get too close to your eyes and mouth, where the skin is thinner, they can be more irritating than wanted, and cause eye swelling. Ease into any new skincare that you have, using strong actives initially once a week, then increasing over time to once a day.

4. You Have A Sinus Infection

If you have a sinus infection, aka sinusitis, you very well may wake up with a puffy face. Symptoms include pain, typically accompanied by swelling and pressure around your eyes, cheeks, or even forehead. This occurs when the space inside your nose becomes inflamed and swollen, which in addition to swelling and pain, may make breathing through your nose difficult.

5. You Have Cushing Syndrome

Another possible cause could be Cushing syndrome, “which occurs when your body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol for a long period of time. This syndrome can be caused when you use oral steroids and also sometimes your body is actually producing too much cortisol.

Other symptoms, besides a rounded or puffy face, include a hump between your shoulders, and purple stretch marks on your skin. It’s something that can be treated by your doctor, so don’t hesitate to ask about it if these symptoms sound familiar.

6. You Have A Tooth Infection

While it might not seem related, a tooth infection often results in a puffy face. A dental infection formed at the base of a tooth can cause a pocket of fluid/pus to form at the tooth root , which if left untreated can lead to facial swelling if the infection spreads to your face.

To treat it, you’ll obviously need to mosey on over to the dentist, who will likely tell you to swish salt water around your mouth, and may prescribe antibiotics.

7. You Didn’t Sleep As Well As You Thought

To sleep better, try minimizing stressors before bed, she says, which includes not checking work emails, having long conversations, watching the news, etc. Instead, dim the lights, reduce distractions, and climb into bed at the same time each night, so your body can fall into a rhythm — and get deeper sleep.

8. You Had Salty Snacks

If you spent the evening crunching away on delicious savory snacks, you may pay the (small) price of a puffy face come morning. Eating salty food can retain water in your body including your face.

Basically, your body holds onto extra fluid in an attempt to dilute the salt. But you can help flush it away by drinking lots of water after you snack, as well as cutting back on these types of snacks before bed.

9. You’re Dehydrated From Drinking Alcohol

In a similar vein, drinking alcohol before bed can mean waking up to a surprising degree of puffiness. it’s due to alcohol’s dehydrating effect, which causes your skin to hold onto any water it has, creating swelling and oftentimes redness. The fix can be as simple as avoiding alcoholic beverages before bed, as well as upping your water intake so the body doesn’t have to over-compensate.

10. You Cried The Night Before

It’s such a relief to cry before falling asleep, as letting your emotions out is cathartic. But it can mean waking up to swollen eyes due to a temporary condition called periorbital edema. It happens when the salt in your tears irritates the skin around your eyes, resulting in mild swelling.

While you shouldn’t stop yourself from crying, if that’s what you need need to, you can lower the chances of waking up to puffy, irritated eyes by upgrading your tissues to a softer brand.

11. You Have Contact Dermatitis

If you fall constantly asleep with makeup on, join the (not very exclusive) club. It happens to the best of us, and isn’t the end of the world.

Sleeping in eye makeup, lash strips, or a full face of foundation can leave your skin irritated and itchy and even swollen.  The simple fix is washing your face before bed, no matter how late or how tired you are. If you forget, apply a cool compress as soon as you wake up — using a gel eye mask kept in the fridge is a nice trick.

Source : Bustle

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