What to Buy Skincare Products Puffy Face in the Morning: Causes, Prevention Tips, and Treatments From allergies to eating salty foods to crying the night before, many things can cause a puffy face in the morning. By Lisa DeSantis Lisa DeSantis Lisa DeSantis is the deputy beauty director at Real Simple Magazine. Previously, she was a beauty editor for both Real Simple and Health Magazines. health's editorial guidelines Updated on March 30, 2023 Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD William Truswell, MD, FACS, operates his own cosmetic and reconstructive facial surgery practice. Dr. Truswell was the first in his area in Western Massachusetts to have an accredited private office surgical suite. learn more Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Twitter Share this page on Pinterest Email this page A "puffy" face, or facial swelling, happens when fluids build up in your facial tissues. Several possible causes may be the culprit. First, it's worth noting: Bloating, "puffing," or swelling is often natural, and there is no shame in your body's fluctuations. The goal of this article is not to shame or judge but to inform you why puffiness may happen in the morning. A few strategies can help reduce facial swelling in the morning. Here's what you need to know about why your face may feel puffy and how to prevent this. How To Get Rid of a Puffy Face What Causes a Puffy Face? A puffy face happens when fluids build up in your facial tissues and cause swelling. Some of the most common reasons why you may wake up with a puffy face include: Seasonal allergies Sinus infection Tooth abscess Eye infections, like pink eye and stye Reaction to drugs like aspirin, penicillin, or glucocorticoids Recent head, nose, or jaw surgery or injury Dehydration Hormonal imbalance Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) If discoloration occurs with your skin puffiness, consult a healthcare provider immediately. For example, cellulitis is a severe bacterial skin infection that causes redness and swelling. Healthcare providers treat cellulitis with antibiotics. How to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes Risk Factors and Habits That Can Cause Puffiness In addition to health conditions, some behaviors may increase your risk of waking up with a puffy face, Margarita Lolis, MD, a dermatologist based in New Jersey, told Health. Those behaviors include: Getting poor sleepUsing certain skincare productsCrying the night beforeEating salty snacksDrinking alcohol How To Get Rid of a Puffy Face in the Morning When you wake up and realize your face is puffy, rinse with cool or lukewarm water. Then, place a cold compress on the affected area to reduce swelling. Drinking plenty of water can help, too. Also, exercising will take your recovery a step further. The mix of sweating and replenishing water helps balance salt and water in your body. Just ensure that the amount of fluid you lose equals the amount you take in. Too much or too little fluid can upset that balance and worsen a puffy face. A good way to measure how much fluid you need to replenish is to weigh yourself before and after exercise. However, contact a healthcare provider if your puffy face may be due to an underlying health condition, like an eye infection or tooth abscess. In those cases, treating the condition may help resolve facial swelling. How To Prevent a Puffy Face in the Morning You can combat a puffy face by doing the following to reduce and prevent facial swelling: Staying hydrated: Drinking water throughout the day is key. By replenishing lost fluids, you can maintain a balance of salt and water in your body. Limiting your salt intake: You also may want to cut down on how much salt you eat. Sodium can make your body hold onto excess fluid, upsetting that balance. Keeping your head elevated: Additionally, propping yourself up with at least two pillows while sleeping can stop water from building up in your facial tissues. Combatting allergies: If allergies are causing your morning puffiness, taking an antihistamine can combat your allergy symptoms, as well as a puffy face. 11 Reasons You Have Puffy and Swollen Eyes—And How To Treat Them A Quick Review A puffy face, or facial swelling, happens when fluids build up in your facial tissues. Several possible causes contribute to a puffy face, from health conditions to certain behaviors. For mild cases of facial swelling, like eating salty foods, limiting salt intake and staying hydrated can help balance salt and water. However, consult a healthcare provider for conditions like eye infections and tooth abscesses. You'll want to treat the underlying issue while reducing your puffy face. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 10 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedLinePlus. Facial swelling. MedLinePlus. Fluid imbalance. Lause M, Kamboj A, Fernandez Faith E. Dermatologic manifestations of endocrine disorders. Transl Pediatr. 2017;6(4):300-312. doi:10.21037/tp.2017.09.08 Tacani PM, Ribeiro Dde O, Barros Guimarães BE, et al. Characterization of symptoms and edema distribution in premenstrual syndrome. Int J Womens Health. 2015;7:297-303. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S74251 MedLinePlus. Cellulitis. Sundelin T, Lekander M, Sorjonen K, et al. Negative effects of restricted sleep on facial appearance and social appeal. R Soc Open Sci. 2017;4(5):160918. doi:10.1098/rsos.160918 Huang LN, Zhong YP, Liu D, et al. Adverse cutaneous reactions to skin care products on the face vary with age, but not with sex. Contact Dermatitis. 2018;79(6):365-369. doi:10.1111/cod.13102 NIH News in Health. When body parts swell. 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