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Swollen Face? It Might Not Be Allergies
21 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Facial swelling can be a primary symptom of angioedema, not always allergies.
- Angioedema causes rapid fluid leakage under the skin, affecting lips, eyes, or tongue.
- Triggers include allergies, medications like ACE inhibitors, and hereditary factors.
Facial swelling is a common symptom that can point to angioedema, a condition characterized by swelling beneath the skin. This reaction occurs when small blood vessels leak fluid, leading to rapid swelling, particularly around the lips, eyelids, cheeks, or tongue. While often associated with allergies, angioedema can also arise from other triggers.
Triggers for angioedema vary widely and can include food, insect stings, or medications. Allergic angioedema typically presents with hives, redness, and itching, and requires immediate medical attention if breathing is affected. However, non-allergic forms exist, such as those caused by ACE inhibitor blood pressure medications, which can manifest even after years of use.
It is crucial to differentiate between allergic and non-allergic angioedema because treatment approaches differ significantly. Hereditary angioedema, for instance, results from a C1 inhibitor deficiency and does not respond to standard allergy medications like antihistamines or epinephrine. Understanding the cause is key to effective management.
