Ask Dr. Anna Feldweg Is Face Swelling a Sign of an Allergic Reaction?

Q: From time to time my face swells up. It's always just one side of my face on my cheek near my jaw. It almost looks likes the mumps. Is this an allergic reaction?

— Lynn, Florida

Ask Dr. Anna Feldweg

Is Face Swelling a Sign of an Allergic Reaction?

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Q: From time to time my face swells up. It's always just one side of my face on my cheek near my jaw. It almost looks likes the mumps. Is this an allergic reaction?

— Lynn, Florida

A:  It could be a condition called angioedema. Some types of angioedema are allergic and others are not. Angioedema shows up as dramatic swelling that happens unpredictably, commonly affecting the face, ears, hands or feet, or genitals. It usually doesn’t hurt, although the skin can feel tight, and it lasts several days and then goes away, leaving no marks behind on the skin. It can begin at any point in life.
Some medicines can trigger angioedema, such as over-the-counter pain relievers (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, but usually not acetaminophen). In contrast, allergies to foods and things you breathe rarely cause swelling like this. The blood pressure drugs called ACE inhibitors can cause angioedema, but the swelling usually involves the tongue or sometimes the lips, but rarely other parts of the face.

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