This Is What Really Causes Puffy Face In The Morning

Once you've slammed off your ringing alarm and stumbled your way into the bathroom early in the morning, what do you see when you peer into the mirror? For many of us, it's hardly a picture of perfection. The pillow marks on your cheek and the hurricane hair are normal. However, if you're able to focus your bleary vision and notice your face is slightly — or incredibly — more puffy than the night before, then it's time to play health detective.

Let's rule out a few of the more concerning reasons behind a puffy face first. According to Women's Health, facial swelling could be a key sign that you're allergic to something you ate or something around you. If the puffiness is accompanied by trouble breathing, then contact a medical professional immediately. If your airways are not blocked and you've ruled out any allergies, your early morning puffy face could be the result of an underlying medical condition. "There are many health conditions that can present with facial swelling including thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and kidney disease," notes Dr. Susan Mayou, a London-based consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic (via Ada Ooi).

If you're staring at an extra-puffy reflection, ask yourself if you got the normal amount of shut-eye the night before. Or perhaps you veered from your normal sleeping pattern? Whatever your reason for disturbed sleep (maybe a bad mattress), that, or lack of it, could be the reason for the extra puffiness around your eyes and jawline. "Sleeping is when the body heals and clears toxins," explains NYC-based dermatologist, Dr. Francesca Fusco, to Well+Good. "Not getting enough sleep puts a strain on skin and may contribute to water retention and/or puffiness."

A puffy appearance in the morning may also be due to dehydration or your sleep position. "It could be due to the position that you sleep in, the type of pillow used, your water or fluid intake during the day. Also, there is a fluid redistribution to the face when we are in a horizontal lying-down position," says dermatologist, Dr. Apratim Goel, to Vogue.

Finally, a puffy face in the morning could also be due to a lack of exercise. "Exercise and workout opens the pores of your skin and increases blood supply to the skin. As a consequence, water and salt both are excreted from the body as sweat. This keeps the water-salt balance low in the body and reduces puffiness," says Dr. Goel. "So it's important to have an active lifestyle to maintain this balance and avoid a puffy face," she adds.