SymptomWhole body & general
Symptoms of the Face: Wounds, Swelling, Pain and Rashes
Symptoms of the face range from a face wound or injury to swelling, pain, numbness, drooping, flushing and rashes. A small wound on the face usually heals well because the face has a rich blood supply, but cuts that gape, bleed heavily or cross the lip edge, eyelid or nose may need stitches within hours. Sudden facial droop, numbness or weakness can be a stroke and needs a 911 call. Most other face symptoms come from skin conditions, sinus or dental problems, or allergies.
Also called: Face symptoms, facial problems, facial complaints, face wound, facial injury
At a glance
- What it covers
- Wounds and injuries, swelling, pain, numbness, weakness, rashes and color changes of the face.
- Face wound medical term
- A facial laceration (a cut), abrasion (a graze) or contusion (a bruise).
- Most common causes
- Falls and knocks, skin conditions, sinus and dental problems, allergies.
- Most urgent signs
- Sudden droop or numbness, rapid swelling of lips or tongue, a deep or gaping facial cut, or an injury to the eye.
- First aid for cuts
- Firm pressure for 10 minutes, rinse with clean water, and get stitches within about 12 to 24 hours if needed.
When to get help
Call 911 or go to the ER
- Sudden face drooping, numbness or weakness, especially on one side, with arm weakness or slurred speech: call 911 or your local emergency number
- Rapid swelling of the lips, tongue or face with trouble breathing or swallowing (anaphylaxis): use an epinephrine auto-injector if prescribed and call 911
- A face injury with loss of consciousness, vomiting, clear fluid from the nose, or bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes of firm pressure
- An injury to the eyeball, or a change in vision after a blow to the face
See a doctor within a day or two
- A cut that gapes, is deeper than about 0.5 cm (1/4 inch), or crosses the edge of the lip, eyelid, nostril or ear
- A dog or human bite to the face
- After a blow: double vision, teeth that no longer meet, numbness of the cheek or upper lip, or a misshapen nose
- Painful red swelling of the face with fever, or swelling around the eye
Book a routine appointment
- A rash, spots or flushing that keeps coming back
- Facial pain lasting more than a week
- A sore or lump on the face that has not healed in 4 weeks
Usually safe to manage at home
- A small graze or shallow cut whose edges stay together
- A minor bruise without changes in vision, bite or sensation
Face wounds: first aid
- Stop the bleeding. Press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth for 10 minutes without lifting to check. Facial cuts bleed a lot, even when small.
- Clean it. Rinse under running tap water. Remove visible dirt gently. Avoid hydrogen peroxide or alcohol in the wound, which damage tissue.
- Decide whether it needs closing (see below). If so, cover it and get care the same day.
- Dress it. For small wounds, apply petroleum jelly and a bandage. Keeping the wound moist reduces scarring.
- Check tetanus. You need a booster if your last one was more than 5 years ago for a dirty wound, or 10 years ago for a clean one.
When a cut on the face needs stitches
- the edges gape or do not stay together
- it is deeper than the skin, or you can see fat or muscle
- it crosses the red edge of the lip (the vermilion border), the eyelid margin, eyebrow or nose rim, where a millimeter of misalignment shows
- it was caused by a bite
- bleeding does not stop with pressure
Facial wounds are usually closed within 12 to 24 hours, often with fine stitches, skin glue or adhesive strips. Facial stitches are typically removed after 5 days. See facial laceration and open wound of the face.
Reducing a scar
Keep the healed wound moisturized and protect it from the sun with clothing or SPF 30+ sunscreen for at least 6 months, because sun darkens new scars. Gentle massage and silicone gel can help once the skin has closed.
Face injuries beyond cuts
A hard blow can break facial bones. Clues include a nose that is newly crooked, double vision or a sunken eye, numbness in the cheek or upper lip, and teeth that no longer bite together. These need X-rays or a CT scan. See facial fractures and injury to the face. Any face injury with a head injury, drowsiness or vomiting needs emergency care.
Facial swelling
| Pattern | Likely causes |
|---|---|
| Sudden, lips and eyes, itchy | Allergy, angioedema; urgent if breathing is affected |
| One cheek, painful, near a tooth | Dental abscess |
| In front of the ear or under the jaw, worse with meals | Salivary gland infection or stone |
| Red, hot, spreading, with fever | Cellulitis |
| Puffy eyes in the morning | Fluid retention, allergies, sleep, kidney problems |
| After injury | Bruising, fracture |
More on swollen face.
Facial pain
- Sinusitis: pressure over the cheeks or forehead, worse bending forward, with a blocked nose.
- Dental problems: toothache, abscess, cracked tooth.
- Jaw joint (TMJ) disorders: pain in front of the ear, clicking, worse with chewing. See jaw pain.
- Trigeminal neuralgia: sudden electric-shock pains on one side, triggered by touch, chewing or wind.
- Shingles: burning pain then a blistering rash on one side of the face.
- Cluster headache and migraine can cause pain around the eye and face.
Our facial pain page covers this in depth.
Facial numbness, weakness and droop
Sudden one-sided droop or numbness is treated as a stroke until proven otherwise. Use F.A.S.T.: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911.
Bell's palsy and other facial nerve palsies cause weakness of one whole side of the face, including the forehead, developing over hours to a day, often with ear pain or altered taste. In a stroke the forehead is usually spared. Only a doctor can tell them apart reliably.
Rashes, flushing and spots
- Acne: blackheads, pimples and cysts, mainly in teens and young adults.
- Rosacea: persistent redness, flushing, visible vessels and pimples across the cheeks and nose in adults. See rosacea.
- Eczema and seborrheic dermatitis: dry or greasy scaly patches around the nose, eyebrows and hairline.
- Contact dermatitis from cosmetics, hair dye or plants.
- Lupus: a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose, worse with sun.
- Skin cancer: a sore that does not heal, a pearly lump, or a changing mole, more common on sun-exposed facial skin.
Frequently asked questions
What is the medical term for a face wound?
A cut on the face is called a facial laceration. A graze is an abrasion, a bruise is a contusion, and a wound that breaks the skin is an open wound of the face. Doctors also describe the exact location, such as forehead, cheek or lip.
Does a cut on my face need stitches?
It likely does if it gapes, is deeper than about 0.5 cm (1/4 inch), keeps bleeding after 10 minutes of pressure, was caused by a bite, or crosses the lip edge, eyelid, eyebrow or nostril. Try to get it closed within 12 to 24 hours.
How long does a wound on the face take to heal?
Small facial cuts and grazes usually close within 5 to 10 days, faster than on the body because of the good blood supply. The scar keeps maturing for 6 to 12 months, so protecting it from sun during that time improves its final look.
What causes sudden facial swelling?
The most common causes are allergic reactions, dental abscesses, skin infections and injury. Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat with breathing difficulty is an emergency. One-sided painful swelling with fever suggests infection and needs prompt care.
What does it mean if one side of my face droops?
It can mean a stroke or Bell's palsy. Call 911 immediately if the droop is sudden, especially with arm or leg weakness, slurred speech or confusion. Even if it seems like Bell's palsy, it should be checked the same day.
Sources
This guide was written from current patient and clinical guidance, including:
- American Academy of Dermatology: How to treat minor cuts
- American College of Emergency Physicians: Cuts and Wounds
- MedlinePlus: Cuts and puncture wounds
- American Stroke Association: Stroke Symptoms (F.A.S.T.)
- NHS: Cuts and grazes