Bulimia face and cheek swelling
Bulimia nervosa (referred to here as bulimia) is a common eating disorder. There are many physical symptoms and medical issues that can be related to this condition. Thankfully, almost all medical complications from bulimia are fully reversible with treatment. For this article we will focus on talking about bulimia-related face swelling, sometimes referred to as “chipmunk cheeks.”
Bulimia symptoms: A quick overview
The symptoms of bulimia include:
Binge eating (consuming a large amount of food in a short time)
ANDPurging (engaging in a behavior to rid the body of food, such as making yourself vomit, taking laxatives or water pills or medication not prescribed to you)
To be diagnosed with bulimia, people engage in these behaviors at least once a week for three months and feel a lack of control during these episodes. The most common compensatory behavior for patients with eating disorders is self-induced vomiting, which is also known as purging.
Causes of bulimia face swelling
The exact cause of face swelling in bulimia is unclear. However, several theories have been proposed including dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system[2].
Each person has three sets of salivary glands. The parotid glands are the largest of these glands and are located just in front of the ears. When people vomit frequently and then abruptly stop vomiting, the parotid glands can swell up to five times their normal size. That said,
The amount of swelling varies from person to person.
The swelling may be very noticeable and bothersome.
The swelling is usually painless and bilateral (on both sides of the face).
A small percentage of people with bulimia (10%) will experience painful face swelling[1]. The medical term for this is sialadenosis.
Why do the cheeks swell after purging stops?
The salivary glands typically do not start swelling until a few days after purging stops. It can be frustrating for people to experience this side effect after they stop purging. The good news is that the swelling does eventually go down.
How to reduce cheek swelling with bulimia
Face swelling with bulimia almost always responds to treatment. Treatment remedies include:
Sucking on sour candy (lemonhead or other tart hard candy)
Applying a heating pad to the cheeks several times a day
Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
Over time, the salivary glands will shrink back to their normal size. In severe cases, this condition can be treated with the medication pilocarpine. It is extremely rare that a patient has chronic symptoms that do not respond to treatment. In those cases, surgery (parotidectomy) could be considered.
Other symptoms of bulimia to watch for
Facial swelling is just one of many side effects that can occur when people purge through self-induced vomiting. Frequent purging can affect many areas within the head, eyes, ears, nose and throat, potentially causing:
Gingivitis
Bad breath
Dry mouth
Broken blood vessels in the whites of the eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage)
Nosebleeds (epistaxis)
Bulimia doesn’t just affect the head, neck and face. There are many complications associated with bulimia throughout the entire body. Bulimia symptoms can be both mental and physical, including:
Depression and anxiety
Heart palpitations
Fatigue
Dehydration
Irregular periods
Dry skin
Russell’s sign – scarring or thick skin on the backs of the knuckles
Chronic constipation (particularly worse in those who misuse laxatives)
Electrolyte and lab abnormalities
The long-term effects of bulimia tend to be more severe for those who purge more frequently.
Bulimia treatment options
In order to resolve cheek swelling with bulimia, it is important to stop purging completely. This can be very hard to do without support. When it comes to professional treatment, a three-pronged approach can be very effective. This includes:
Medical management from physicians experienced in eating disorders
Nutritional counseling and support from registered dietitians
Eating disorder support groups and support from loved ones can also be very helpful.
Recovery is within reach
Eating Recovery Center offers a full continuum of care that’s designed to connect you with the right support at the right time, starting with the assessment and continuing all the way through to aftercare support. Find healing with one of our distinct programs:
Learn more about bulimia treatment at Eating Recovery Center.
Eating disorders can cause devastating health consequences, but help is available. Please reach out to us at (866) 622-5914 or fill out this form if you have any questions about bulimia treatment or complications. And remember that eating disorder recovery is possible.