Understand the condition that caused Bruna Biancardi's mouth to swell

Influencer Bruna Biancardi , 31, told her followers why she appeared wearing a mask during the NFL São Paulo Game , held on Friday, 5th, at Arena Corinthians.

She reported that the accessory wasn't related to public health, but rather an aesthetic issue. Biancardi explained that she decided to pop a pimple near her mouth and ended up developing facial cellulitis . "It started as a silly pimple that I wanted to pop... it ended up getting infected, it swelled up a lot, and it turned into facial cellulitis," she said on Instagram Stories.

Two days after the swelling began, Bruna showed off her lips and promised not to repeat the mistake. "Today is the second day. The photos aren't pretty, but I want to warn you: never pop a pimple," she emphasized.

According to Neymar 's wife, she wore a mask at the event only to avoid embarrassment. "I preferred to wear one because it's not contagious and can't be passed on to anyone. But I didn't want to appear in the photos as if I'd been stung on one side," she explained.

Image: Reproduction/Instagram

What is facial cellulite and how to treat it?

Facial cellulitis is a bacterial infection that affects deeper layers of the skin and can lead to serious complications if not treated properly. One of these complications is venous thrombosis.

Vascular surgeon Herik Oliveira , of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, explains that venous thrombosis is characterized by the formation of a thrombus, or clot, within a vein. The problem is most common in the lower limbs, but can also affect the upper limbs in some cases.

"Venous thrombosis is a vascular disease characterized by the acute formation of a thrombus, or clot, within a vein. It can occur at any stage of a person's life, but is most common in adulthood. It is most common in the lower limbs, but 1% to 4% of cases can occur in the upper limbs," the specialist explains to IstoÉ Gente .

The doctor states that the development of thrombosis is linked to three main factors: changes in blood clotting, damage to the vein wall and slowing of blood flow.

"This can occur during pregnancy, when using estrogen-based contraceptives, during breastfeeding, during the postpartum period, during severe infections, dehydration, postoperatively, and even in some blood diseases, such as thrombophilia. It can also occur when there is damage to the vessel wall, resulting from infection, autoimmune disease, cancer, or catheter use. It can also occur when there is venous stasis, i.e., slow blood flow, common in prolonged immobilization or in bedridden patients," she explains.

Risk factors for the problem include advanced age, family history, recent surgeries, trauma, cancer, pregnancy, use of hormonal contraceptives, obesity, long trips, and blood disorders that favor clot formation. Varicose veins can also contribute.

Herik Oliveira states that thrombosis in the upper limbs usually presents well-defined symptoms.

"The patient will experience swelling, or edema, in the arm or forearm. This swelling is accompanied by severe, intense, sharp pain, with localized redness and color changes, which may include pallor or cyanosis at the ends of the fingers. This patient may report pain when moving the elbow," he states.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by clinical examination and confirmed with venous Doppler ultrasound, which allows visualization of the thrombus, the extent of the obstruction, and the affected veins. Treatment includes anticoagulants, analgesics, and, in more severe cases, procedures such as thrombectomy or fibrinolytics to dissolve the clot.

"Complications usually appear in the most severe cases or when treatment isn't started early. The main one is the progression of the thrombus to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism," he warns.

Even with the severity of the condition, the prognosis is usually positive with appropriate treatment and specialized monitoring.

"Venous thrombosis of the upper limbs generally has a good prognosis. Treatment can last three to six months, with home medication after hospital discharge and follow-up with a vascular surgeon or angiologist," he concludes.