Is your face puffy from a cortisol condition?

While scrolling social media, you may have come across what users have coined “cortisol face.” The videos claim that face puffiness is a symptom of elevated cortisol. However, this isn’t entirely correct.

Cortisol is a stress hormone that plays a vital role in your body’s fight-or-flight response. It’s normal to experience elevated cortisol levels in response to stress. However, most healthy individuals will return to a baseline level once the stressor is reduced.

“Face swelling should be understood in context,” explains Dr. Batul Valika, an endocrinologist at Aurora Health Care. “Allergies, medications, changes in hormones, and poor sleep can all cause changes in your skin and fluid retention. Some of these changes are temporary.”

Dr. Valika says Cushing’s syndrome is a serious but rare condition that causes cortisol secretion from your adrenal or pituitary gland. This usually is caused by a tumor which influences extra cortisol production, leading to an influx of fatty deposits in your face and resulting in a rounder, and more puffy appearance – referred to as moon face.

If you have a puffy face, these additional symptoms should be reviewed with your health care provider:

• Subtle weight gain
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar
• Inconsistent menstrual cycle
• Dark hair growth on your chin or jawline
• Hair loss on the crown of your head
• Change in gastrointestinal habits
• Changes in energy levels or sleep patterns
• Trouble regulating your body temperature

Overall, Dr. Valika says excess cortisol is not very common. To rule out the condition, you’ll need proper lab work and an evaluation of other ongoing health concerns. If high cortisol levels are found, blood work and imaging will confirm the diagnosis.

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