Cortisol Face: What Is It, Symptoms, Causes, Reduction Strategies, And More!

Seeing our puffy faces right after waking up is not something we wish for! TikTok and other social media platforms are all about Cortisol Face these days! A puffed face or swollen face makes me more anxious. Do you know why our faces look like this? Well, this happens because of cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone in the body.

The excessive hormonal rush of cortisol in the body makes our face look more bloated and puffier, causing a “cortisol face.”. Not only does it affect our facial expressions but also makes our cheeks chubbier, puffs up our eyes, and disc up our jaw. This blog covers everything you need to know about cortisol.

So, let’s get started!

• Cortisol face is characterized by a puffy or swollen face caused by higher levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) in the body.
• Cortisol face is not an actual medical term and can be resolved effectively with the help of healthy lifestyle practices.
• Moon face and cortisol face are both caused by excessive cortisol levels in the body. The only major difference is that cortisol face is temporary and can be resolved. However, moon face is a symptom of Cushing’s syndrome and can also be a sign of an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed by a professional only.

What is Cortisol Face?

Whenever our body gets stressed, our body releases the stress hormone cortisol. The cortisol levels of our body regulate the stress response and help our body manage dangers or emergencies. Excessive levels of cortisol in the body make our face puffier, swollen, and bloated.

Cortisol face can occur in any stressful situation! For example, suppose you’re stressed about an interview, you can see your swollen face the next morning. Generally, cortisol faces are a major sign of stress reaction, but in some cases, they can be a sign of something else.

Cortisol face is not a medical term but it is a term used on TikTok or other social media platforms to describe a puffy and bloated face caused by stress. Cortisol is a temporary issue that describes a buildup of fluids or fats around the skull and jawline. In some cases, the moon face or cortisol face can also cause some pain. This can be a major symptom of Cushing’s Syndrome (a disease caused by excessive cortisol in the body).

Moon face and cortisol face are both caused by excessive cortisol levels in the body. The only major difference between these two terms is that cortisol face is temporary and can be resolved with the help of self-help. However, moon face is a symptom of Cushing’s syndrome and can also be a sign of an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed or diagnosed by a professional only.

How to Identify “Cortisol Face?”

If you find yourself puffed up every time you look in the mirror, you must get your stress levels checked. Since cortisol face is a temporary issue, it can be resolved with self-help techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises, and self-care.

But, if your swollen face is painful and is worsening with time, you must connect with a physician. A permanently swollen, puffy, and painful face can be a sign of a physical health issue such as Cushing’s syndrome.

Cushing’s Syndrome is a hormonal disorder caused by excessive levels of cortisol in the body. The other symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome can be abnormal or unexplained weight gain, pink or purple stretch marks, lump between shoulders, weak muscles, and easy bruising. In such cases, we would strongly advise you to not fall into the trap of social media or self-diagnose yourself, it’s always better to connect with a professional.

What Causes Cortisol Face and Moon Face?

Cortisol face is a temporary condition caused by excessive levels of stress hormones in the body. On the other hand, the moon’s face can be caused by various factors such as:

• Cushing’s Syndrome: Cushing syndrome can cause a moon face followed by a round face, inflammation, and unexplained weight gain.
• Pseudo-Cushing’s Syndrome: It is a rare condition caused by high cortisol levels developed by severe mental health issues.
• Medications: Intake of some specific medications such as prednisone can also cause high cortisol levels in the body.
• Others: High salt intake, allergies, sleeping issues, lack of sleep, poor eating habits, excessive alcohol consumption, and eczema can also cause face swelling.

When to Seek Help?

Cortisol’s face can be effectively resolved with the help of relaxation, self-care, and breathing techniques because it is a temporary issue caused by high-stress levels in the body. However, if the puffy or moon face appearance is permanent, getting worse each day, or painful, you must connect with a physical health provider for evaluation and diagnosis. Herein, you can also connect with a mental health provider to learn how to manage stress effectively.

Self-Help Tips to Manage Cortisol Face

If your cortisol face is not painful and not accompanied by other symptoms, take a deep breath, we can help the puffiness resolve easily. Here’s how you can manage stress levels and get rid of a puffy face:

• Change your habits: Cortisol face is likely to be caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits such as junk eating, lack of sleep, and others. Therefore, get up, move your body, and start incorporating healthy habits into your routine.
• Practice mindfulness: One of the best ways to manage stress effectively is to be mindful. Mindfulness combined with breathing techniques, self-care, and meditative activities can help you get rid of stress effectively. You can also journal down your feelings, listen to music, show your artistic side, or do whatever makes you happy in the moment.
• Promote sleep hygiene: Lack of proper sleep and unhealthy sleeping habits can cause a puffy face. Therefore, focus on getting a good amount of deep sleep by practicing sleep hygiene.
• Indulge in self-care: Take a bubble bath, try aromatherapy, or do anything that makes you feel involved. Try self-care strategies and improve your overall lifestyle.
• Eat healthy: Avoid consuming junk food and higher amounts of caffeine as they can impact overall well-being Try to eat healthy, nutritious, and wholesome. Avoid eating things that may harm your physical and mental well-being. Avoid consuming excessively salty foods.

I hope this blog helps you understand everything about cortisol face. Comment down and share your queries related to cortisol face. For more such content, connect with us through social media.

Thanks for reading!