This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Alayna Thomas. Find her on Instagram at @ratatoolie. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Faces are a huge topic on TikTok. I recently talked about pillow face, which is when someone’s dermal filler causes them to look swollen. After my ‘for you’ page was done showing me content about pillow face, it decided to flood me with content about a new type of face.
For those of us who haven’t gone under the needle, don’t worry, we still have a swollen face to worry about. It’s dubbed moon face, or cortisol face.
What is Moon Face?
Moon face is a build up of fat in the face as well as swelling that causes it to look round. Someone who has moon face may not be able to see their ears from the front.
Moon face is caused by very high levels of cortisol, usually caused by prolonged usage of prednisone or hormonal issues, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s Syndrome.
Cortisol is a hormone produced in our body. It’s known as the ‘stress hormone’, because our body releases it in times of stress. It regulates our response to stress, reduces inflammation, and regulates the metabolism, blood pressure, blood sugar, and sleep cycle.
Too much or too little cortisol can negatively impact you. Too much cortisol can have the opposite effect, leading to inflammation and high blood sugar which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Too little cortisol can also increase inflammation and lead to low blood sugar and pressure.
How Do I Know If I Have Too Much Cortisol?
The only way to know your cortisol levels is to get tested for it, as it is a hormone. Additionally, although many of us may suffer from slightly elevated levels of cortisol caused by the stresses of everyday life or by mental conditions like anxiety or PTSD, we do not have actual high levels of cortisol.
As mentioned, many people who have moon faces have them due to conditions that alter their cortisol levels greatly, or other conditions that can influence weight and/or fluid build up
Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are used to treat things like asthma, allergies, and inflammatory bowel syndrome. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and can increase the production of cortisol in the body. This can lead to those who take corticosteroids to have swelling not only in the face, but in the legs and feet. They can also develop high blood sugar, thin skin, and weaker bones (osteoporosis).
There is also Cushing’s Syndrome, a rare disease which is caused by too much cortisol production. Hallmarks of Cushing’s includes a moon face, easy bruising, weak muscles, and wide, purple stretch marks, mostly across the abdomen. Cushing’s Syndrome can cause high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and blood clots in the heart and lungs. A way to get diagnosed is to get tested for high levels of cortisol in the body, such as a blood, saliva, or urine test.
So I Don’t Have Moon Face?
You probably do not have moon face or cortisol face. If you do have one, you probably experience other side effects, such as swelling in other parts of the body or weight gain. Moon face itself is not a condition, it’s a symptom; it is indicative of something else going on.
There are now doctors on TikTok discussing how harmful it is that people are spreading misinformation, preying on people’s insecurities.
I honestly have not heard of moon face or cortisol face until I started seeing it on social media. To me, this is trivializing a symptom of very serious conditions that people suffer from. If everyone is claiming that a rounder face shape is a moon face, how can those that are actually dealing with complications from a disease like Cushing’s Syndrome do research?
But, some still might have a bit of excess weight and swelling in the face, which is completely normal. The amount of fluid in your body can change day by day, based on what you ate, how much water you drank, or how well you slept.
So, Why Are TikTokers Saying That I Have Too Much Cortisol?
Along with cortisol face, many are also talking about cortisol belly, which is claimed to be stomach bloating and fat gain due to high cortisol. A lot of those talking about high cortisol are pushing supplements that claim to lower it. This includes magnesium and ashwagandha. So, they are creating a new health scare and insecurity so you can buy something off of their TikTok shop.
However, there is a silver lining. As someone who does have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I do take magnesium glycinate pills to help. There is research that suggests this, and I discussed it with my doctor. High anxiety can lead to high stress, which makes you produce more cortisol. Magnesium is a mineral that helps as well as muscle relaxation and blood pressure, both of which can be affected by stress and cortisol. So, those TikTokers are not entirely wrong. However, you most likely do not suffer from such high levels of it. Plus, do your research on supplements and their side effects and if possible, speak to a healthcare professional before taking them.
Additionally, many of those who are discussing how they got rid of their cortisol face are discussing how they partook in things like meditating, exercising, and eating healthier… all are activities that help with lowering anxiety and stress and can cause you to lose weight in general, including your face.
Wait… I Just Need Healthier Habits?
Yes! As mentioned, when you exercise and eat healthier, you lose fat all over your body (spot reduction is a myth). So, many of these people who claim ‘you aren’t fat, you just have cortisol face’ and then detail on how they cut back on sugar and processed foods, take a 30 minute walk every day, and drink more water, have most likely just lost a bit of weight from their face.
Additionally, when a lot of us are stressed, we crave sugary, salty foods. When we eat those foods, we can store extra fluid and gain weight. By regulating stress, you can regulate these cravings.
Likewise, stress can affect sleep quality. Maybe it takes forever to fall asleep or you wake up in the middle of the night. Either way, a lack of good sleep can also impact fluid retention and how much you crave processed foods. Ever since I started working on my sleep hygiene and tried sleeping for eight hours, I realized that I do have less of a craving for sweets and chips.
So, don’t freak out if you’re googling ‘what is moon face’ and are wondering if you have one. Just exercise, eat leafy greens, and get a good night’s rest. You look just fine!
Do you know what moon face is? Do you think it’s another health scare made up for people to profit off of? Let us know in the comments!
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