Do You Have Cortisol Face?

For those chronically online worriers, you may have recently examined before and after pictures of yourself looking for signs of “cortisol face.” Described as looking especially round, puffy and bloated, is this just another TikTok claim or is there something more to it?

To start, cortisol is a good thing. It’s a hormone the body produces in response to stress, as well as other key bodily functions, such as controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation. Online “experts” claim that a puffy “cortisol face” is caused by high levels of cortisol, brought on by stress. It’s also known as “moon face,” but neither is an official diagnosis.

It’s true that if your body doesn’t produce the right amount of cortisol, there could be an issue. Cushing syndrome, for example, happens when the body produces too much cortisol, and one of its main symptoms is a round face.

But this condition is rare and marked by chronic high levels of cortisol, so occasional instances of a puffy or more rounded face are much more likely to be tied to something less serious. When you feel stressed, higher levels of cortisol can cause you to retain water and salt, affecting facial tissue. And medications like steroids are also known to cause fluid retention and bloating. Stress can also suppress the immune system, making you more at risk for inflammation. But again, this is typically seen in those with chronically high level of cortisol.

The typical stress you experience in your day-to-day life is not likely to cause this type of facial change. If anything, it might create a very subtle and temporary change, unless you are chronically under a lot of stress. Your best bet for the least puffiness is to drink lots of water and limit or reduce your salt intake.