Cortisol Face – A Weird TikTok Trend Or More?
The so-called “cortisol face” or “moon face” has been causing a stir on social media channels for some time now. In their videos, young people claim that their chubby face is the result of too much stress – and too high cortisol levels. In some cases, one post reaches over 5 million views. Statements such as “You’re not ugly, you just have a cortisol face” are then made. Everyday stress is said to be to blame.
Cortisol is actually the most important stress hormone that our body produces. This so-called steroid hormone is produced by the adrenal glands and helps to regulate metabolism, control our immune and stress responses and maintain blood pressure.
The body also releases more cortisol in everyday stressful situations. Similar to adrenaline and noradrenaline, it prepares us for a fight or flight situation. This means that blood pressure and blood sugar levels rise, the immune system is suppressed and the fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism works more intensively. If cortisol levels in the body are high in the evening, this can lead to sleep disorders.
Cortisol as a wake-up-call
Normally, however, the cortisol level is at its lowest at night when we sleep because it is continuously reduced during the course of the day. In the morning, however, more cortisol is released to make the body more efficient during the day. Shortly after waking up, it even acts as a natural stimulant. In normal quantities, this steroid hormone is therefore not harmful, but vital.
Of course, too much cortisol can be harmful to health in the long term. But so far there is no medical proof that everyday stress leads to such serious consequences as those associated with a rare disease known as Cushion syndrome. It causes fluid retention in the face with fat deposits on both sides of the face, giving it a rounder or puffy appearance. Hence the unflattering term cushion face or moon face.
Fat deposits also on the body
However, a persistently high cortisol level not only leads to increased fat deposits in the face, but often also in the abdominal area. Even the shoulders and neck can look thicker. Last but not least, the skin structure can be affected. “It becomes thinner and small bleedings often occur under the skin,” says Dr. Petra Algenstaedt, hormone expert and Medical Director at the UKE Hamburg. “This often leads to cycle disorders and sometimes also to mood swings and psychological changes.” If too much cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands in the long term, the risk of developing diabetes and osteoporosis also increases significantly – especially in menopausal women.
What is a cortisol face?
To emphasize once again, chronically elevated cortisol levels are required for the clinical picture of cushion syndrome described above, which incidentally occurs extremely rarely with around five cases in a million people. The cortisol face, as it circulates on the internet, is not a medically recognized term and has little to do with the syndrome.
What is true is that the cortisol level in the blood increases when there is constant stress and the adrenal cortex is stimulated to produce too much of the stress hormone. Recurring emotional or psychological stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, for example during pregnancy or the menopause, are possible causes.
A lab test provides certainty
Anyone who notices changes in their face and believes they have a “cortisol face” due to excessive stress can help themselves with simple stress management measures that lower cortisol levels. These include regular physical activity, a healthy diet and sufficient sleep. The best way to be sure is to have yourself examined by a doctor.
Cortisol levels are measured in blood, saliva or urine samples. As it fluctuates greatly throughout the day, several measurements should be taken at different times of the day. The normal concentration of cortisol in the blood of adults at eight o’clock in the morning is around 4.8-19.5 µg/dl (equivalent to 133-537 nmol/l). The cortisol concentration from 24-hour urine collection should be around 21-292 µg/24h in adults. Source
cortisol face, cushion syndrome
CultureAndCream Author from Munich
To travel during my profession as a beauty journalist was never enough for my. Also my six month on a world trip didn’t do it. It always attracts me to other cities, foreign countries, on roadtrips and places I don’t know yet. But I am not only interested in “culture” and “cream”, I am also fascinated by people who have stories to tell . Such unique experiences I want to share with you.