What ‘cortisol face’ really is as doctor warns to seek advice on symptoms

There are a whole bunch of health trends, advice and warnings going about on social media right now.

We already know all about the worrying 'yacht shoulders' fad, and the surprising benefits of the 'bed rotting' trend... but the latest health phenomenon everyone's talking about on social media is known as 'cortisol face'.

And a doctor has since weighed in on the trend taking over TikTok, revealing what it actually is while warning people to seek advice on common symptoms.

What is 'cortisol face'?

There are millions upon millions of views under 'cortisol face' on TikTok right now with many creators convinced they've figured out the reason behind their facial puffiness.

Women are now turning their attention to cortisol AKA the body's natural 'stress' hormone as an explanation for their puffy 'before' shots and more chiselled 'after' footage.

Such creators are now swearing that, in order to get rid of your 'cortisol face' or 'moon face', all you have to do is make some lifestyle changes like taking certain supplements, reducing your caffeine intake and high intensity work-out routines.

Medical experts have since weighed in on the TikTok diagnosis sweeping across the platform with Dr Nicky Keay, a senior lecturer at UCL and the author of Hormones, Health and Human Potential, explaining that while there is an 'element of truth' to the belief that a puffier face could be a sign of raised cortisol levels - it could also be signs of another condition altogether.

"I would say this trend is a myth with an element of truth," Keay says.

"There is a very specific medical condition called Cushing’s syndrome, where a person produces too much cortisol. As a result, their blood pressure goes up, they get fluid retention, and they form a deposition of fat on their face."

What is Cushing's syndrome?

Cushing's syndrome is a condition caused by having too much of a hormone called cortisol in your body and, according to the NHS, it can be serious if it's not treated.

Symptoms of Cushing's syndrome can start suddenly or gradually. They tend to get slowly worse if not treated.

One of the main signs is weight gain and more body fat, such as:

• increased fat on your chest and tummy, but slim arms and legs
• a build-up of fat on the back of your neck and shoulders, known as a 'buffalo hump'
• a red, puffy, rounded face

Other symptoms include:

• skin that bruises easily
• large purple stretch marks
• weakness in your upper arms and thighs
• a reduced sex drive (low libido) and fertility problems
• depression and mood swings

Lots of things can cause similar symptoms to Cushing's syndrome, so it's a good idea to get checked to find out what the problem is.

Should we be worried about 'cortisol face'?

Keay assures that it's pretty unlikely that the hundreds of TikTokers all share the same similar serious condition.

"Cushing’s is diagnosed by a blood test, and anyone would need a blood test to discount it," she says.

"However, there are so many other things that can cause a puffy face: for example, fluid retention if you’ve just got off a flight."

The doctor also notes that the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle can also cause facial puffiness or that, maybe, some of these women had just 'put on weight, and now have simply lost it because they have addressed poor lifestyle habits'.

Keay continued: "You can’t necessarily avoid stress – and while it is true that individuals respond to stress differently, you do have a choice about how you respond to it.

Jane Ollis, a medical biochemist and the founder of Mindspire, a company which investigates how technology can help our wellbeing, adds: "Blaming cortisol for a puffy face is like blaming the last slice of pizza for your entire diet.

"It oversimplifies the issue and ignores other significant factors."

Find out more about Cushing's syndrome here.