You’re Not Ugly, You’re Just Stressed! Bizarre Effect of Cortisol on Facial Structure

Influencers have come up with a new drug that you can blame all your problems on: cortisol.

In more than 140,000 posts on the topic, TikTok users blame the stress hormone for everything from puffy faces to bloating to adult acne.

According to doctors, this natural hormone can, in rare cases, cause facial swelling, as in the case of comedienne Amy Schumer, who suffers from a rare condition in which cortisol goes into overdrive: Cushing’s disease.

But for the average person, a puffy face is likely a natural occurrence and not a sign of an underlying hormonal imbalance.

“I think the ‘cortisol face’ trend is an attempt to explain a perceived cosmetic problem, like a round face, and medicalize it so we can fix it ourselves,” dermatologist Dr. Cristina Psomadakis told The New York Times.

It seems that many people are concerned about a swollen face. Google searches for ‘cortisol face’ have been steadily increasing since March 2024, peaking earlier this month.

This may be partly because the topic is so popular on social media.

Liz Tenuto, known to her 2 million TikTok followers as The Workout Witch, has released many videos on the topic.

In a video posted in January 2024, Ms. Tenuto said high cortisol “changes your appearance” by giving you adult acne, a puffy face, a lump on the neck, bags around the eyes, bloating and more.

To solve this problem, Ms. Tenuto advised the commentators: ‘I suggest doing the stress and trauma releasing somatic exercises at the [link emoji][heart emoji]’.

At this link you will find a range of personalized exercise programs, journals and workout routines from Ms. Tenuto starting at $19.

Other influencers use this to promote their individual supplement lines or apple cider vinegar. Others recommend Gua Sha, a traditional Chinese medical practice where a tool is passed over the face to promote bloating.

However, doctors like Dr. Rajita Sinha, a licensed clinical psychologist and director of the Yale Interdisciplinary Stress Center, told The NYT that these symptoms, such as a puffy face, are not a sign that anything is wrong.

According to Dr. Sinha, stress levels for the average person would have to be very, very high to have a visible, non-temporary effect.

Mrs. Schumer announced in a newsletter in February 2024 that she was dealing with Cushing’s syndrome

The facial differences are probably caused by natural changes associated with aging or weight fluctuations.

Cortisol is sometimes called the stress hormone, but it plays a much more complex role in the body.

According to science, there are receptors for the hormone on almost every part of your body. the Cleveland ClinicOnce it enters your bloodstream, it can attach to everything from your immune system to your muscles, your hair, your skin and your nails.

It helps regulate your body’s energy use, regulates blood pressure, and tells you when to be alert and when to sleep.

It may also play a role in inflammation, which is where the idea of ​​the cortisol face came from.

When your body responds to an injury, it releases cortisol, which causes your body to become inflamed in order to eradicate invading bacteria or other outside forces that could make you sick.

Sometimes chronic stress can have a similar effect on the body, regularly releasing large amounts of cortisol into the bloodstream, leading to inflammation that can make you look bloated.

But this condition is actually quite rare and is usually only seen in people recovering from surgery, taking steroids, or dealing with an underlying health condition.

For example, Cushing’s syndrome is a condition in which your glands produce too much cortisol, leading to chronic swelling, weight gain, and a round face.

It can be fatal or go away on its own, and it is relatively rare, affecting 40 to 70 people per million. according to the NIH.

Comedian Amy Schumer, 43, currently suffers from Cushing’s syndrome. She has fought back against the public attention she has received for her full face while also trying to raise awareness for the condition.

They’ve been a crazy bunch [of] weeks for me and my family. On top of the fear for my health, I had to be on camera and the internet had to get involved. But thank God for that. Because that’s when I realized something was wrong,” Schumer said.