If Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism is causing the moon face, your healthcare provider will treat it as part of your condition. As part of the management of your condition, you'll experience fewer symptoms over time, and moon face should disappear as you go through treatment.
Moon face caused by weight gain will resolve with weight loss. Since weight loss can't be targeted to certain parts of the body, facial exercises don't work to reduce moon face. Instead, adopting a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity can help you lose weight all over your body, including your face.
The appearance of moon face can start to fade when you stop taking steroids, but it may take several weeks or even months for your face to return to normal. To prevent steroid withdrawal, don't suddenly stop taking these drugs.
Moon face is not permanent and usually gets better when its cause is treated. “If corticosteroids are to blame, gradually tapering off them can help with weight loss and facial swelling,” Dr. Guo said. “You'll take less and less until your body adjusts, and you might be able to safely stop the steroid.
The swelling can make your face look round and puffy. Moon face is a common side effect of corticosteroid use and a symptom of certain health conditions. Although harmless, the condition can affect your self-esteem. The medical term for this is moon facies, but other people call it cortisol face.
The medical term is moon facies (caused by fat accumulation in the face) or facial plethora (caused by increased blood flow to the face and facial swelling), which is a relatively common symptom of Cushing's syndrome where there is weight gain in the face that generally also comes with redness in the face.
Signs of cortisol face
But doctors say that it's possible that being perpetually stressed can also impact your face. “Stress hormones have also been shown to make the skin look older, and to decrease levels of collagen and elastin that can create a more youthful appearance,” Dr. Goldenberg says.
To minimize withdrawal symptoms during detox, medical professionals may recommend tapering. Tapering is where the dose is reduced slowly, gradually allowing the body to flush the drug and release this dependence.
Magnesium Supplements
Magnesium is a type of mineral called an electrolyte, which helps balance your sodium levels. Studies show they may lower inflammation as well as puffiness in people who retain a lot of water. A common dosage is 200-400 milligrams a day.
Ozempic face is a colloquial term, not a medically recognized condition. It describes the facial changes that can accompany rapid weight loss when using medications like Ozempic or another version of the same drug (generic name semaglutide) FDA-approved for weight-loss treatment.
This medicine may cause fluid retention (edema) in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet, tingling of the hands or feet, or unusual weight gain or loss.
Facial swelling with erythema represents quite an unusual manifestation of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Dermatomyositis, systemic lupus and Morbihan disease are the main differential diagnoses.
Cortisol belly simply looks like abdominal fat, and there is no way to identify it by appearance. More important than its appearance is what cortisol belly can do to your health. Visceral fat is considered particularly dangerous because of its location near vital organs and its metabolic activity.
These symptoms usually go away once a person stops treatment. A lower dosage of steroids may also reduce the symptoms. Although moon face can affect a person's self-esteem, it is important to take steroid medication as a doctor has prescribed it.
Water retention causes swelling and puffiness in various parts of the body, including the face. This may give the illusion of excess facial fat. People who suspect they are sensitive to fluid retention should try to limit foods with high salt content. This includes most processed meals and snacks.
At-home cortisol tests
These cortisol tests, sometimes called at-home stress and sleep panels, involve buying a kit online or from a drugstore. You can use a blood, urine, or saliva sample depending on the type of test you buy. The test will include instructions on how to collect your sample.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 is especially helpful for your immune system, hormones, heart health, and energy. According to one study, 8 weeks of omega-3 supplementation may reduce morning cortisol levels and symptoms of emotional exhaustion. While fish oil pills often have some omega-3, they may also contain omega-6.
A typical adrenal or cortisol cocktail recipe includes orange juice, sea salt, and coconut water. These ingredients cover the nutrients (vitamin C, sodium, and potassium) considered essential for adrenal health and hydration.