Welcome back to Just Curious, Strong Women’s weekly series exploring all the random health and fitness questions you’ve always wondered about but never got the answers to.

This week, we’re looking into the truth behind the ‘cortisol face’ trend that’s been circulating on social media.

Cortisol, cortisol, cortisol. You can’t spend time on social media these days without influencers talking about the benefits of low-intensity workouts and diagnosing strangers with excessive cortisol levels. In the world of hormones, cortisol has made it big time.

As with many health-related trends, much of the interest in cortisol is due to its potential impact on appearance – specifically, excess bloating in the face and stomach. This has led to the term ‘cortisol face’ circulating on social media, with posts on the topic sharing how taking steps to reduce your cortisol levels can lead to a more chiselled, sharp-edged face. 

But you need to take all this information with a big pinch of salt. While cortisol can cause facial swelling in some circumstances, it’s a lot more complicated than stress = swelling. Below, Dr Vijay Murthy, a leading functional medicine doctor, explains the truth behind ‘cortisol face’. 

A round, puffy face can be a sign of high cortisol levels, but not in the way you might think. Dr Murthy says it’s very unlikely that this kind of symptom can be caused by unmanaged stress.

“While it is true that chronic high cortisol can cause facial swelling, this is usually linked to severe endocrine disorders, not the everyday stress most of us encounter,” he explains.

One such endocrine disorder is Cushing’s syndrome, which causes abnormally high levels of cortisol to emerge in the body. ‘Cortisol face’ or  ‘moon face’ is a key sign of Cushing’s syndrome, as is excess weight in the trunk and between the shoulders. But Cushing’s syndrome has nothing to do with your daily stress levels: it’s triggered by factors ranging from medications to pituitary gland issues.  

Because of this, Dr Murthy believes many of the ‘transformations’ people are posting on social media after taking steps to reduce their stress levels are exaggerated.

“Cortisol is crucial for managing stress and metabolism, but while it can influence fat distribution and fluid retention that might lead to a puffier face, such pronounced effects are rarely caused by typical levels of stress,” he explains. “The body has natural mechanisms to regulate cortisol, and it’s usually only under extreme or prolonged stress conditions that one might see significant changes.” 

Not only can the ‘cortisol face’ conversation make people unnecessarily anxious about normal bodily changes, but it can stop people from accessing proper treatment or making lifestyle changes that will help them.

“The misinformation about ‘cortisol face’ can lead people to falsely attribute normal facial changes to stress, overlooking other potential causes like diet, sleep and overall health,” he says. Indeed, as Dr Murthy points out, it’s entirely normal to have periods where your face holds onto more water – for example, when you’re on your period.

And if your symptoms are being caused by something more serious, like an endocrine disorder, then simply reducing your stress levels won’t get to the core of the issue.  

The key thing to keep in mind is whether your symptoms are persistent or transitory. It’s entirely normal to see changes in your face shape from time to time, with factors like salt intake, hydration and sleep all contributing in small ways.

“But if these symptoms are persistent, it’s advisable to seek medical advice to rule out underlying health issues,” Murthy adds. “Just remember that not every change in appearance is a sign of a serious problem – evidence-based truths will always win out over viral trends.” 

Images: Getty