Social media has been obsessed with “Cortisol Face,” but you probably don’t have it. While chronically elevated levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) may contribute to weight gain, “cortisol face” isn’t a real thing unless you have a condition called Cushing’s Syndrome.
You might have seen TikTok videos about “cortisol face” or “cortisol pooch” that suggest that having a round face or any fat around your stomach is due to excess cortisol. But unless you have a severe illness called Cushing’s Syndrome, you don’t have “cortisol face.” There is a difference between mild puffiness due to water retention or even weight gain and what we think of medically as “cortisol face.” But let’s break it down a little more.
❓ What is cortisol?
Cortisol is commonly known as one of your body’s stress hormones. But it does a lot more than just respond to stress, it’s essential to a lot of healthy physical functions. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal gland, which is a gland that sits right on top of your kidneys (kind of like a hat for your kidneys). The adrenal gland, and parts of your brain called the pituitary and the hypothalamus, talk to each other via hormones in your bloodstream in order to keep your body working normally (this is called the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis or the HPA axis for short). Cortisol helps regulate your sleep/wake cycle (your circadian rhythms), giving you that important “get up and go” in the morning. It helps regulate your blood pressure, and it also helps your body figure out how it should use the sugars, protein, and fats you get from your food. Cortisol plays a role in metabolism which explains its association with weight gain.
❓ What happens if you have too much cortisol?
Your cortisol can increase with stress or during certain parts of the day (cortisol is related to circadian rhythms), so it’s normal for your cortisol levels to ebb and flow. However, there are certain conditions where you can have chronically elevated cortisol levels. Cushing’s Syndrome is a disease that causes excess cortisol and it is often caused by a tumor in your pituitary gland (a gland in your brain that regulates hormones) or a tumor in your adrenal gland. You can also have excess cortisol if you have to take any type of steroid medication, especially for prolonged periods. Chronic stress can also increase cortisol levels, which can keep your HPA axis overly activated and cause other hormones, like epinephrine, to surge. Remember, cortisol plays a role in metabolism, so if you’re feeling stressed all the time, and your cortisol levels are high, you might feel a little more hungry because your brain is trying to keep you energized so you can handle whatever is going on.
❓ So is low cortisol better?
Like most things in your body, the middle of the road is best (something scientists call homeostasis). Just like too much cortisol isn’t great, too little cortisol can lead to tiredness, muscle weakness, extreme weight loss, and skin changes. Addison’s disease, for example, is a condition in which your adrenal glands aren’t producing enough cortisol. Low cortisol is also often found in individuals struggling with Long Covid.
❓ Do I have cortisol face?
“Cortisol face” is the result of a prolonged uptick in cortisol levels — an uptick too high to be caused by everyday, average-person stress alone.
Sometimes, what we believe to be stress-induced puffiness is just our faces retaining extra water and sodium due to allergies, reactions to medications, or diet. In this more likely (and very temporary) case, your doctor might recommend regulating how much salt you eat, increasing how much water you drink, and getting good rest!
❓ How do I regulate my cortisol levels?
The things that support your overall health will also help maintain healthy cortisol levels– like good sleep, well-rounded nutrition, and physical activity. Social connection and healthy relationships have also been shown to decrease our feelings of stress, so much so that fostering social connection is actually a major priority of the U.S. Surgeon General.
TL;DR: Cortisol has important functions in your body. You probably don’t have “cortisol face.”
Resources:
Social Relationships Reduce Stress
