Is the Moon Face TikTok Trend Legit? A Doctor Weighs In

However what precisely is moon face, and why does everybody seemingly have it now? Is it potential that we all have too-high cortisol ranges that may be remedied at house with the shiniest new product?

To make clear, cortisol is greater than only a buzzword: It is a important hormone that helps our our bodies regulate blood strain, stability blood sugar, and switch meals into power, per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). And regardless of the vilifying on-line, we really do want some cortisol in our programs to remain wholesome.

Right here, a hormone professional breaks down what moon face really means, whether or not the TikTok claims round it are true, and whether or not it is potential to decrease cortisol ranges at house—or if we even must.

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So, what’s moon face?

Moon face (often known as “moon facies”) is swelling that builds up on the perimeters of your face, making it look puffy and spherical like a full moon, per the Cleveland Clinic. “It is a buildup of fats deposits all through the face and it is often on account of extreme cortisol manufacturing, whether or not from your individual physique or from medicines that you are taking,” says Gowri Reddy Rocco, MD, a double board-certified household drugs doctor who focuses on regenerative well being and hormones.

It isn’t a situation, however somewhat a facet impact of underlying well being points that have an effect on ranges of hormones like cortisol within the physique, says Dr. Rocco. She sees it most frequently in individuals being treated with corticosteroids, reminiscent of prednisone, for situations like arthritis, bronchial asthma, autoimmune illnesses like lupus and a number of sclerosis, pores and skin situations like eczema and rashes, or sure sorts of most cancers.

Another widespread causes behind moon face embody insulin resistance, steroid use, Cushing’s syndrome, and hypothyroidism, Dr. Rocco says, however you’d additionally discover different negative effects from these situations. Within the case of Cushing’s syndrome: a rounder intestine and midsection, thinner legs and arms, simple bruising, and a fatty hump between the shoulders, per the NIDDK. (However have in mind Cushing’s is pretty uncommon: Solely about 40 to 70 individuals out of one million get it yearly within the U.S.)

Different medical causes for moon face could also be extra widespread, like insulin resistance, diabetes, or hypothyroidism, however you’d doubtless expertise different negative effects too, like fatigue, sleep issues, and melancholy or nervousness, amongst different issues, says Dr. Rocco.

Are all of the TikTok claims about moon face true?

It is not going that every one the TikTok girlies claiming they’ve moon face really do. If something, Dr. Rocco says they’re utilizing the time period “moon face,” which is often a facet impact of a well being situation, to explain common puffiness you may expertise from different issues like “water retention, weight acquire, consuming an excessive amount of alcohol, dehydration, and a poor eating regimen excessive in fat, sugars, and ultra-processed meals.” All can contribute to a rounder-looking face.

Plus, let’s not neglect: Everybody’s face form is totally different. It is pure for some individuals to have a rounder face, however because of our current obsession with distinguished cheekbones, sharp jawlines (learn: TikTok’s obsession with chin straps and “quick-fix” culture), and even “Ozempic face”—a quickly thinning face as a result of results of taking the favored weight-loss drug—we have been led to imagine a thinner face means you are more healthy. However not each spherical face alerts a medical problem, and Dr. Rocco warns towards anybody selling a “fast repair” for moon face on-line.

Can moon face be triggered by stress?

Many TikTok movies say stress is the most important reason behind moon face, however is it really? Based on Dr. Rocco, stress can contribute to facial puffiness however would not immediately trigger it.

“While you’re careworn, you are extra more likely to flip to unhealthy coping mechanisms, like consuming sugary or fatty meals, consuming alcohol, getting little sleep, and avoiding train, which might contribute to water and fats retention, and consequently a puffier physique and face,” says Dr. Rocco.

Whereas a disturbing occasion right here or there’s not more likely to mess a lot along with your hormones, chronic stress can improve the possibilities of turning to those poor way of life habits, which can contribute to elevated cortisol ranges over time and negative effects like sleep issues, nervousness, and weight acquire, per the Mayo Clinic.

Backside line: Not everybody with facial puffiness really has moon face or cortisol face. Except you will have a real medical analysis that impacts your cortisol ranges, facial puffiness might merely be a results of sure way of life components like poor eating regimen, dehydration, and lack of sleep.

Ought to all of us, then, be involved about reducing cortisol ranges?

As we have discovered, our our bodies want a minimum of some cortisol in an effort to operate correctly. The truth is, wholesome blood ranges of cortisol usually peak within the early morning and decline all through the day. For many adults, that is round 10 to twenty micrograms per deciliter from 6 a.m. to eight a.m. and three to 10 micrograms per deciliter round 4 p.m., per the Cleveland Clinic. So the aim ought to by no means be to fully get rid of cortisol within the physique.

That stated, too-high ranges of cortisol (from sure medical situations or power stress) can result in results like weight acquire, melancholy, irritation, and extra, says Dr. Rocco. If elevated cortisol is because of a medical situation, you will must go to the physician for therapy or drugs. However normally, wholesome way of life habits you could already interact in may help decrease cortisol ranges total—no fancy dietary supplements, ebooks, or merchandise wanted.

Listed below are Dr. Rocco’s suggestions:

• Get loads of sleep. Power sleep points are related to increased ranges of cortisol, per the Cleveland Clinic.
• Train day by day. Strolling, Pilates, or every other train you’re keen on may help launch feel-good hormones like endorphins and scale back cortisol over time, per Harvard Health Publishing.
• Eat a balanced eating regimen. Including extra fruits, veggies, protein, and wholesome fat is nice for total well being, whereas limiting refined sugar and sodium, Dr. Rocco says.
• Scale back alcohol consumption: Average and binge consuming is related to elevated cortisol ranges, per a July 2023 research in Neurobiology of Stress.
• Spend time doing belongings you take pleasure in (with individuals you take pleasure in). This may help promote feel-good hormones like oxytocin and endorphins, per Dr. Rocco. Discover belongings you love to try this assist scale back stress, like studying a e book, being in nature, journaling, and so forth. Additionally, spending time round poisonous individuals or those that exacerbate stress can improve cortisol ranges, per the Cleveland Clinic, so attempt to spend extra time with these you’re keen on.
• Snicker! Laughter additionally helps launch endorphins, so getting an excellent stomach chortle every day may be simply what the physician ordered, per the Cleveland Clinic.
• Search remedy. Should you’re having a tough time regulating your stress, Dr. Rocco recommends reaching out to a psychological well being skilled to assist higher perceive your self and work by any undesirable emotions.

“Stress administration and psychological well being is so necessary,” says Dr. Rocco. She emphasizes prioritizing pleasure, saying, “the other of cortisol is oxytocin and endorphins, which make it easier to really feel more healthy total.”

When to see a health care provider about moon face

In the end, not everybody claiming they’ve moon face on TikTok really does. They might be describing common facial puffiness that comes with poor way of life habits, weight acquire, or extended stress, and even simply their pure face form. Moon face, particularly, is often a facet impact of an underlying medical situation like Cushing’s syndrome or insulin resistance, which will be handled by your physician.

“Should you begin noticing you are gaining weight even with train, consuming higher, and sleeping, I might one hundred pc advocate going to the physician and getting your blood checked,” says Dr. Rocco. Blood work can usually detect insulin resistance, thyroid operate, and cortisol ranges.

Moreover, when you have different signs like fatigue, sleep points, lack of your interval, or psychological well being issues, attain out to your physician. This might level to an underlying hormone situation.