Is your face a little puffier than usual? “I’m not fat. You’re just a cortisol face” is a common phrase on TikTok, with users saying that the rounded appearance is High levels of the stress hormone called cortisol —And to the people Take steps to lower it.
TikTok users blame a variety of factors for the cortisol spikes, including excessive phone use, early morning caffeine intake, and intense exercise, which they say puts unnecessary stress on the body and leads to overall weight gain, including in the face.
Is it true that your face looks puffy because your lifestyle is taking a toll on your body? (If not, what on earth can you do about it?) teeth What causes swelling? An expert explains.
what’s happening?
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People are sharing Before and after photos We look at your face and discuss why it looks rounder and less swollen and inflamed.
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They blame their past appearance on excess cortisol, and claim that simple measures to lower cortisol levels slimmed their faces.
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Social media users have recommended lifestyle changes such as low-intensity exercise and reduced caffeine intake, believing this will reduce stress and make people feel less bloated. supplement include magnesiumL-theanine, and ashwagandha promote “healthy hormone levels.”
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What is cortisol? It’s the “stress hormone that helps the body cope with and respond to stressful situations.” Dr. Laura Purdya family medicine specialist. When stress levels are high, your body releases cortisol.
Is that true?
That’s true, but it’s more complicated than it seems on TikTok.
Cortisol levels can be affected by factors such as “circadian rhythm, sleep quality and quantity, exercise, and overall health.” Raj Dasgupta“The University of Southern California internist told Yahoo Life:[Cortisol] “It plays an important role in regulating metabolism and the immune system’s response to threats and stress,” he says.
Purdy added that while excess cortisol can result in facial inflammation, “it’s only a symptom, not necessarily the primary cause.”round face“Both symptoms and side effects” are “Cushing’s syndrome ( Amy Schumer recently) or hypothyroidism, both of which are linked to elevated cortisol levels, Purdy says, but these are chronic conditions and likely more serious than the bloating some people are highlighting on social media.
“The big problem is that so many people are trying to diagnose themselves.” Sue DeCotisA New York City-based physician who specializes in weight loss and hormone health tells Yahoo Life: “Cortisol fluctuations aren’t as big a deal as people online make it out to be.”
Simply put, several days of sleep deprivation can: Post-traumatic stress disorderChronic anxiety and depression “significantly alter circadian rhythms,” Decotis said, posing threats to cortisol levels, which are especially prevalent in older adults.
“Internet discussions of ‘cortisol face’ sometimes oversimplify the causes of facial swelling,” Dasgupta adds. “Other causes include infections, allergies, fluid retention due to diet, alcohol consumption, and side effects of certain medications you may be taking.”
summary
As with any health-related conversation on social media, the advice being shared by TikTok users should be taken with a pinch of salt, and even if high cortisol levels are truly the culprit, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution (like supplements).
Most importantly, there is a legitimate way to diagnose actual cortisol abnormalities “through blood, saliva or urine testing if your doctor or endocrinologist deems it necessary,” Dasgupta says.
Either way, worrying about your stress levels and how it’s affecting your face seems a bit counterproductive.
