Another day, another TikTok trend to investigate.
If you’ve been seeing a lot of “cortisol face” content on your FYP, you might think this condition affects tons of people. But is it really a thing most of us need to be concerned about? To help shed some light on the topic, we break down the basics of cortisol face below.
What is cortisol face?
“Cortisol face” is a term being used to describe stress-induced facial swelling and bloating that causes the face to look very round. It’s important to note that it’s not an official diagnosis.
What causes cortisol face?
According to TikTok, cortisol face is caused by high levels of stress-related cortisol in the body.
Here’s a brief biology recap:
Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone” because of its role in the body’s stress response, aka the fight-or-flight response. But that’s not all it does.
“Cortisol is involved in much more than just stress. It plays an important role in metabolism, blood pressure regulation, inflammation reduction, blood sugar regulation, and the sleep-wake cycle,” cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Julie Fratantoni told Poosh.
So, cortisol is a major player in how we function. And, if your body is constantly pumping out cortisol—like, if you suffer from chronic stress—that’s when it becomes a health issue. Chronically elevated cortisol levels increase inflammation in the body and the brain and may heighten the risk for anxiety and depression.
However, experts say that everyday stress is unlikely to give you the dramatic facial changes described in many TikToks on cortisol face.
If you’re experiencing a puffier, rounder face than usual, stress is likely only one factor. For instance, stress can increase cravings for sugary, salty, and fatty foods, which can lead to fluid retention. Additionally, stress may cause difficulty sleeping, which can also lead to puffiness.
In other words, most of us don’t need to be worried about cortisol face.
But there are several things you can do to help depuff your face.
Ice Facials
We are fans of the Contour Cube, an easy-to-use ice facial tool that can help reduce inflammation and, therefore, puffiness.
Gua Sha
A facial gua sha, which can help promote better circulation, and healthier skin tissue, as well as reduce puffiness and improve skin texture and elasticity.
Drink lots of water.
It’s a classic tip because it works. Though it may sound a bit counter-intuitive, drinking lots of water and staying hydrated can actually help with fluid retention.
Find stress reduction techniques that work for you.
Reducing toxic stress is always a good idea, and can help with those sugar/salt cravings that could be contributing to puffiness.