TikTok Says Puffy Skin Is Caused By 'Cortisol Face.' Is That True?

LaylaBird via Getty Images Experts say high cortisol can cause a rounder face appearance, but it's not as common as social media says. “Cortisol is what we call a glucocorticoid hormone, and it actually helps regulate your body’s response to stress,” said Dr. Divya Yogi-Morren, the medical director of the Pituitary Center at Cleveland Clinic. “If your body has too much cortisol, it can just be because of daily stress in life, or it can actually be because of a disease called Cushing syndrome,” Yogi-Morren said. “The best thing for everyone to do is to talk to their providers about their cortisol levels, and if you’re concerned, your primary care doctor will usually order some preliminary tests,” Yogi-Morren said. “And then if the tests are abnormal, you may get referred to an endocrinologist who specializes in high cortisol, like myself, to further evaluate and decide what needs to be done.” Cushing syndrome is not something that can be managed through lifestyle changes, but if you have a high-stress life or other underlying issues that are the reason behind a puffier-than-usual face, your primary care doctor may prescribe other at-home treatments, Yogi-Morren said.