If corticosteroids cause moon face, it may start improving once you stop the medication. Other causes may require medication or, sometimes, surgery. When corticosteroids are the cause, moon face typically resolves when you stop the medication. You may also develop a "buffalo hump," which is extra fat on the back of the neck. Long-term steroid use can affect your adrenal glands, causing them to release a high amount of hormones like cortisol, a stress hormone. Corticosteroids like prednisone are one of the most common causes of moon face. But since it changes how you look, it can affect your self-esteem and take a toll on your mental health. The buildup of fat deposits in the side of your skull can make your face so round that you can’t see your ears from the front. Although harmless, the condition can affect your self-esteem. Some evidence suggests that the condition occurs more frequently in women. If you don’t have enough thyroid hormone, the sugar molecules may build up in your skin. Thyroid hormone helps break down sugar molecules in your body. This can lead to swelling and fat deposits in and around your face, and you might look like you have a moon face. Cushing’s syndrome is a hormonal disorder that causes symptoms known as Cushingoid facies or Cushingoid appearance. Moon face has several causes, including long-term steroid use and certain health conditions. Using steroid medication like prednisone for a long time is often the cause. The medical term for this is moon facies, but other people call it cortisol face. Moon face is a common side effect of corticosteroid use and a symptom of certain health conditions. Related symptoms like a slow heart rate from prednisone should be evaluated immediately. If your appearance is bothering you, talk to your healthcare provider about other treatment options or ways you can reduce the puffiness. If it’s bothering you, reach out to your healthcare provider. If you’re taking a corticosteroid like prednisone, your healthcare provider will be able to tell that that’s the cause of moon face. Over time, this hormonal imbalance can cause weight gain and water retention. When you take prednisone, your body reacts by storing fat differently. It’s part of a condition called corticosteroid-induced lipodystrophy, which refers to the redistribution of fat in the body. And women are also more likely to develop hypothyroidism or Cushing’s syndrome. Anyone who takes corticosteroids, like prednisone, for a long time (more than a few weeks) has a high risk of developing moon face. When your body produces too much cortisol, it can cause Cushing’s syndrome. A healthy diet and regular physical activity can help you lose weight everywhere, including your face. If hypothyroidism causes moon face, your doctor may prescribe medications like levothyroxine to replace missing thyroid hormones. If you've been taking corticosteroids for a long time at a high dose, you may need to lower the dose very slowly every week or every few weeks. Moon face is when fat deposits build up along the sides of your face, causing severe swelling. Use profiles to select personalised content. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. By Amber J. TrescaTresca is a writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD.
