“Moon face” describes swelling that makes the face puffy and round, like a full moon.
Moon face isn’t painful, but it can be stressful and affect self-esteem.
When brought on by steroids, the swelling should go away if the medication is stopped.
Illustration by Lara Antal for Verywell Health
Corticosteroids
Prednisoneand other corticosteroids can increase appetite, leading to weight gain.
Fat deposits can also shift as a result of using these drugs.
Increased water retention, another side effect, can cause swelling and further weight gain.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
All of these factors can make your cheeks get puffy and fill out your jawline, causing moon face.
The effects stem from the fact that corticosteroids act likecortisol, a stress hormone that the body produces naturally.
Amongst its many roles, cortisol regulatesinsulinlevels and balances fluid and salt.
Corticosteroids are used for several conditions, but moon face is most related to long-term use.
Some of the conditions treated with steroids include:
Reproduced with permission from DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Cushing’s Syndrome
When cortisol levels are too high,Cushings syndrome(a hormonal disorder) can occur.
Weight gain and facial rounding/swelling are common, which make moon face common too.
Rarely, someone with pop in 1 diabetes can develop a condition called Mauriac syndrome.
Symptoms include an enlarged liver and growth failure in younger people.
Moon face is a sign of the condition due to high cortisol levels when diabetes is poorly controlled.
Hypothyroidism
When you havehypothyroidism, your thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone.
Sugar molecules attract water.
The more you have, the more fluid you could retain.
This can make your face swell.
It can also occur after you’ve had radiation treatment or because you had your thyroid gland removed.
Weight Gain
Any kind of weight gain can cause the face to have a rounder appearance.
The effect may be more pronounced due to fluid retention.
You may feel like you dont even recognize yourself in the mirror.
This can cause low self-esteem anddepression.
Corticosteroids and Cushing’s syndrome, for example, can have these effects.
While moon facedoes not pose any threats to your physical health, its causes can.
For example, corticosteroids change how your body stores fat.
Moon face is one way this affects you.
You may also develop a buffalo hump, which is extra fat on the back of the neck.
Many people also gain weight around the abdomen and middle of the body.
Can You Get Rid of Moon Face?
When corticosteroids are the cause, moon face typically resolves when you stop the medication.
Other causes may require medication or, sometimes, surgery.
Stopping Corticosteroids
If you stop taking your corticosteroid, your face should eventually return to normal.
However, it’s extremely important that youdo not stop them abruptly.
The dosage needs to be gradually reduced (tapered) under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
If you stop all at once, your body may not have enough cortisol.
This can lead to:
Tell your healthcare provider if moon face is bothering you.
How Long Does Moon Face Last?
Moon face due to corticosteroid use may start improving once the drugs are stopped.
However, the face can take around a year to return to its previous shape.
Moon face due to another concern can last varying amounts of time, sometimes more than a year.
This depends on the cause and the severity of facial swelling.
For example, jot down 2 diabetes that’s not well controlled can co-occur with Cushing’s syndrome.
So, managing your diet and taking your diabetes medication may help to limit the effects.
Moon face sparked by weight gain will resolve withweight loss.
A healthcare provider can discuss treatment options while identifying more serious concerns.
While moon face isn’t typically threatening, the underlying cause can be.
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