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.
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.
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.
It wasn’t just about the swelling—it was about feeling like I’d lost control over my body. When I was on prednisone, I dealt with moon face and the emotional weight that came with it. Some people notice improvement quickly, while others may continue to see lingering effects for months. Research shows that for most people, moon face starts to improve as the prednisone dose is tapered to below 7 mg/day. The answer depends on several factors, including your prednisone dosage, how long you’ve been taking it, and how your body responds.
I remember looking in the mirror and feeling like a stranger was staring back at me. It’s easy to tell someone to "just ride it out," but that doesn’t help when you’re feeling self-conscious or frustrated. To understand moon face, it helps to know how prednisone works. For many, it’s not just a cosmetic concern—it’s a daily reminder of the challenges of taking this life-saving, but side-effect-heavy, medication. Cleveland Clinic’s primary care providers offer lifelong medical care. If you need to continue with your current treatment, consider joining a support group so you can connect with others in your shoes.
Nutrients like zinc and vitamin C can help strengthen your immune system while you’re on prednisone. While moon face often improves as you taper off prednisone, you don’t have to just wait and hope. Moon face is temporary, and there are steps you can take to feel more like yourself again. If you’re feeling this way, know that you’re not alone. It’s hard to feel confident when I don’t even recognize myself." In one of my surveys, many Prednisone Warriors shared similar feelings.
While moon face does not threaten your physical health, its causes can. In rare cases, taking insulin to control diabetes can lead to a buildup of fluid in parts of the body, including the face. Hypothyroidism can be an autoimmune response, with antibodies attacking thyroid cells. Symptoms include an enlarged liver and growth failure in younger people. These are part of a group of symptoms known to cause what's called a Cushingoid appearance (or Cushingoid facies).
This often results in weight gain and facial swelling, making moon face a common symptom. Corticosteroids are used for various conditions, but moon face is commonly linked to long-term use. Amongst its many roles, cortisol regulates insulin levels and balances fluid and salt. Moon face can arise from several causes, with long-term use of corticosteroids being among the most common.
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.