Cortisol Face and How to Get Rid of It
You may have noticed the term "cortisol face" trending across social media platforms. Influencers claim facial puffiness and swelling are telltale signs of elevated cortisol levels, often starting their videos with catchy phrases like, "You're not ugly, you just have cortisol face." 1 While this trend has brought attention to cortisol, it barely scratches the surface of the real health concerns associated with chronically high levels of this stress hormone. Maria Olenick, associate professor at Texas A&M University School of Nursing, cautions, "Although facial changes can occur with high cortisol, focusing solely on appearance trivializes the serious health risks associated with prolonged cortisol elevation." 2 This trend serves as a starting point for raising awareness about the wide-ranging effects of stress on your body and the importance of maintaining balanced cortisol levels for overall health. Under...