The Phenomena Of Cortisol Face, A Swelling In The Face Called Due To Stress

JAKARTA - Recently the term cortisol face became increasingly popular and was widely used. The term is used to describe the swollen facial condition as a result of the stress experienced.

Quoted from Brydie, on Thursday, September 25, 2025, the cortisol face is referred to as a change in facial shape due to the high hormone cortisol (stress hormone). This condition is usually characterized by a rounder face or swelling, which in medical terms is known as the moon face.

However, experts emphasize that these conditions generally only occur if a person experiences chronic stress or serious health problems, not just daily stress.

While cortisol can affect our bodies in various ways, including contributing to inflammation and water retention, said clinical nutritionist Jess Sepel.

"It's impossible for daily stress to increase enough cortisol levels to cause real and extreme facial swelling," he added.

There are many factors that cause the face to swell outside of stress. Starting from lack of sleep, consumption of high-salt foods, allergies, changes in hromon, use of certain drugs, such as steroids.

Thus, the cortisol face phenomenon is more precisely referred to as a social media trend than a medical diagnosis. In rare cases, very high levels of cortisol can cause cushing syndrome, but it is different from the cortisol face that goes viral on social media, so don't panic if your face looks rounder or swollen occasionally.

"I said it was important to approach such a trend with care and not to jump to conclusions without understanding the underlying causes of symptoms such as a swollen face," he concluded.