They’ll want to gradually reduce your dosage to help your body adjust. Don’t stop taking your medication without speaking with your provider. Your provider may recommend taking another steroid or stopping the steroid use altogether. Taking a lower dosage may reduce the appearance of moon face over time. Treatment for moon face depends on the cause of your condition. 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. It’s not just about looking in the mirror; it’s about feeling like you’ve lost a part of yourself in the process. Moon face is a term used to describe the rounded, swollen appearance of the face caused by prednisone and other corticosteroids. If you’re reading this, you or someone you care about is likely dealing with moon face, one of the most visible and frustrating side effects of prednisone. While it’s a common and harmless side effect of corticosteroid use, it can affect the way you feel about yourself. In the meantime, you may want to find a support group so you can connect with and talk to other people who are experiencing what you are. If treatment is effective, all of the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome, including moon face, will eventually disappear. If moon face is bothering you, talk to your healthcare provider. The dosage needs to be gradually reduced (tapered) under the guidance of a healthcare provider. 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. Many people also gain weight around the abdomen and middle of the body. For example, corticosteroids change how your body stores fat. Remember, Cushing's syndrome can also affect children, often leading to symptoms of overweight and obesity. People who have diabetes or insulin resistance may also gain weight as the body stores excess blood sugar as fat. Another side effect, increased water retention, contributes to swelling and additional weight gain. Wasnt a fan of the water retention/thick look, but gave amazing endurance and strength gains. You are stronger than the side effects, and there’s hope for better days ahead. Moon face is a frustrating side effect, but it’s not forever. You don’t have to wait months to start feeling like yourself again. Ashleigh not only looked like a totally different person after using Nutranize Zone, but she felt different. At first, I couldn’t tell that this picture showed the same person. Nutranize Zone is the first and only supplement specifically designed to replenish the nutrients prednisone steals. 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. 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). However, the good news is that it’s often reversible once prednisone is tapered or discontinued. According to research published in La Revue de médecine interne, 60% of patients on prednisone develop moon face within 12 months of starting treatment. Prednisone is a type of corticosteroid that mimics your body’s natural hormone, cortisol.
