鶹Ӱ

Health

    • Stress and ‘moon face’: What experts say about this TikTok trend

    Dermatologists cast doubt on chatter among social media users that high levels of the stress hormone cortisol can lead to puffy or rounded cheeks, a condition that’s been dubbed “moon face.” (Yukari Schrickel/CNN via CNN Newsource) Dermatologists cast doubt on chatter among social media users that high levels of the stress hormone cortisol can lead to puffy or rounded cheeks, a condition that’s been dubbed “moon face.” (Yukari Schrickel/CNN via CNN Newsource)
    Share

    Social media users just won’t stop talking about how the stress hormone cortisol can cause cheeks and eyelids to swell out of recognition, a condition dubbed “moon face.”

    “Your face is like a moon, it can be very circular,” one woman claims on TikTok. “It can look swollen and inflamed.”

    “It’s from high cortisol, aka high stress,” a woman says in another post. “When I was going through the pandemic I was like (she puffs out her cheeks) balloon face.”

    As people scurry to fit more and more into each day, constant stress can be a reality in today’s busy society. But can such stress actually expand your face?

    “While chronic stress can lead to increased levels of cortisol in the body, those levels don’t usually rise high enough to create a moon face,” said dermatologist Dr. Rajani Katta, a clinical assistant professor at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

    “Fluid retention can be due to many causes, from your diet to medical conditions such as kidney disease. Some prescription medications can also lead to fluid retention,” Katta said in an email.

    True “moon face” is a byproduct of having Cushing’s syndrome, a condition in which the body has extremely high levels of cortisol, Katta said, typically from the protracted use of prescription medications such as the steroid prednisone or, more rarely, cases in which a person’s adrenal glands are overactive.

    In addition to a rounded face, Cushing’s syndrome can cause increased fat around the neck or a fatty hump between the shoulders and upper body obesity, according to the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.

    “For medical causes of fluid retention, treating the underlying cause will help. Your physician may also prescribe a diuretic to help your body rid itself of extra fluid,” Katta said.

    How stress can affect the face

    While cortisol levels from elevated everyday stress may not be the reason behind so-called moon face, the hormone can take a toll on the skin in other ways.

    Stress hormones such as cortisol can trigger breakouts and dull skin, accelerate aging, and exasperate skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, according to dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

    “Consistently elevated cortisol levels have been shown to inhibit your skin’s production of collagen, hyaluronic acid and healthy lipids like ceramide,” Bowe told CNN in an earlier interview.

    “Collagen is like the scaffolding of the skin that prevents fine lines and wrinkles,” Bowe said. “Hyaluronic acid keeps the skin plump, and ceramides are healthy fats that create a barrier to prevent skin permeability, thus locking moisture into the skin.”

    Bad habits can stress the skin

    People often turn to salty snacks when stressed, which might explain swollen eyes and face, as well as swollen legs and feet, experts say.

    “If your face is puffy, one of the first questions I would ask would be about your sodium intake. A high intake of sodium can lead to fluid retention throughout the body,” said Katta, author of “Glow: The Dermatologist’s Guide to a Whole Foods Younger Skin Diet.”

    “If it’s just a matter of too much sodium last weekend, then going back to your normal diet should help within a few days,” she added.

    Another culprit — eating too much sugar and ultraprocessed carbohydrates, which “unfortunately can damage the skin’s collagen over time through a process called glycation,” Katta said.

    Glycation occurs when sugar molecules attach onto fats and proteins and create advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, which can make collagen and elastin proteins less supple — and the skin more likely to wrinkle, she said.

    “Foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties can help provide an extra layer of protection to your skin and can help promote your skin’s defense and repair systems,” Katta suggested.

    Tips for less stress

    There are ways to reduce stress that can benefit the skin as well, experts say. Exercise increases blood circulation to the face and helps with the release of endorphins, the body’s feel-good hormones.

    Exercise also pushes oxygenated blood to all your body parts, including the skin, which can boost the skin barrier’s recovery process, experts say. In addition, yoga, meditation and deep breathing are all known to decrease cortisol production and stress levels.

    Good-quality sleep is another way to improve skin and reduce stress, according to sleep specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an associate professor of clinical and sleep medicine and pulmonary critical care at Huntington Health in California.

    “It’s called beauty sleep because sleep does regenerate your skin at night,” Dasgupta told CNN earlier. “There’s a hormone called growth hormone that gets secreted during the deeper stages of sleep that stimulates fresh skin cell growth.”

    Adults older than 18 need at least seven hours of solid sleep at night to be healthy, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sleep debt, along with irregular sleep duration, has been linked not only to stressed skin but also to an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, dementia and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.

    Canada

    • A Superior Court justice in Milton has been ordered to participate in coaching from a more senior judge after the Canadian Judicial Council found that his tone was 'abusive and intimidating' during a family court hearing last September.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • Former volunteers with Eastern Ontario Cats (EOC) are working to track cats they say are either dead or missing after allegations of abuse, neglect and falsified medical records surfaced in recent months.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

    Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

    The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that – and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

    A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

    A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the ‘Fellow in Yellow.’

    • A Vancouver couple who live across the street from McBride Park on the city's west side say they repeatedly told the city a tree on the southern edge of the park posed a danger – but nothing was done.

    • The search for a man who went missing amid last weekend’s atmospheric river in Coquitlam, B.C., has entered its third day.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    • TTC staff are recommending that the transit service ban lithium-ion-powered mobility devices like e-scooters and e-bikes through the winter months due to the risk of fire in adverse conditions such as salty roads.

    • Police have released video footage of a recent home invasion in Richmond Hill as they search for three outstanding suspects who they say may have returned to the residence the following day to take another vehicle.

    • A multi-vehicle collision on the Toronto-bound QEW has shut down all but one lane of traffic during rush hour on Tuesday, says the OPP.

    • A new study suggests the Government of Alberta purposely pushed false narratives around public safety to scale down safe supply in the province.

    • An electrical grid alert was issued throughout Alberta on Tuesday morning as temperatures cooled.

    • Police have identified the victim of a deadly shooting late last week in northeast Calgary.

    • Memorials and tributes are taking place across Ottawa on Tuesday to remember Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, an honour guard stationed at the National War Memorial, killed 10 years ago today.

    • Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • The Quebec government wants to hear Quebecers' thoughts about scrapping the twice-yearly time change, but it isn't promising to act on them.

    • A Montreal borough and Muslim leader are pushing back against the head of the Parti Québécois after he accused a local library of promoting a "religious invasion" by posting a photo of a young girl wearing a hijab for a storytime event.

    • Police are looking for a man and a woman who robbed an Edmonton jewelry store earlier this month.

    • Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is investigating a sudden death in north west Edmonton Tuesday afternoon.

    • A change of usual blueline sides? That's all right with Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • A member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party is crossing the floor and joining the Progressive Conservatives.

    • Communities east of Alberta set record high temperatures for an Oct. 21 while Alberta itself contended with the first snowfall of the season in some areas.

    • Folks making the trek to and from Thompson along Highway 6 are once again without a bathroom break… at least for now.

    • The Manitoba government is restoring the 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio.

    • A number of Manitoba communities kicked off the week by breaking decades-old heat records.

    • Saskatchewan's Conflict of Interest Commissioner (COIC) has found that former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal violated legislative rules by profiting from hotels while they were party to government contracts.

    • Saturday's matchup between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders could determine if they clinch the West Division title, however the results from Winnipeg's game earlier in the day could make their matchup meaningless.

    • Two holes found in the window of a Saskatchewan Party campaign office were not caused by a gun, Regina police have reported.

    • No one was hurt after playground equipment went up in flames at a Kitchener, Ont. park.

    • At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.

    • Videos of a meteor shower seen across southwestern Ontario have been popping up across social media since Monday night.

    • A Saskatoon family is voicing concerns after paying twice as much PST as expected on a recently purchased truck.

    • Hundreds of voter information cards have landed in the wrong hands.

    • A city planning document for the Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) sparked controversy over the weekend, with three civic election candidates alleging Confederation Mall was at risk of being demolished and replaced with dense housing.

    • Now that the jury has begun deliberating in the Sudbury murder trial of Felicity Altiman, here are some of the interesting courtroom moments they didn't get to hear.

    • After operating for 51 years, General Motors has announced it is closing the Kapuskasing Proving Ground, a facility the automaker used to test the durability of its vehicles in cold weather.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    • A meteor lit up our region's sky last night – with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    • On the stand of a London courthouse on Tuesday, Rachel Johnson described how a fun bush bash birthday party on July 30, 2021 turned deadly.

    • Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a serious collision in Barrie’s south end involving a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle.

    • Police laid two dozen charges in connection with a month-long investigation into a criminal auto theft enterprise.

    • A fire that caused $2.5 million damage at a newly constructed house in Adjala-Tosorontio early Tuesday morning is being investigated as suspicious.

    • If you live in Windsor, Ont. and get a knock at the door from a political canvasser, it might be surprising since there’s no election on the horizon at the municipal, provincial or federal level. But across the border, that's not the case.

    • ‘Vampire Zombies…from Space!’ and ‘Thundersnake’, two films that are showing at the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF), were both shot across the city and in the County of Essex.

    • Before the Town of Essex adopts it's new Master Plan for Land Use, staff will work to identify best proper use for future developments across the municipality.

    • Mounties in British Columbia say a second person has been found dead after two vehicles ended up in a river on Vancouver Island when a road washed out amid torrential rains over the weekend.

    • With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    • Premier and NDP Leader David Eby says he's been told by the B.C. Green Party that it's too early to begin talks about a minority government agreement after the weekend's still-undecided provincial election.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • The health of honeybees will be the focus of a presentation at the University of Lethbridge on Wednesday evening.

    • Alberta is offering infrastructure funding to help municipalities accommodate recent population growth. The province has added a little over 500,000 people over five years, putting pressure on public services.

    • Lethbridge police are advising the public of officer training on Tuesday that will happen in two different venues throughout the day.

    • Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.

    • An Indigenous group in northwestern Ontario shut down the highway for a couple of hours Monday morning in protest after ancestral remains were found at a construction site.

    • The owners of 73 vacant properties in the Sault have been fined for violations of the city's vacant properties bylaw, including 33 owned by a firm going through a high-profile insolvency process.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 鶹Ӱ. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 鶹Ӱ