What Is Moon Face? Amy Schumer’s Cushing Syndrome Explained

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Ever since Amy Schumer shared that her swollen face was due to Cushing Syndrome, I’ve found myself curious about this condition known as “moon face” or “moon facies.” As the comedian explained in an interview with Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy podcast, internet trolls initially commented on her puffy face, but she dismissed them. However, when medical professionals started weighing in, it led to her diagnosis of Cushing Syndrome – a rare disorder that can cause facial features to resemble the moon.

How did Cushing syndrome cause Amy Schumer’s “moon face”?

Amy Schumer’s round face is due to Cushing syndrome, a health issue that arises when the body retains excess cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone. A potential outcome of having Cushing syndrome is rapid weight accumulation in areas like the face, upper body (chest), midsection (abdomen), and neck.

Upon conferring with her medical professionals, Schumer found out that the cause of her health issue was due to steroid injections received post breast reduction surgery and Caesarean section. Consequently, this resulted in an accumulation of fatty tissue across her face and body.

Long-term use of medications such as prednisone (a type of steroid) may potentially lead to side effects like a rounded face resembling a full moon (moon face), Cushing syndrome, and hypothyroidism, as indicated by the Cleveland Clinic. These types of drugs are often prescribed by healthcare providers for various illnesses and conditions including anemia, poison ivy, lupus, Addison’s disease, arthritis, asthma, and cancer.

Approximately 40-70 individuals per million population are diagnosed with Cushing syndrome annually, yet many instances go unrecognized because of its rarity. This lack of diagnosis can result in severe consequences, such as high blood pressure, blood clots, depression, Type 2 diabetes, and even heart attacks, if left untreated.

Luckily for Schumer, she managed to detect the issue partially because of the influx of internet comments regarding her facial appearance, and a friend candidly mentioning that her face seemed “a bit peculiar, almost insane.” Eventually, she was able to overcome Cushing syndrome, explaining that “it simply needs to run its course naturally.

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2025-01-23 21:10