Moon face: symptoms, causes, to treatment

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Definition

What is moon face?

Moon face is a condition when your face gradually swells so that it becomes round. Moon face, also known as moon facies, occurs when excess fat builds up on the sides of the face. This is a harmless condition, but it can affect your self-confidence.

Moon faces are often associated with obesity, but can also be caused by Cushing's syndrome. This is why people often refer to this condition as the Cushingoid appearance. Cushing's syndrome occurs when the body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol for a long period of time.

How common is this condition?

This condition can occur in patients of any age. Moonface can be treated by reducing risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of moon face?

The main symptoms of a moon face are a face that becomes round, full, and gradually swollen. The sides of your face can become very rounded due to fat buildup where the ears cannot be seen in front of you. Fat deposits on the sides of the skull bones can also make the face look rounder.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Cause

What causes moon face?

There are several conditions that may cause moonface, namely:

• Allergic reactions (allergic rhinitis, hay fever, bee stings)
• Angioedema
• Reactions from blood transfusions
• Cellulitis
• Conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye)
• Drug reactions, including due to aspirin, penicillin, sulfa, glucocorticoids, etc.
• Complications due to surgery on the head, nose or jaw
• Injury or trauma to the face (such as burns)
• Malnutrition (severe)
• Obesity
• Salivary gland disorders
• Sinusitis
• A nodule with swelling around the infected eye
• Tooth abscess
• Hyperadrenocorticalism / hypercortisolism: High levels of hormones produced, especially cortisol
• Cushing's Syndrome

Long-term use of steroids such as prednisone can cause the same signs and symptoms as Cushing's syndrome. In fact, weight gain that causes fat to accumulate like a moon face is one of the side effects of taking steroids.

Your risk of developing steroids depends on the dose of the drug and for how long you take it.

The following conditions commonly cause hypercortisolism and moonface symptoms:

• Increased release of hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary gland.
• Non-pituitary tumors, such as tumors of the lung, pancreas, or thymus, which can also cause a large release of ACTH.
• Benign or cancerous tumors in the adrenal glands
• Long-term use of steroid drugs, such as prednisone for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune conditions.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for moon face?

There are many risk factors for moon face, namely:

• Swelling of the face suddenly, feels painful and severe
• Swelling of the face that lasts some time, especially if it gets worse
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever, pain or redness indicating infection.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is this condition diagnosed?

The medical service provider will ask about medical and personal history, as well as recent injuries. This can prescribe medical treatment or tests if needed. The doctor will usually look for the cause of the moon face to determine treatment.

To confirm that the moon face is caused by an abnormal amount of cortisol, the doctor can perform blood tests and urine tests. To confirm the cause of your high cortisol levels, you may need other tests, such as an MRI or CT scan.

Cushing's Syndrome

Quoted from Web MD, diagnosing Cushing's syndrome is difficult, because the signs and symptoms of facial swelling can be caused by other conditions. However, if the moon face worsens gradually and is accompanied by other characteristic symptoms, it may be Cushing's syndrome.

For example, fat can also accumulate on the back of the neck, stomach or other parts of the body, but the legs and hands often remain thin. One type of obesites, this central obesity is a common feature of Cushing's syndrome. However, if you regularly diet or exercise, you may not gain too much weight or moon face.

Medication history

Your doctor may also ask about your medication history, especially if you are on long-term steroids. Long-term use of steroids such as prednisone can cause many of the similar signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome. Although there are many people who use this type of treatment, there are also many people who experience moon face but don't know the cause.

Weight gain with fat redistribution such as moon face is one of the main signs of steroid use. The risk of these symptoms depends on the dose of the drug and how long it is used. With steroid use, an increase in appetite and food intake can contribute to weight gain.

Symptoms usually appear as a result of long-term oral steroid use. Less commonly, steroids that are injected or inhaled can also cause signs and symptoms of Cushing's syndrome.

What are the treatments for moon face?

The doctor will treat the causes of moon face, such as:

• Treatment for Cushing's syndrome depends on the cause. In some cases, the surgeon can remove the tumor. In other cases, drugs, radiation therapy or physical therapy can also help.
• If long-term steroid use is the cause, the best way to reduce the impact of symptoms is to reduce the dose of the drug or stop it. If you need to continue using, your doctor will give you the lowest effective dose. For example, taking the drug alternately can reduce Cushingoid changes. If this does not resolve the moon face and other symptoms, the doctor can suggest other types of therapy.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat moon face?

Use a cold compress to reduce swelling from the injury. Raise the head of the bed (or use more pillows) to reduce facial swelling.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.