Moon Face: What It Is, Why It Happens, and Which Medications Cause It

When your face rounds out, swells, and looks fuller—especially around the cheeks, jaw, and chin—you might be seeing moon face, a visible physical change often caused by prolonged use of corticosteroid medications. Also known as facial plethora, it’s not just cosmetic—it’s a sign your body is reacting to hormones it didn’t produce. This isn’t weight gain from eating too much. It’s fat redistribution, fluid retention, and muscle thinning triggered by drugs like prednisone, dexamethasone, or hydrocortisone when taken for weeks or months.

Corticosteroids, powerful anti-inflammatory drugs used for asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and organ transplants are the main culprits. They mimic cortisol, your body’s natural stress hormone. But when you take them long-term, your body stops making its own cortisol, and fat starts pooling in your face, neck, and upper back. That’s when you get the rounded cheeks, double chin, and sometimes a buffalo hump. Cushing’s syndrome, a condition caused by too much cortisol in the body, whether from medication or a tumor often includes moon face as one of its clearest signs. It’s not rare—up to 70% of people on high-dose steroids for over six months develop it.

It’s not just about looks. Moon face often comes with other changes: skin that bruises easily, stretch marks, acne, or even mood swings. The good news? It usually fades once you lower or stop the steroid dose, under a doctor’s care. But quitting cold turkey can be dangerous. Your body needs time to restart its own cortisol production. That’s why doctors slowly taper doses, even if you feel fine. If you’re on long-term steroids, ask about alternatives, lower doses, or intermittent schedules. And if you notice your face changing, don’t ignore it—talk to your provider. It’s a signal, not a mistake.

Below, you’ll find real cases and detailed guides on how these medications work, what side effects to watch for, and how to manage them safely. Whether you’re taking steroids for an autoimmune condition or dealing with unexpected swelling, the articles here give you the facts—not the fluff.