Amy Schumer's Cushing's Syndrome diagnosis and 'moon face' symptoms explained

Amy Schumer has opened up about how online trolls inadvertently led her to seek medical help. The 43-year-old comedian faced a barrage of online criticism last year, with people mocking her swollen 'moon face' appearance.

Although Amy initially shrugged off these comments, she soon noticed medical professionals warning that her facial swelling wasn't just 'crazy', but indicative of a serious health issue. Reflecting on her experience, Amy admitted that she 'wouldn't have known' about her condition if the 'internet hadn't come for [her] so hard'.

During a conversation on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy yesterday, she said: "The internet really came for me after doing a bunch of press. And I was like, 'ok everybody relax', but then like doctors were chiming in [within] the comments.

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"And they were like, 'no, no we think something's really up, like your face looks so crazy'... I'm like wait, I'm getting trolled by doctors?"

In February last year, Amy was diagnosed with Cushing's Syndrome - a rare condition caused by an excess of cortisol in the body. Common symptoms include increased fat build-up across the chest, stomach and face, in addition to mood swings, purple stretch marks and frequent bruising.

While Amy's symptoms were triggered by the steroid medicines she takes for her scars, Cushing's can also be caused by non-cancerous tumours in the brain's pituitary gland or adrenal glands above the kidneys.

Amy went on: "I was like f*** off and then I was like wait, I have been getting steroid injections for my scars... I had a breast reduction, a C-section, whatever... So, I was getting these steroid injections and so, it gave me this thing called Cushing's syndrome — which I wouldn't have known if the internet hadn't come for me so hard.

"So, right before I started filming Kinda Pregnant, which you guys have to check out on Netflix, right before we started rolling, was when I learned I had this condition, and that I had something called 'moon face', and I'm starring in a movie — and there's a camera right in my face.

"...I asked some of the people close to me and everyone's like, 'you look great', but then you have like your one friend from high school that's like, 'your face is looking, like, a little bit insane'."

Left untreated, Cushing's syndrome can give rise to numerous potentially life-threatening complications including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, muscle mass loss and osteoporosis, according to Mayo Clinic.

Advice from the NHS also adds: "See a GP if you have symptoms of Cushing's syndrome, especially if you're taking steroids. Do not stop taking your medicine without getting medical advice.

"Lots of things can cause similar symptoms to Cushing's syndrome, so it's a good idea to get checked to find out what the problem is."

NHS full list of potential Cushing's syndrome red flags:

• Reduced sex drive and fertility issues

• Build-up of fat on neck and shoulders, known as a 'buffalo hump'

• Mood swings and depression

• Weakness in arms and thighs

• Swollen, puffy face

• Large purple stretch marks

• Increased body fat on chest, stomach and face, but slim arms and legs

• High blood pressure

• Easily bruised skin