What is Cushing’s syndrome? Amy Schumer reflects on 'puffy face' comments
Amy Schumer has spoken out about the criticism she dealt with after her face became puffy due to Cushing's syndrome.
The US comedian, 42, revealed she had been diagnosed with the uncommon condition as a result of taking steroid injections in high doses in February.
In a new interview with Variety, Schumer reflected on comments she received about her face. A puffy, rounded face is one of the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome, and is sometimes known as 'moon face'.
"The people who like me are not going to care if my face is puffy," she told the magazine. "Everyone has moments of self-doubt. I rose up and was like, ‘F*** it, let’s go."
Earlier this year, Schumer said she received her diagnosis after a huge number of people commented on the appearance of her face when she was on TV.
She initially said her appearance was caused by endometriosis. She has been previously outspoken about the condition and in 2022, revealed that she underwent surgery the year prior to treat chronic pain because of endometriosis.
However, she later told the News Not Noise newsletter, authored by journalist Jessica Yelin, that she was diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome.
"I feel reborn," Schumer said of her diagnosis. "Finding out I have the kind of Cushing that will just work itself out and I’m healthy was the greatest news imaginable. It has been a crazy couple of weeks for me and my family."
She added that, while getting comments from people online about her face was unpleasant, it was how she realised "something was wrong".
What is Cushing’s syndrome?
Cushing’s syndrome occurs when there is too much of a hormone called cortisol in the body. Widely known as the "stress hormone", cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys.
The condition mostly affects people who have been taking steroid medication, especially steroid tablets, for a long period of time.
Steroid tablets are a type of anti-inflammatory medicine used to treat a wide range of conditions, from allergies and asthma to inflammatory bowel disease and arthritis.
They can also be used to treat endometriosis, as steroids with androgenic actions can prevent the growth of tissue outside of the uterus.
In very rare cases, Cushing’s syndrome can occur because of the body producing too much cortisol on its own. According to the NHS, this is usually the result of a tumour in the pituitary gland in the brain or a tumour in one of the adrenal glands.
The tumours are usually benign and not cancerous, and are most common in young women.
Symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome
People with Cushing’s syndrome may experience the onset of symptoms suddenly or gradually. Symptoms tend to worsen without treatment.
They include:
Weight gain
Increased fat on the chest and tummy
Build-up of fat on the back of neck and shoulders
Red, puffy, rounded face
Skin that bruises easily
Large purple stretch marks
Weakness in upper arms and thighs
Reduced libido and fertility issues
Depression
Mood swings
High blood pressure
Treatments for Cushing’s syndrome
If you have symptoms for Cushing’s syndrome, you should see your GP, who will test for cortisol levels in your urine, blood and saliva.
If the tests show a high level of cortisol, you may be referred to a hormone doctor, also known as an endocrinologist, to confirm or rule out Cushing’s syndrome.
How Cushing’s syndrome is treated depends on what’s causing it. If it is being caused by steroid medication, your dose will be gradually reduced or stopped.
If it is being caused by a tumour, you may need surgery to remove the tumour, or undergo radiotherapy to destroy it. You may also be given medicines to reduce the effect of cortisol on the body.
Watch: Amy Schumer addresses speculation about 'puffier' face
Read more about health and wellness:
How to bring down cortisol levels after a stressful day at work (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Symptoms of endometriosis as Amy Schumer addresses ‘puffier’ face (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
Anxiety expert explains truth about viral cortisol balancing trend (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
