But, although moon face is common, it's temporary. “When the patient stops taking the prednisone, fat distribution goes back to normal and moon face disappears after a few weeks,” Dr. Galligan says.
The extra weight, water retention, and moon face puffiness will begin to fade once they stop taking corticosteroids. However, it may take up to six months to a year for the body and face to return to their pre-corticosteroid states. Moon face is one of the symptoms; it usually goes away with proper treatment.
Prednisone and other corticosteroid drugs can cause your face to swell and get rounder, a condition known as moon face. This can also be related to a health condition like Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism, as well as weight gain.
“'Moon face' is common, which is swelling in the face that can occur after you've been on steroids for a long time,” Dr. Ford notes. “You can also get swelling in the legs and midsection.” What you can do: “Prednisone alters how the body processes salt, so staying on a low-salt diet can help to some degree,” he says.
Steroid treatment
Steroid drugs, such as prednisone, can cause weight gain in the face. They can make a person's face look swollen, puffy, and round. These symptoms usually go away once a person stops treatment.
If your face has gradually swollen into a rounded shape, you may have moon facies. Also called moon face, this is usually not serious. But it may make you feel self-conscious. Moon facies occurs when extra fat builds up on the sides of the face.
Yes. Prednisone is one of several medications known to cause weight gain. This is usually more likely to happen with long-term use or higher doses.
Fluid retention can be controlled by eating a diet low in sodium – no more than 2,000 mg a day – and higher in potassium. You can find a list of high-sodium foods to avoid in the General Guidelines for Healthy Eating. You can increase your potassium intake by eating potassium-rich foods such as: Apricots.
Any body fat you gained on prednisone won't automatically go away once you reduce your dose or stop taking the drug. As with any weight loss, it may help to have a healthful eating plan and get regular exercise.
The majority of patients who take steroids long-term will experience weight gain, even as early as six months into treatment. Prednisone is a synthetic version of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone made by the adrenal glands to reduce inflammation in your body.
Side effects can range from mild to severe, and they may worsen over time, especially with higher doses of the medication. Side effects may include: Personality/mood changes. Insomnia.
These side effects include skin thinning, loss of color in the skin and intense pain. This pain is known as post-injection flare. Other symptoms may include facial flushing, insomnia and high blood sugar.
But, although moon face is common, it's temporary. “When the patient stops taking the prednisone, fat distribution goes back to normal and moon face disappears after a few weeks,” Dr.
Prednisone affects areas of the brain that manage the regulation of different neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine — the “feel-good” hormones. Feeling happy is a great side effect some people feel with prednisone. Other responses are more menacing, especially if you don't know what to expect.
Fluid retention can cause weight gain but as steroids are reduced, fluids will usually reduce as well, along with some of the weight gain. Drinking plenty of water and exercising can help with fluid retention.
Moon face may appear within the first two months of steroid therapy, though the risk of developing it depends on dosage and length of treatment.
Since steroids cause your body to retain more water, it's also common to experience urinary frequency, says Kaplan. Just knowing that this can potentially happen — and that it will soon pass — can help. “It's not something to worry about,” she says. “It's not a long-lasting symptom; it will improve within a few days.”
Because prednisone can alter the balance of hormones in the body, metabolic side effects can develop that affect everything from your skin texture to your brain and digestive function. Many of these side effects are reversible once the treatment is stopped.
Evidence suggests that topical tretinoin can increase the epidermal thickness of sun-damaged atrophic skin, but long-term use may be necessary. In dermatological practice, topical retinoids are used to help reverse skin atrophy caused by sun exposure or corticosteroid use.
Risks of Topical Corticosteriods
Although early skin thinning can disappear if the topical corticosteroid is discontinued, prolonged use can cause permanent stretch marks (striae).
The use of steroids often results in higher levels of water being retained in the body, this is known as oedema and can lead to puffier cheeks and a rounder face. Water retention can also be seen in the feet and ankles.