Critics shaming her ‘moon face’ prompted the actress to check in with a doctor before getting her diagnosis
Online trolls who thought they were insulting Amy Schumer led her to an important medical discovery. The 43-year-old opened up on how it happened as she spoke about her health on an episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, after revealing a medical diagnosis early last year.
The comedian is no stranger to online trolls, having been in the public eye for over two decades, but as the hateful comments about her “moon face” starting to ramp up, she said she grew more concerned. Doctors ended up in her comments section warning the star that her red and puffy complexion could be a sign of something she should check out.
The Trainwreck writer was eventually told by her doctors that it could be Cushing’s syndrome – a condition the NHS warns is serious if not treated. She was warned it usually arises as a result of certain medications.
The actress suddenly realised the steroid injections she had been getting for her scars since welcoming her first son in 2019 had jump-started the condition. She said: “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.”
Cushing’s syndrome occurs when a body has too much cortisol, the stress hormone, which is very rarely all created in the body and more commonly happens as a result of medications like steroids which contain a synthetic version of cortisol. The leading signs of cortisol, according to the NHS, are a build-up of fat on the back of the neck and shoulders, known as a buffalo hump, and a ‘moon face’, which is red, puffy and rounded.
Other symptoms include easily bruising, large purple stretch marks, weakness in the upper arms and thighs as well as depression, mood swings, fertility problems and a low libido. These symptoms can occur gradually over time and continue to worsen until it’s treated but it can also cause other health issues if left untreated for too long, such as high blood pressure.
The NHS urges anyone experiencing these symptoms and taking steroids to see their GP as soon as possible, but warns people not to stop taking the medicine without getting medical advice beforehand. Cushing’s syndrome is usually diagnosed by a test to measure the amount of cortisol in your body using a sample of either urine, blood or saliva.
Treatment for Cushing’s depends on what is causing it. In Amy’s case, she noted that she managed to “get rid” of the excess cortisol as it “worked itself out” of her system. Stopping or reducing the amount of steroids a patient is on can treat Cushing’s.
However, if the excess cortisol is being created inside the body, it’s usually due to a tumour. This may have to be removed surgically or reduced by radiotherapy to treat the Cushing’s it has caused while other medications can also reduce the effect cortisol has on the body.