Cortisol has a bad rep, but without it, we couldn’t live—the stress hormone is a necessary mechanism of survival. Of course, the problem occurs when cortisol is triggered in excess.

The consequences of chronic, unbalanced cortisol? Weight gain, insomnia, mood swings, digestive problems... the list goes on and on. When it comes to skin, excessive cortisol can be just as damaging, resulting in a loss of collagen and elastin that leads to premature aging, wrinkles, and sagging. Of course, there’s also a social media phenomena called “ cortisol face ” which, though not an official medical condition, is thought to be a puffy, swollen face induced by stress. However, most doctors say that true “cortisol face” is rare and usually related to a condition called Cushing’s syndrome.

Still, “the

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