Amy Schumer recently disclosed that she has received a diagnosis of Cushing syndrome, a medical condition characterized by an overproduction of cortisol hormones in the body.
The comedian and actress shared the news in Jessica Yellin’s “News Not Noise” newsletter released on Friday, saying that the syndrome was “brought on by getting steroid injections in high doses.”
Schumer had responded to previous online criticisms surrounding her face after appearing on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Good Morning America”, passing it off as symptoms of Endometriosis. She had written on Instagram that there were,
“Some medical and hormonal things going on in my world right now but I’m okay….I also believe a woman doesn’t need any excuse for her physical appearance and owes no explanation. But I wanted to take the opportunity to advocate for self love and acceptance of the skin you’re in.”
Now after looking deeper into what the critics were saying about her “puffier” face, she became aware of the underlying cause. Nevertheless, she said that she also felt “reborn” after learning that her type of Cushing syndrome will “just work itself out” and that she is healthy.
Quick Fact: Cushing syndrome is a condition that occurs when the body produces too much cortisol over a long period of time, or from taking glucocorticoid medicines, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Signs and symptoms may consist of facial rounding, a fatty deposit at the base of the neck, and reddish or purplish stretch marks on the skin. Additionally, it has the potential to result in hypertension, decreased bone density, and the development of type 2 diabetes.
Before the interview ended, Amy Schumer mentioned that she was driven to share her diagnosis as a way to “advocate for women’s health.” She said,
“The shaming and criticism of our ever-changing bodies is something I have dealt with and witnessed for a long time. I want so much for women to love themselves and be relentless when fighting for their own health in a system that usually doesn’t believe them.”
