The pattern of symptoms in Cushing’s syndrome can be highly unpredictable. In some cases, the symptoms can develop quickly and be very severe. In other cases, the symptoms can develop gradually and be much milder.
Weight gain and fat deposits
The most common symptom of Cushing's syndrome is weight gain, particularly on the chest, stomach and face. This happens because cortisol causes fat to be redistributed to these areas.
People with Cushing's syndrome tend to have:
- very slim arms and legs compared with their chest and stomach
- deposits of fat on the back of the neck and shoulders, known as a 'buffalo hump'
- a red, puffy and rounded face
Skin changes
Symptoms that affect the skin include:
- thin skin that bruises easily because cortisol causes proteins in the skin to break down and tiny blood vessels to become weak
- reddish-purple stretch marks on the thighs, stomach, buttocks, arms, legs or breasts because cortisol makes the skin fragile
- spots on the face, chest or shoulders
- darkened skin on the neck
- swelling of the legs due to a build-up of fluid (oedema)
- heavy sweating
- bruises, cuts, scratches and insect bites can take a long time to heal
Symptoms in men
Additional symptoms in men include:
Symptoms in women
Additional symptoms in women include:
Symptoms in children
Children who develop Cushing’s syndrome may experience delayed or missing growth.
Bones and muscles
People with Cushing's syndrome often have muscle weakness in their hips, shoulders, arms and legs.
Too much cortisol can also cause brittle bones (osteoporosis). This may lead to an affected bone breaking when doing normal, every day activities, such as bending and lifting.
Mental health
Depression can be a common symptom in Cushing’s syndrome. It's also common to feel unusually tired all the time, which can contribute to feelings of depression. See the Health A-Z about Depression for more information about the condition.
Many people with Cushing’s syndrome will also experience rapid mood swings and have emotional reactions that seem inappropriate, such as laughing or crying for no apparent reason.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome include:
These types of symptoms often go unnoticed and are only detected during medical scans and tests.
