A gaunt face is a thin, boney, lack of fat look that can make you appear older than your actual age. People with a gaunt face tend to have sunken eyes, dark under-eye circles and an overall look of unhealthiness. They often have a prominent jawline, chin and neck, and their skin looks very bony and dry. The most common cause of a gaunt face is aging. The natural aging process causes the fat in your face to lose volume, leading to more prominent jowls and deeper nose-to-mouth lines, and a general loss of facial smoothness (12). Another common cause is smoking, which decreases collagen and elastin in the body, causing your skin to lose its elasticity over time (12).
Weight loss is also a common reason for a gaunt face. During dieting, the amount of fat in the face is reduced, leaving it looking thinner and more saggy. Some people who have lost a significant amount of weight are known to have a gaunt face due to the rapid loss of facial fat, which can give them a tired or exhausted appearance.
Other causes of a gaunt face are stress and genetics. If you have a family history of having skinny faces, this can lead to you inheriting the same look as them. If your skin is very dry, this can contribute to a gaunt face as well, as it will make the face look thinner and less full of fat. Lastly, some medications can also cause a gaunt face. The diabetes drug Ozempic, for example, can cause a sagging, gaunt appearance when used over long periods of time.