Now more than ever, exercise can not only be a health benefit, but also a mental health tool. As an added bonus, there is a link to better looking skin through exercise, as well. The health and life-balance benefits of exercise are well known. Now, more and more evidence suggests that exercise may also help keep your skin younger looking and even out skin tone, release toxins and reduce puffiness. It's a win-win.
Second to your liver, your skin is the body’s best detoxifying mechanism. It really is a simple premise: when we push ourselves to the point of perspiration and that unpleasant flushed look – a result of increased blood flow to the dermis – that means essential nutrients, hormones and increased oxygen have been sent to our skin.
Regular exercise manifests in that ‘healthy glow’. And that’s not just a phrase. The day following exercise is when you can see the real benefits oxygen-rich blood has on our skin! Increased circulation means blood has traveled to feed the skin nutrients, hormones and oxygen from within, giving your skin a plumped and healthy glow.
In a 2014 study at Canada’s McMaster University, researchers found that exercising can actually reverse skin ageing – even when it’s taken up later in life – and that people who exercise regularly enjoyed younger-looking skin than their peers.
After about age 40, most of us begin to experience a thickening of our outer epidermis, the top layer of skin that you see and feel. Composed mostly of dead skin cells and some collagen, it gets drier, flakier and denser with age. At the same time, the layer of skin beneath it, the dermis, begins to thin. It loses cells and elasticity, giving skin a more translucent and usually a saggier appearance. Studies have shown that under a microscope, the skin of those participants who were exercising regularly (twice a week for the previous 90 days) had skin composition similar to that of a much younger person compared to those who did not exercise regularly.
Even manually working the muscles in your face, however, either through a facial or daily facial exercises, can help release toxins and encourage blood flow for a better looking complexion.
Unfortunately, raising your heart rate won’t automatically grant you a flawless complexion. Some skin concerns can be aggravated by strenuous activity, like rosacea. Increasing blood flow to the skin may dial up redness in certain situations.
A common misconception about exercise is that it leads to breakouts. Exercise actually reduces inflammation – one of the main causes of acne – and it evens out cortisol, the ‘stress’ hormone, which, among other things, can trigger skin flare-ups.
What we put on our skin before and after a workout is important, too. And because many people exercise right after work or another activity, some cosmetic companies are now making sweat-proof moisturizers, lip and cheek products and other post-workout products. If you’re going to have any make-up on during a workout, make sure it’s long lasting, lightweight and won’t clog pores or cause breakouts.
After your workout, resist the urge to over-scrub, as being too rough can aggravate the skin. A gentle cleanser is usually appropriate to slough away sweat and debris. And don’t forget that if you’re exercising outside, use a good quality SPF. Make sure your hair is off your face to keep pore-clogging oils from sitting on your skin during a workout. You’re looking for a rosy glow not greasy skin!
Keep your whole self in shape! Bliss on Broadway offers full service skin care, massage and nail care services to help you look after your skin, body and mind. You can purchase a gift certificate now for services in the future. Call us at 562-439-4333. http://www.blissonbroadway.com/