Cleanser, toner, moisturizer, sunblock, and exercise are things you need to have your skin looking healthy and youthful. Yes, I said exercise. We are all familiar with the benefits of exercising for our body; however, did you know regular working out can also improve your skin’s health? Getting your heart rate up and your blood pumping does more than trim you down and build muscles. Exercising is key to a better and healthier complexion.
The skin is the largest organ in the body. The same way exercising keeps organs like the heart and lungs in great shape, so does it strengthen the skin and its ability to defend itself against aging, combat problematic skin condition, minimizes puffy eyes, and even dark circles.
Still, need more convincing to join that gym in your neighborhood? Stick around and see the benefits of exercising on your skin that will leave you looking and feeling fabulous.
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Working Out Ups Repairs.
Strength training, when working out, causes micro-tears in the muscles. This is the reason behind that soreness you feel the day after. Nevertheless, this causes muscle fibers to rebuild stronger. This ability for muscles to restore stronger and faster applies to the skin as well. Exercising helps neutralize entire-body inflammation through the releases of anti-inflammatory proteins. Any form of exercising, whether strength-training or cardio, is acceptable. Dermatologists say that one major cause of skin aging is inflammation; therefore, anything that can combat it will protect collagen and allow your skin to age better. Inflammation is also known to trigger acne. Stress combined with inflammation will make things worse. Stress and inflammation-induced acne compromise the stratum corneum, which is the uppermost layer of the skin, and the skin’s barrier. The effects of these two cause the stratum corneum to dry out and become sensitive. Being active by exercising regulates inflammation all over the body, including the skin; therefore, rashes and acne flares are neutralized. Though not scientifically proven, many people have confessed to observing acne’s clearing and breakouts after taking up exercising.
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Improves Blood Flow and Circulation.
Exercising raises your heart rate and increases the circulation of blood. It also dilates blood vessels and allows for the much-needed oxygen to be delivered and essential nutrients and vitamins. All these are, of course, delivered to the skin cells, and the result is the glow you will observe post-workout. The supply of oxygen and nutrients rejuvenates your tired skin cells. Dr. Ellen Marmur, a Dermatologist (Women’s Health and Fitness) says, “Anything that promotes healthy circulation also keeps your skin healthy and vibrant.” Regular exercise over some time promotes efficient circulation, which improves the overall health of your skin, extending the glow long after working out. Hello, youthful-looking skin.
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Reduces Stress
As mentioned earlier, stress not only harms your body, it also affects your skin.
Stress causes your skin to experience facial tension, that combined with the general feeling of malaise, will have you looking less radiant. With stress comes the feeling of lousy and low, which affects your desire to care for your skin; therefore, skin neglect kicks in. Result? Dull skin. If stress levels are high, breakouts can appear. Bummer!
To reverse all this, exercising or even just taking a brisk walk out in the open can improve your mood and reduce stress. Physical activities such as those promote endorphins release, which are the feel-good hormones that leave you feeling relaxed and happy. By making the efforts to reduce stress, you allow your body to relax and pave the way for beautiful skin.
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Improves Skin Strength and Elasticity.
As we age, the ability of our bodies to produce collagen and elastin reduces. Collagen and elastin are proteins that give the skin its strength and elasticity to make it appear more firm, youthful, and plump. The decline in their production causes an increase in sagging and wrinkled skin.
Cortisol, the stress hormone accelerates the aging process and breaks down the collagen and elastin produced. Be it as it may, exercise counteracts the process of aging by reducing the level of cortisol, raising healing endorphins, and promoting collagen and elastin production. As you can see, that 15 to 30-minute workout may not feel so good as you do it; however, its benefits are worthwhile.
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Positive Benefits of Sweating.
I know you are probably wondering how being covered in sweat could be beneficial, stay with me. I am about to change your view. Sweat itself is not what causes breakouts and acne. Sweating is the natural way for your skin to detox, clear pores, and flush your toxins body. Additionally, sweating plays a role in the immunity of your body. It coats your skin in an antimicrobial shield called dermcidin that acts as the first defense against the harmful bacteria clinging to your skin’s surface, awaiting an opportunity to penetrate. After working out or engaging in a physical activity that instigates sweating, it is imperative to shower right away to prevent this positive benefit of sweat from turning into a nightmare. By staying in your sweaty clothes and allowing sweat to settle, the natural bacteria begin to ferment, and all the dirt that was flushed out starts to set. This is what causes to clog, resulting in those small red bumps we all loathe.
Consider a sweaty workout as a proper cleanout for your pores, remember to properly clean up after for this beneficial process to work for you.
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Activates the Lymphatic System.
Lymphatic congestion is the accumulation of toxins in the sinuses due to a sluggish lymphatic system. This congestion is one of the causes for tired and puffy eyes. By increasing the circulation of blood, exercising boosts lymphatic flow. This allows for the lymphatic system to virtually clear waste and toxins from the body and reduces fluid retention that brings about the puffy eyes and annoying dark circles. As a supplement to speed up the clearing of puffiness and the dark circles, try out The Gold Elements Advanced Truffles Eye Contour Wrinkle Treatment. You will have your eyes looking fresh and awake instantly.
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Improved Sleep.
Remember when we talked about where the term “beauty sleep” stems? It is when you are asleep that the skin repairs and renews its cells. By stripping that away with reduced sleeping hours, the benefits of working out and all the excellent skincare products you used will not be felt or observed. If you are having a hard time sleeping the recommended hours, try out a physical activity. If you already work out or engage in some form of physical exercise, you may have noticed that you sleep a lot better on the days you partake in the activities compared to when you don’t.
Post-workout, your body is generally tired and requires rest; therefore, the quality of sleep will translate into glowing, radiant skin in the morning.
Note that exercising does increase energy levels; therefore, avoid working out too close to your bedtime to reduce the chances of your spending hours tossing and turning before actually falling asleep. Space your exercise time and your slumber by a couple of hours.
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Toned Facial Muscles.
Exercising regularly builds muscle mass, resulting in your body looking fit and toned. This replacing of fat with muscle will have your skin looking firmer and smoother. That’s a natural facelift right there.
And there you have it, eight great benefits for exercising on your skin. I am well aware that there are some concerns about the disadvantages of working out to the skin, such as clogged pores and sunburns. For clogged pores, avoid exercising with makeup on and ensure to shower right after any physical activity to prevent any of the dirt from setting on your skin. For those who work out outside and are concerned about sunburns, consider using a lightweight sunblock so that it does not melt quickly and cause discomfort while keeping you protected from the sun. You might also consider adjusting your workout attire to more skin-covering clothing, also incorporating hats would be a plus.
With that said, I hope you are convinced to strap on your sneakers and get on that treadmill.
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