NEW ORLEANS — There may be another reason why physical activity makes you look younger.
We know it's good for the heart, lungs, and muscles, but something new that's just been uncovered about exercise, especially weightlifting, is why it could be anti-aging for your skin.
It's long been known that aerobic exercise helps circulate more blood to the skin.
“And that translates to increased nutrients to our skin and better repair mechanisms. It's why smoking is so bad for your skin, because it constricts all your blood vessels that direct that blood flow to our skin,” explained Dr. Leah Jacob, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Tulane.
But now a new study shows exercise changes your skin all the way down to the skin cells.
“It looks like firmer, tighter skin from the outside. So, a thicker dermal layer is going to make your skin look less wrinkly, and more youthful in appearance,” said Dr. Jacob about how study participants who exercised a had thicker dermal layer.
We asked her to talk to us about a recent study published in Scientific Reports that found that aerobic exercise, and weight training changed the way the genes work, improving the underlying health of facial skin cells and tissue.
“Growth factors are going to be the signals that tell our collagen to start making more collagen. That's what's going to make your dermis thicker, and that's what's ultimately going to translate to youthful more healthy looking skin.”
But the study suggests more specifically, weight lifting over cardio exercise, was even more beneficial to the skin.
“I think it's a really exciting, that we can sort of see on a molecular level specifically what resistance training does for our skin,” she added.
Middle-aged people's skin grew more youthful at a cellular level. There was better elasticity, making it a little less saggy. It was thicker, while the genes that make new collagen, were busier. Dr. Jacob says exercise does more than help the skin, and other organs. It helps mental health.
When asked if she will recommend to her dermatology patients to start weightlifting, Dr. Jacob replied, “I always do. Their attitude changes, and they feel better about themselves.”
And don't forget if you exercise outside, wear sunscreen. Sun exposure, even a tan, damages skin cells.
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