Longevity
•Centr x Lifespan.io
The best skincare routine is exercise
Centr has partnered with Lifespan.io, a nonprofit leader in longevity science journalism and advocacy, to bring you the latest research on aging and rejuvenation. Learn more about our partnership below.
Skin is not just the largest organ of the human body (bank that one for your next trivia night), it’s one of the hardest working.
While you’re out there getting things done, your skin is busy protecting you from pollution, the sun’s rays and nasty pathogens. With all those environmental hazards coming thick and fast, it’s no wonder that skin is also one of the first organs to show the wear and tear of age – thinning, losing elasticity and becoming more pale.
Before you reach for that outrageously expensive skin cream in an attempt to delay the signs of aging, have you considered trying a workout instead?
Training vs skin aging
We already know that a good workout can give you an inner glow caused by feel-good chemicals and blood flow to the brain.
Now a study has found that both aerobic and resistance training can improve skin elasticity – the ability to ‘bounce back’ that helps resist sagging and wrinkles – and the health of the upper dermal structure – the middle layer of skin which provides nutrients, hydration and support to your outer layer of skin.
But when it came to increasing the thickness of skin (dermal thickness) only resistance training delivered results.
Ready for your treatment? Grab your dumbbells and jump into a high-intensity resistance training session with Ingrid right now.
How does exercise improve your skin?
The study followed two groups of women for 16 weeks. Half stuck to cardio, and the other half focused on strength training.
By testing blood samples taken before and after the training period, researchers found that exercise had clear effects on the genes and proteins involved in maintaining healthy skin and counteracting aging.
For instance, production of collagen – which is essential to our skin’s structure and ability to heal, but declines with age – was given a boost.
While getting your heart rate up and hitting the weights each have benefits for your skin, the upshot of this study is that you need both to maximize the impact. Bonus: mixing up your training has plenty of other benefits for your overall health and longevity, too.
Disclaimer: This Centr content is adapted with permission from an article written by Lifespan.io. The content herein represents Centr’s interpretation of the original source material.
Centr x Lifespan.io
Centr has partnered with Lifespan.io to bring you the latest in longevity research. Lifespan.io is the leading source of industry news and a nonprofit advocacy foundation whose mission is to accelerate progress toward overcoming age-related diseases. Since 2014, the organization has focused on responsible journalism, high-impact advocacy, and media initiatives that make longevity research and education more accessible to all.
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