Can Exercise Improve Your Skin?

The importance of exercise can’t be underestimated. In addition to helping maintain your physical health, it’s been shown to  increase your blood circulation, thereby improving the delivery of nutrients throughout your body. Regular exercise can also boost the immune system and help to prevent disease including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity. It is also useful in increasing mental health and fighting depression. With all the health benefits attributed to exercise, can it also help to improve your skin?

Skin Basics

Under the epidermis (the top layer of skin) lay a number of tissues, including the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The dermis is where collagen and elastin fibers reside. If these fibers are structurally sound, fewer wrinkles and fine lines will manifest at the skin’s surface. Capillaries, which help deliver oxygen and nutrients, are also located in the dermis. The subcutaneous tissue is mostly comprised of fat cells.

How does exercise contribute to great looking skin? First, by increasing circulation and delivery of nutrients to skin cells, toxins are cleared away. As well, exercise increases the availabilty of oxygen and nutrients providing optimum conditions for increasing collagen production. This helps to keep wrinkles and lines away. Exercise can also help to control the production of certain hormones – testosterone and DHEA – that have been linked to the development of acne. These hormones may be produced in response to stress, which exercise can help to lower, resulting in a decreased production of these hormones.  And, the sweat that accompanies exercise, can help to unclog pores, leading to a clearer complexion.

Can Exercise Help Eliminate Cellulite?

Cellulite is a different matter. For those of us who deal with it, exercise is probably your best bet (as opposed to expensive and well-advertised creams and other topical solutions). Pilates, weight training or yoga help to tone and reverse muscle tension, which reduces the appearance of cellulite. Keep in mind that you probably won’t be able to get rid of cellulite completely. But, you’ll at least be able to develop muscle to reduce its severity.

One Caveat

Stay away from facial exercises and specific movements which claim to help you tone facial muscles. Often accompanied by devices that exercise specific facial muscles, the benefits are not lasting. Due to the aging process, facial muscles cannot be exercised like the rest of the body. And in fact, they may lead to an increase in wrinkles, just the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve.  

How To Improve Your Skin

As much as exercise will benefit skin, the use of well formulated skin care products are just as important. Exfoliating, moisturizing, and protecting skin from the sun’s UV rays will improve skin. The delivery of antioxidants can help to limit free radical damage associated with skin aging. Here are 4 products worth considering:

Green Cream With Retinol – Retinol, a Vitamin A derivative, increasing skin cell turnover, unclogs pores and can help to reverse the signs of premature aging and sun damage.

UltimaSkin Honey and Soy Moisturizer – This formulation soothes and hydrates aging skin with potent emollients including soy. Soy is an antioxidant and has been shown to boost collagen production. 

Anthelios XL SPF 60 Cream – This well formulated sunscreen contains both Mexoryl XL and SX to provide broad spectrum protection from the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays.

UltimaSkin Potent C Serum – With a generous 12% vitamin C concentration, this new serum offers the benefits of antioxidants to inhibit the spread of damaging free radicals.