Exercising for Skin Care

If you’re anything like me, you think of exercise as something you do to stay in shape. But, I was blown away to find out that it has anti-aging benefits for my skin as well! And to think, when I bought my gym membership, I was just hoping to fit into my size 6 jeans again. Like most women, my bathroom counter is lined with all kinds of skin care products. One to moisturize, another to fight those fine lines and wrinkles, but I had no idea I could find the fountain of youth at the gym. Ok, well maybe it’s not the fountain of youth, but it turns out doctors now say a good work out is beneficial for just about all parts of your body, including one of the largest organs…our skin.

Health experts say regular exercise plays a key role in reducing breakouts, fighting the signs of aging and giving our skin that youth enhancing, healthy glow. Among the many benefits, “is increased circulation and delivery of nutrients to skin cells, whooshing away potentially damaging toxins,” according to Audrey Kunin, MD, a dermatologist and author of The DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual. One of the best side effects of exercise for our skin is its stress relieving benefits. You know how much better you feel after a good work out, especially after a long hard day, well it appears it affects our skin to. By reducing the output of testosterone related hormones such as DHEA and DHT, exercise can help control stress related acne. Oh, and let’s not forget ladies, we all know we exercise to help tighten those sagging muscles, well that goes for the ones in our face as well. So, the next time you cringe at doing those crunches just think of how much you’re doing to help tighten your top and your bottom!