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Article by Infofit

How Does Exercise Improve Skin Health? – Getting the Glow

Exercise improves skin health as it improves collagen production

We all know that exercise is fantastic for the heart, lungs and to improve muscular size and strength. However, did you know that daily exercise is also an important part of maintaining that healthy glow to your skin and improve skin health?

How Does Exercise Improve Skin Health?

We all know that life get to be stressful and time is sometimes short in our busy schedules, but exercise needs to be a part of our daily habits to help decrease health risks and increase skin health.

Exercise helps the skin by increasing blood flow which nourishes the skin cells by carrying oxygen to them which keeps them alive and flourishing. Additionally, the blood flow flushes away cellular waste products including free radicals.

Clogged pores cause common skin conditions associated with acne and blackheads. While studies show, exercise does not detoxify the skin, an intense exercise session which produces a heavy sweat does act to wash out the pores by bringing oil, bacteria, and dirt out onto skin’s surface. Over time with appropriate cleansing post workout, the skin will have a more youthful and firm texture.

Exercise will improve skin health as it improves collagen production by dilating the capillaries in the skin, drawing nutrient-rich blood to the skin. The extra nutrients aide in producing fibroblast which produces collagen giving the skin a plumper look.

Decreasing Stress to Help Improve Skin Health

Exercise decreases stress which helps improve skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Alternately research is still being done which shows that the sebaceous glands which produce oil in the skin are altered or influenced by the stress hormones.

Stress also leads to the production of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that blocks collagen production. Therefore excess stress can cause the skin to lose its internal structure. The Michigan State University published a study in 2008 that found cortisol levels drop by as much as 18.5% after an intense workout.

Sleep Increases Elastin and Collagen

Exercise helps us to sleep better which all on its own has numerous health benefits. In the case of skin benefits, the extra sleep produces natural healing in the body. The healing effects activate collagen and elastin which helps fight the battle against gravity. Sleep also reduces bags or darkness under the eyes which leaves you with a bright and younger looking appearance.

How Does Exercise Help with Detoxification?

Exercise not only increases circulation to the skin it also eliminates toxin from the skin. The toxins are carried from the skin by the increased blood flow to the liver where the body cleans them out more quickly. The cleaner the blood the less environmental toxins get back into the skin. Over time this means the skin will stay firmer and you will have more energy overall.

Get Moving No Matter How Busy Life Gets

No matter how busy life gets, it’s important to exercise to improve skin health!  Make time daily for at least 30 minutes of cardio, plus weight lifting, yoga or stretching.

Family time can be spent doing a hike, bike ride or just a quick walk around the block. Just remember the most important thing you can do to improve the skin health and your overall health is to take a few minutes to get the blood pumping.