From burning fat and building muscle to improving mood and reducing stress, most of the benefits of exercise are well-known. But, if you need yet another reason to hit the gym, research suggests that exercise can boost collagen levels, helping you tone not only your muscles but also your skin.
Exercise stimulates the production of collagen. “Studies show that collagen is in a constant cycle of creation and destruction in the body; age and environment play a factor in the breakdown,” Redpath adds.
According to Audrey Kunin, dermatologist and author of The DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual, exercise increases delivery of nutrients to skin's cells and provides optimum conditions for collagen production, thus keeping away wrinkles and those oft-discussed fine lines.
Exercising has been shown to increase skin elasticity, give you a healthy glow and even combat common skin conditions like acne. The knowledge that you can fight aging and acne with some exercise might even put an extra pep in your step and really rev up your workout regimen.
Ultraviolet rays, aka sunlight, cause collagen to break down faster. With sun exposure, those UV rays damage the skin by entering the dermis (the second and thickest layer of our skin) which causes collagen to break down faster.
Eating foods rich in vitamin C and amino acids can increase the levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen in the body as both are important for skin. Foods such as oranges, red peppers, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and strawberries are all rich in vitamin C.
It helps you get rid of impurities and dirt and opens up the pores. This enables your skin to get a fresh dose of oxygen. What's more, it improves its elasticity and makes you look younger. Workouts get your blood running faster, which not only boosts your energy levels but makes your skin looking gorgeous, too.
It can't reverse aging, per se, he cautions, but “there's clear evidence that exercise can activate the machinery necessary for DNA repair.” Of course, the sooner you begin and the longer you remain physically active, the better. But physical activity is important at every age.
“When you work out, your blood is pumping more, which improves the circulation of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body, including your skin and ultimately leads to that post-workout glow,” dermatologist Yoon-Soo Cindy Bae, M.D., tells SELF.
What is runner's face? If you haven't heard the term, you've likely seen it. It is the face of a lifelong runner with leathery, saggy skin and a gaunt appearance. It is the result of lots of sun exposure and little body fat.
Slather on a vitamin C serum in the morning. The vitamin is an antioxidant that protects the collagen in your skin against UV damage, says Chwalek. More than that, she says, it triggers collagen formation and stabilizes the collagen proteins in skin.
Sweating gives your skin glowing results
It boosts your circulation and delivers more nutrients to your skin via increased blood flow[4]. It can also stimulate the body's production of collagen over time, helping your skin to appear plumper and healthier[5].
To make collagen—or any protein—your body combines amino acids. You can get amino acids by eating and digesting protein-rich foods, like meat, beans, and dairy products, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Then your body can repurpose the amino acids into collagen.
It helps you maintain a healthier body and keeps your metabolism at a steady, high rate, which helps keep weight off and our bodies looking younger.
Yes, say some researchers from Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. The researchers say regular facial exercises may strengthen the muscles just below your skin and produce fuller upper and lower cheeks. This can lead to a more youthful appearance.
Researchers found that people who performed high levels of physical activity had longer telomeres; in fact, biologically speaking, they were nine years younger than more sedentary people.
Running increases the production of human growth hormone—your body's natural youth serum. "This helps you produce new cells, which can make your skin look a lot more youthful," says Webb.
Endurance exercise–like running, swimming, or bicycling–and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) both slowed signs of aging compared to lifting weights–at least on the cellular level.
Exercise Keeps Your Skin Soft and Glowing
A dewy sheen on your cheeks from all the sweat dripping off your forehead may be one of many ways fitness keeps your skin young. In one study published in 2019 in Biology (Basel), researchers studied a small group of adults aged 20–84.
Although exercise can't change you, it can transform you and make you even more attractive by taking care of your outer appearance. When you're involved in a physical activity that's right for you, your build an even and sculpted physique that's also more robust and sometimes even beefier.
Regular exercise, including cardio and strength training, will help you maintain your weight and tone your body. It also may help your skin look tighter.
What Hurts Your Collagen Levels? Besides time, three main things will lower your collagen levels: sunlight, smoking, and sugar. Too much exposure to ultraviolet light makes its fibers unravel. This can lead to sun damage, such as wrinkles.
Collagen levels decrease with age and, unfortunately, there's no way to prevent this. The good news is that there are several cosmetic treatments that can rebuild or restore collagen.