None of us is stranger to the benefits of running. Running is good for your heart, for your mental health, for weight loss, for improving metabolism, and so much more. But have you ever thought about the benefits of running for your skin? In this article, we explore all the good things that your skin can gain from running. So, let's see!
Benefits of Running for Your Skin
Running benefits your skin in different ways and means. We share with you ways in which running can improve skin.
Running Improves Blood Circulation to Your Skin
Running generally leads to an increase in cardiac output and an improvement in blood circulation. This improvement in blood circulation affects all of your body, including your skin. When the blood circulation improves, your skin ends up receiving more blood (you can notice that as a blush and warmth on your skin), and the blood is carrying nutrition that your skin needs to remain healthy and to produce more collagen. When the blood circulation is poor, your skin will end up being deprived of essential nutrition, and hence it won't be as healthy.
Running Helps Your Skin By Reducing Stress
Studies link stress to a lot of skin problems, such as acne, dermatitis, eczema, urticaria, and even alopecia. Maybe you have noticed how acne starts breaking all over your face when you are under a lot of pressure or stress, or you might have noticed how itching gets a lot worse when you are feeling stressed. I know a friend who, whenever she is stressed, rashes begin spreading all over her body.
Running reduces stress; this is an effect that you will notice the first time you start running, and this happens because running tends to suppress your stress hormones and blunt the brain response to pressure. It also increases the release of endorphins, which improve your mood. By reducing stress, running results in improving your skin.
Running Helps with sleep regulation
Running and other aerobic exercises tend to improve sleep quality and increase sleep duration; this has been supported by at least 29 studies. As to how this happens, no one really knows yet; the mechanism by which running improves sleep is yet to be known, but the fact that it does is there. You might be asking, How is any of this related to my skin being better? Well, it's related because getting enough quality sleep is related to skin health. You have heard the term "beauty sleep." Well, it's true. You can notice the difference in your skin when you sleep bad for a couple of days; it can even worsen certain skin conditions like acne. Hence, by improving your sleep routine, running also improves your skin and makes it healthier.
Running Improves Skin Moisture
Running increases skin hydration. This is another effect that has been studied. The studies suggest that exercise, including running, may increase hydration, which in turn has an association with the skin barrier. This moisturizing effect may prevent skin problems and increase its health.
Running improves mental health
Running improves symptoms of mental disorders like depression, anxiety disorder, and others; this improvement in mental health and in mood can be accompanied by improvement in skin health.
Tips to get the most out of running for your skin
While running can be really good for your skin and make it healthier, sometimes it can have a reverse effect. This reversed effect, though, thankfully doesn't stem directly from running and can be avoided.
Things to avoid if you want to run
1. Applying makeup when you want to run
Makeup and running together are a bad recipe for your skin. The makeup will clog your pores more if you apply it before running. This will lead to the accumulation of dirt and makeup on your pores, which will worsen your acne or lead to an acne outbreak.
2. Delaying washing up after running
All this dirt and sweat that accumulates on your face and skin while you are running needs to be washed as soon as possible to avoid itching and acne breakouts.
3. Not using sunscreen when you run
Sun rays are bad for your skin in every possible way; they cause acne, wrinkles, dryness, hyperpigmentation, etc. When you go out for a run, make sure to protect your skin by applying sunscreen (preferably with an SPF 50). Wear a headband to absorb the sweat coming from your scalp, and avoid wiping off the sunscreen you applied. If you spend more than two hours outside, then you might need to reapply the sunscreen; this depends on the brand you are using.
Following those instructions will help you get more out of running and avoid it affecting your skin in a negative way.
In conclusion, running and exercising are good for your skin. Do it regularly, and you will start noticing results not only on your skin but in all aspects of your health.
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