It’s no surprise that exercise has many benefits for the body, but did you know it can help your skin health too? It’s natural for our skin to lose elasticity and vibrancy, and to gain wrinkles, but there is evidence for regular exercise to even reverse those effects of aging!

Here are some ways exercise can improve your skin health:

1. When you exercise regularly, you increase the circulation of blood, which can help to nourish your skin cells with freshly oxygenated blood, giving it a glowing look. It can also help to carry away wastes and toxins that can clog pores.
2. Exercise produces endorphins, which help to decrease stress, anxiety and cortisol levels, which are often linked to exacerbating skin conditions like acne and eczema.
3. An active body often leads to better sleep, which is important for skin repair.
4. Exercise is also known to increase collagen production, which helps to keep skin firm yet elastic.

If you have pre-existing skin conditions like acne, psoriasis or eczema, it is important to also protect your skin as you exercise.

• Shower or wash your face right after exercise
• Wear protective, moisture-wicking clothing to prevent sunburn and irritation
• Wear sunscreen to protect skin from harmful UV radiation
• Use cool compresses to keep skin cool
• Exercise in shady areas or go swimming

If you develop or experience worsening of a skin condition during exercise, consult with a board-certified dermatologist to assess your condition. A skin, hair, and nail specialist like Dr. Juan Vaillant of Old Bridge Dermatology can help diagnose and treat common issues like acne, dandruff, hair loss, age spots, warts, cold sores, eczema, skin cancer, dermatitis and psoriasis. Dr. Vaillant has been helping patients of all ages for over thirty years and has specialties in dermatology, anatomic and clinical pathology. Please contact our Old Bridge, NJ office at (732) 679-0222 for an appointment today!