Key TakeawaysResistance and aerobic exercises can both support skin health, according to a new study.Resistance training, like weightlifting, might offer additional anti-aging benefits, like increasing skin elasticity and dermal thickness.

Key Takeaways

Resistance and aerobic exercises can both support skin health, according to a new study.Resistance training, like weightlifting, might offer additional anti-aging benefits, like increasing skin elasticity and dermal thickness.

Exercising is good for the heart and mind,but it might also prevent skin aging, according to a small study published inScientific Reports.

The second layer of our skin—thedermis—gets thinner as we age. We also lose proteins such as collagen andelastin, which causes the skin to wrinkle and sag.This natural process, along with environmental, genetic, and lifestyle factors, all influence how we look as we get older.

Many skin care products andsupplementspromise to slow down skin aging. However, the new study suggests that aerobic and resistance exercise could also improveskin elasticityand upper dermal structure.

According to the researchers, resistance training—such as weightlifting—seemed to increase dermal thickness more so than other forms of exercise.Resistance training may be able to increase certain gene activities that produce proteins for strengthening these connective skin tissues.

But some health experts aren’t too convinced that exercising alone will give everyone a natural facelift.

Only 56 women aged 41–59 years living in Kusatsu, Japan, were included in the trial.

Differences in sun exposure, pollution, diet, and other health behaviors could all influence how these results apply to other populations, according toJaniene Luke, MD, FAAD,a board-certified dermatologist and an associate professor of dermatology at Loma Linda University School of Medicine who was not involved in the study.

“It is often difficult to generalize results such as these to a larger population,” Luke told Verywell via an email. “Additional larger studies are needed to better understand the effects of exercise on skin aging.”

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The Connection Between Exercise and Skin Health

Prior studies have found that endurance training like running and cycling has an anti-aging effect on the skin as well.

Researchers suggested that after exercising, the hormone Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is elevated. According to Luke, IL-15 can act as a “mediator” that stimulates the synthesis of mitochondria, also known as the battery for cells. Mitochondria can use glucose (blood sugar) and oxygen to generate energy for cells to perform their tasks properly, and they play an important role in skin function.

However, the mechanisms and effects of IL-15 on muscles and skin tissues are still unclear, and more research is needed, Luke said.

Running Is Good. But Research Says You Should Lift Weights Too

Are Some Workouts Better for the Skin Than Others?

While several studies found aerobic exercise can protect the skin from aging, some doctors said otherwise. A plastic surgeon claimed that long-distance runners often have a “gaunt, old face” and recommended low or no-impact workouts instead.

But doing some form of exercise that you enjoy is likely better for your skin than skipping it altogether.

“Aerobic exercise is better at ‘turning off’ inflammatory signaling while resistance training is better at ‘turning on’ anti-aging signaling,” Ploch told Verywell in an email.

Future studies may provide more evidence on which type of workout is best for improving skin, but the science isn’t there yet. For now, Ploch said both aerobic exercise and strength training have their benefits for the skin and it’s important to have a balanced workout routine.

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What This Means For You

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Smith PJ, Merwin RM.The role of exercise in management of mental health disorders: an integrative review.Annu Rev Med. 2021;72(1):45-62. doi:10.1146/annurev-med-060619-022943

Baumann L, Bernstein EF, Weiss AS, et al.Clinical relevance of elastin in the structure and function of skin.Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2021;3(3):ojab019. doi:10.1093/asjof/ojab019

Stout R, Birch-Machin M.Mitochondria’s role in skin ageing.Biology. 2019;8(2):29. doi:10.3390/biology8020029

Hood DA, Memme JM, Oliveira AN, Triolo M.Maintenance of skeletal muscle mitochondria in health, exercise, and aging.Annu Rev Physiol. 2019;81(1):19-41. doi:10.1146/annurev-physiol-020518-114310

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