It might not add up right away, but breaking a sweat can significantly improve your overall well-being and skin health. If you have wondered if hitting the road by jogging will benefit your skin’s health, pay close attention. This article will explore how jogging benefits skin health and how you can jog to get the best effects for your skin.
Here are some jogging benefits for skin health
- Improved aging symptoms
- It manages stress and acne
- Jogging gets you more Vitamin D
- It improves blood circulation
- It produces endorphins
- Jogging helps reduce cellulite
- It strengthens your hair
7 Ways Jogging Benefits Skin Health
1. Improved Aging Symptoms
The skin cells show signs of wear and tear, producing less collagen and sebum as they age. It also becomes thinner, no longer plump and smooth. Aging also reduces the rate of cell turnover, meaning that older layers of skin stay on for much longer while new cell growth happens less frequently.
The reduction in sebum production causes skin dehydration and slower healing from injuries. Exercise, especially cardio exercises like jogging, is an excellent defense and repair strategy that contributes to improving the symptoms of aging. Several studies have shown that exercise activates the machinery necessary for DNA and cell repair.
This could translate to improved cell turnover, reduction in the rate of skin cell wear and tear, and an improvement in the skin’s sebum production. Cell turnover is vital in sloughing off dead skin cells and allowing healthier new ones to surface, giving the skin a youthful glow. Sebum production keeps the face moisturized and protects it from germs. Jogging also boosts collagen production to keep the skin elastic to maintain a good structure.
Check out more tips for younger-looking skin to help maintain your glow.
2. Decreases Stress and Acne
Jogging is one of your biggest allies in reducing your stress levels and anxiety. When you are stressed, it takes a toll on every part of your body, especially your skin. High-stress levels cause a chemical response in your body that leads to the production of hormones like cortisol. High cortisol levels will prompt the skin to produce excess sebum or oil. Excess sebum on the skin can trap dirt and germs in the pores, leading to acne breakouts.
When you exercise, your body’s stress hormone levels drop drastically. If you’re worried that sweating will cause you to break out, it’s important to note that sweat is sterile and is your body’s mechanism of regulating your temperature. As long as you don’t let sweat sit on your skin, you don’t have to worry about causing breakouts or worsening acne.
Studies have also shown that jogging can help reduce acne by applying pressure on the acupuncture points on the feet.
3. Jogging Helps You Get More Vitamin D
Also referred to as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is essential in maintaining skin protection and rejuvenation. Vitamin D has many functions in the body and the skin, such as Cellular proliferation ( growth of new skin cells) and the death of old skin cells.
The production of Vitamin D is intricately tied to the ability of the skin to convert sunlight into the vitamin. Jogging outside helps you get a healthy dose of vitamin D, which keeps your skin from prematurely aging.
You can get the best sunlight by jogging early in the morning as the morning sun is the best source of vitamin D. Ensure that you wear sunscreen to avoid overexposure to the sun.
4. Improves Blood Circulation
You may notice that you get flushed after you jog. This doesn’t mean something is wrong. It’s because nearly any type of physical activity will boost your blood circulation. As you jog, your heart pumps faster to every part of your body, including your skin.
Improved blood circulation in the skin plays a significant role in skin repair, thus leaving you with healthier skin and a visible glow. Increased blood flow to the face also helps nourish the skin cells and helps them perform their vital functions. Freshly circulated blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells in your skin. The blood flowing out of it helps remove toxins, waste, and free radicals, commonly associated with poor skin health.
5. Endorphins Help You Glow
While jogging helps reduce your stress levels, it also helps your body produce happy hormones called endorphins. These happy hormones keep your moods balanced, help you feel more relaxed, and contribute to giving you a healthy glow. When you feel stressed and feel like your skin is taking a hit, put on your running shoes and go for a long relaxing jog.
6. Jogging Helps Reduce Cellulite
Cellulite forms when small balls of fat accumulate together and push against the connective tissue under your skin. Some people are more predisposed to getting cellulite than others. Cellulite’s appearance, amount, and visibility may vary based on genes, body fat percentage, age, and skin thickness.
Two of the most notable benefits of running include muscle toning and skin tightening. Regular jogging can play an important role in helping you reduce the appearance of cellulite. Sometimes, it could even eliminate cellulite as though it were never there.
7. Strengthens Your Hair
Your hair is not left out in getting benefits from jogging too! Thanks to the increased blood flow and circulation, jogging also helps to improve your scalp and hair health. Increased blood circulation nourishes the hair follicles and scalp and supplies it with more oxygen to promote hair growth. It also strengthens existing hair strands and keeps the scalp healthy and moisturized.
How To Get The Most Out of Jogging For Healthy Skin
There are many health benefits of running. From better skin to losing weight and managing stress and anxiety levels, you can get the most out of your preferred form of cardio. Like any other exercise, you have to do it right to get the most out of it like any other exercise.
Here are five ways to maximize the benefits of jogging.
- Use sunscreen
- Don’t sit around in sweat
- Stay hydrated
- Wear the right clothes
- Don’t overdo it
1. Use Sunscreen
Even when you do it in the morning, jogging will increase your sun exposure. Ensure that you wear sunscreen to keep your skin healthy and to make it easier to enjoy the benefits of running. 20 to 30 minutes before you head out for a jog, apply your sunscreen and ensure it blends and penetrates your skin.
2. Don’t sit around in sweat.
Sure, sweating is a great way to push out toxins and dirt from your skin. However, sweating can become a problem when you don’t get rid of it quickly enough. Avoid sitting around in your sweaty clothes once you return home from your run. Instead, hop right into the shower and get clean. When you let sweat settle onto your skin, it traps dirt and germs and returns it to your skin – a recipe for skin disaster.
3. Stay hydrated
Jogging may help you stay active, but it could also dehydrate due to physical activity and sun exposure. Make sure you have a water bottle on hand to stay hydrated while on the road. Drinking enough water helps your skin moisturize and boosts elasticity.
4. Wear the right clothes
Ensure that you wear the right kind of clothes when you go jogging. Avoid clothes that are too tight or too loose, and ensure that the fabric of your clothes is best suited to keep you cool. You’ll need fabrics that keep you dry and comfortable by wicking the sweat away and breathable.
Examples include:
- Nylon
- Polyester
- Bamboo
- Wool
- Cotton
- Spandex
5. Don’t overdo it
As with nearly everything else, too much is not good news. Overdoing it with running can completely turn over on all the benefits it offers your skin. Instead of dropping stress levels, excessive cardio could stress your body and cause more free-radical damage. Free radicals cause your skin to age faster and lose its elasticity. Keep regular exercise at a safe frequency – light jogging three to five times a week.
Conclusion
Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and several aspects of your lifestyle tremendously impact its functions. Running provides many benefits to your body, especially your skin. If you have been wondering whether hitting the road might help you with your skin struggles, this is your sign to give it a shot!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is jogging good for skin?
Jogging helps reduce stress and stress hormones that cause the skin to break out and look dull. It also helps your body release happy hormones called endorphins, which make your skin glow and look younger.