Good news for everyone who put “more exercise” on their new year’s resolution list. While we have long known about the salutary effects of exercise, there is now compelling evidence that sustaining exercise can help maintain youthful skin and hair. It appears that certain chemicals released by skeletal muscles during exercise directly affect skin cells as well as muscle cells.
The studies show that greater than 4 hours/week of high-intensity aerobic exercise can keep skin younger and even reverse some aging changes. Of course, sun protection is critical to avoid damage from ultraviolet rays and protect the exercise-induced benefits. Until the technology is available to put these chemicals in a pill, keep exercising!
