Ever wondered if there’s a way to combine fitness with skincare? New research points to an unexpected hero in the battle against skin aging: weight lifting. Although we’ve known about the skin-rejuvenating effects of cardio, it appears that lifting weights has unique anti-aging benefits.
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Pioneering Research Unveils New Possibilities
In a recent study featured in Scientific Reports, lead researcher Satoshi Fujita, PhD, at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, shed light on the skin benefits of resistance training1. His study enlisted 56 inactive middle-aged women. They were split into two groups, with one engaging in 30-minute cycling sessions and the other lifting weights, both twice a week.
What the Study Revealed
Post-experiment, skin cell analysis revealed noteworthy changes. Both cycling and weightlifting groups saw enhanced skin elasticity and higher collagen production. Notably, these exercises fortified the dermal extracellular matrix—a structure that often weakens with age and sun damage.
Yet, weightlifting provided a unique advantage: it thickened the skin’s inner layer, potentially leading to fewer signs of aging such as sagging and age spots.
Decoding the Science
While the specifics remain a bit murky, experts speculate that exercise-induced reductions in inflammatory markers in the blood could play a part in these skin improvements. Earlier research also highlighted that aerobic activities boost protein levels of interleukin-15 (IL-15), which is crucial for skin cell energy production.
Unanswered Questions
Despite the optimism, the study has limitations. Fujita’s team focused only on the inner layer of the skin, leaving questions about the visible benefits. “Visible improvements may not directly follow from these changes in the dermal layer,” warned Rajani Katta, MD, who was not part of the study.
A Comprehensive Approach to Skincare
Skin health experts recommend a balanced exercise regimen that includes both cardio and resistance training. “This is a wake-up call for those who want to proactively manage their skin health,” says dermatologist Lauren Eckert Ploch, MD.
However, Ploch emphasizes that exercise isn’t a free pass to neglect other skin-damaging behaviors, like smoking or excessive sun exposure.
So, if you’re eager to put a fresh spin on anti-aging skincare, setting down the skin cream and picking up some dumbbells might just be the way to go.
Footnotes
- Fujita’s study on the effects of resistance training on aging skin in Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-37207-9 ↩ ↩
- Prior study on the role of aerobic exercise in boosting interleukin-15 (IL-15) levels. ↩
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