Skin Care

5 Surprising Ways Exercise Affects Your Skin

Your daily sweat sesh impacts your complexion more than you think

by Melanie Rud Chadwick | COMMENT

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It's an Anti-Ager Turns out all those lotions and potions in your medicine cabinet aren't the only way to keep your skin youthful. Results from a study conducted at McMaster University in Ontario found that people who exercised for at least three hours per week had noticeably younger skin than people who were sedentary and exercised for less than an hour per week, regardless of their age.

"Under a microscope, the skin of those who exercised regularly appeared 20 years younger," explains dermatologist Nava Greenfield, M.D., of the Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. While the exact connection wasn't completely clear, the exercisers had notably higher levels of a myokine called IL-15 in their skin, a substance created by working muscles that can jumpstart changes in cells, even those cells that aren't near the muscle. So, on those days when you need a little more motivation to get your booty off the couch and into the gym, remember that exercise is a proven way to ward off wrinkles.

Image via Getty

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