Who doesn’t like running. Some people run as a daily part of their workout routine while some seek pleasure in running on the beach on a bright sunny day. But what happens to their skin while their vigorous running session? Why do they experience saggy and itchy skin when running? Sagging of facial skin is just a part of aging. But it’s true that running can also have a negative impact on your skin elasticity.
There are myriad benefits of running. It helps lose weight, improves immune system and build better bones. However, running also has it’s downsides. Long-term running can cause your skin to sag and lose its elasticity.
Factors to Consider to Improve Skin Elasticity
There can be a lot of factors that can cause your skin to sag, but it is common with the runners, who spend plenty of time in outdoor running which affects their skin’s elasticity. The more your skin elasticity is damaged, the minimum chances it has to stay firm and tight.
Maintain a Slow and Steady Weight Loss
Keep your weight loss at slow pace if you have chosen running as a medium to shed pounds. Maintain a steady weight loss. Losing weight over a longer time period will give your skin time to adjust to the loss of fat that has resulted from outdoor running and help minimize skin sagging.
Running and Sun Damage
Improve skin elasticity by wearing sunscreen while running. Your skin may lose its elasticity due to excessive sun exposure and sustained environmental exposure. Elongated exposure to harmful UV Rays has long been responsible for breaking down of collagen and elastin fibers that cause wrinkles and sagged facial skin.
- Take precautions to protect your facial skin from the devastating effects of sun and environment.
- Prevent premature skin sagging and wrinkles by applying sunscreen to your face.
- Use sunscreen with SPF 20 and re-apply it every ninety minutes if you experience heavy sweating.
Brisk Walk versus Running
If premature skin aging, wrinkles and skin sagging is your concern while running, then shift your pace from running to walking. Brisk walk may also help you raise your heart rate and keep you fit. If staying fit and healthy is your goal along with the concern of sagging skin, then there are various exercises that can help you stay fit and in desired body shape such as, cycling, yoga and pilates.
How to Get Soft Skin: Tips for Runners
Runners’ face have a certain look. Their skin is thin and droopy, loose on the lower face and sagging in the jowl area. Although sagging facial skin is natural part of aging process, but there still are some preventive measures that a regular runner may take to avoid skin sagging.
- Stay hydrated. Increase your daily water consumption along with your daily workout routine to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized. It helps remove toxins from your body, prevent skin sagging and maintain a healthy weight.
- A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables also helps prevent skin sagging. Veggies and fruits are packed with carotenoids that help strengthen your skin cells and combat damaging effects of free radicals.
- Continuous exposure to Ultra Violet rays contributes to premature skin aging that is often seen on the faces of regular runners.
Although running benefits your skin by boosting your body’s immune system against free radicals. It also reduces stress, improves blood circulation and removes toxins. Running may also cause loss of elasticity in your facial skin. But that does not give you an excuse to skip running since you can always take preventive measures to remove those barriers that hurdle your running.
