Does Running Age Your Face?

We all get wrinkles and a saggy parts as we get older but does running age your face?

runners face

In my quest to find out, I discovered that there is in fact a term known as "Runner's Face". That  discovery was a bit of a blow but I also thankfully learned that it is not all bad news.

Read on to get the real facts which may put the smile back on your face.

Why does running age your face?

We all know that as we run, things bounce about. That is why we wear running bras to stop our breasts over stretching. But it is not just our breasts that bounce about. Our skin on our whole body and notably our face, gets a work out too, but perhaps in a not such a good way.

Collagen

High impact exercise, like running, causes our skin to stretch and this in turn can break down the collagen. Collagen is an important protein that helps to maintain the structure and tightness of our skin so once that starts to go, then our skin starts to sag. Unfortunately age is not kind on our collagen and if you run too, well then that is a double whammy.

Fat

As runners, in general we tend to have less fat in our faces. Fat helps to plump out our face so having less fat can make some people look gaunt, wrinkled and with saggy skin lines.  Most of us have seen "that race photo" where our skin seems to have taken a life of its own as it merrily slaps us around the face.

Come Rain or Shine

The weather is one of our faces biggest enemies. The wind dries it out, the sun pounds its UV rays on it damaging skin cells and the cold  with its lower humidity, causes our lips and skin to dry and crack.

It all sounds a bit depressing!

All that is enough to make you want to give up running. But don't stop running just yet as there are things we can do to help keep our faces beautiful.

So What Can We Do?

Face lifts and Botox are one answer but that seems a bit drastic.

Fear not, as there are plenty of other more natural things that you can do that will make a huge difference.

  • If you are trying to lose weight, don't lose those pounds too quickly. Allow your body and skin time to adjust by losing weight in a controlled and slow manner.
  • Slap on that sunscreen when you head outside. Wear a hat, visor or sunglasses and avoid standing around in the sun whilst you are waiting for a race to start or for your running pals to arrive.
  • Up your intake of fruit and vegetables containing carotenoids (such as carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, mango and papaya). Carotenoids are like anti oxidants for your skin, protecting it from UV damage and helping skin cell turnover.
  • Drink lots of water all day and everyday. Our bodies are made up of 60% water and the more we sweat, the more we need to drink. How much should you drink?
  • Wash your face in cold water every morning. Not only does it wake you up but it encourages blood circulation which in turn facilitates collagen production. 
  • Don't forget to give your face a good clean after exercise in order to get rid of the dust and dirt that is probably blocking your pores. 
  • Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, your face, neck and hands to lessen the crepey look. Consider using a Retinol Serum under your face cream. It is a quick and easy way of reducing wrinkles, age spots and boosting collagen.
  • A weekly face mask is also worth doing for getting rid of grime and for lifting and hydrating your face. Lie back and relax in a Collagen full face mask and your face will feel like new.
  • (Please note that as an Amazon associate I earn from any qualifying purchases)

Does Running Age Your Face?

So in my quest to find out "Does running age your face?", the answer is "Yes" it certainly can but you can also certainly do things to minimise it.

Take some extra steps to protect your skin and keep on running. Next time "that race photo" situation arises, just smile and even if you look a bit weathered, remember that you are  helping keep yourself physically fit which is probably a better deal compared to those who don't do any exercise at all.

Don't forget too that there are also great benefits from being outside. Don't you love having a rosy glow and that feel good factor after a run? Being outside has also topped up your vitamin D levels and vitamin D is vital for skin cell growth, repair, and metabolism.

So don't give up running just because of a few extra wrinkles. Enjoy them and think of them as lines of achievement.

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