“Have you ever seen someone who regularly ran long distances – who didn’t have a gaunt and old face?” recently asked Dr. Gerald Imber, a plastic surgeon from New York in a TikTok video that managed to gain millions of views and quite a few panicked reactions. In the video, he claims, among other things Because even though running does quite a few wonderful things for the body and in many ways also stops the effects of aging – when it comes to our skin, it has a price.
“If you watch romantic comedies in slow motion of two people running to each other on the beach, you see their cheeks go up and down, up and down,” Imber explained to the magazine. TODAY. “Every time the heel hits the ground, it pulls a little on the collagen and elastic tissues. That’s what the loss of flexibility means. It’s an undeniable fact because you can see it moving.”
@geraldimbermd Did you know there are exercises that can accelerate your wrinkles? #skincareover50 #skincareover40 #plasticsurgery #plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #nycdoctor #manhattan #nyc ♬ original sound – Gerald Imber, MD
How does running affect our face?
“Running Face” (Runner’s Face) is a not new term that refers to the faces of those who run for a long time. This is not a medical diagnosis, but what underlies the theory is the combination of several factors, some related to running itself and some that can be avoided.
Experts who commented on the video in question claimed that it is an urban myth and that the physical activity of running has nothing to do with any change in the texture of the skin. But alongside this, there are several other, more established factors that may affect the appearance of the skin after years of regular running, ranging from increased exposure to the sun to weight loss.
People who exercise regularly lose weight throughout the body, which of course includes the result of reducing fat in the facial area. Dramatic weight loss can change the shape of the face – with less volume, the skin can begin to sag, making the face look older than its true biological age. Lack of fat in the facial area can also cause a more accelerated process of the appearance of wrinkles.
Repeated and continuous exposure to sunlight can also lead to skin aging, because the free radicals damage the skin’s collagen. Oxidative damage from the stress of running and exposure to environmental toxins can also contribute to wrinkles and loose skin.
How to take care of your skin during running?
Avoid running in the sun. If you can, try to run at times when the sun is less strong, such as early morning or evening and avoid running during peak heat between 10:00 and 15:00.
use sunscreen. In any case and at any time of the day it is important to apply sunscreen with a high sun protection factor. Apply it about 30 minutes before you go for a run to allow enough time for the sunscreen to absorb into the skin. In addition, it is recommended to use a moisturizer in the morning and at night to maintain the skin’s moisture and elasticity. Also drinking water, especially after physical activity is important for maintaining skin moisture.
protect yourself from the sun. In addition to applying sunscreen, you can wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and other clothing that protects against the sun while running. This will add extra protection to the face, ears and neck.
Avoid smoking. Smoking can damage the skin and contribute to premature aging.
observe nutrition. A diet rich in antioxidants such as leafy greens, beets, dark chocolate, coffee and berries can support healthy skin and improve cellular regeneration.