How To Protect Wrinkle Damage During Your Workout

Who would've thought that working up a sweat would potentially mean working up some wrinkles? Yeah, we're shocked too. Considering wrinkles are the main aging concern for many men and women (and something we're already trying to avoid with age) we want to do our best to try and prevent this during our workouts.

There are two major muscles in your neck that run all the way up into your face (around the frown line region), and when you work those muscles, it affects the skin on your face by losing elasticity.

When you stop and think about the strain you can put on your facial muscles when pushing out that last rep, or when you're struggling to push through on that last HIIT circuit. If you're straining muscles in your neck especially, the same looseness associated with these wrinkles may occur on your face. 

Luckily, this mysterious wrinkle problem has been recognised and there are ways to avoid it (and no, we don't mean wearing your sports bra on your face)!

How can I stop this from happening?

 Believe it or not, there are a number of things we can do to help prevent wrinkle damage from happening during a workout. And we're not just talking about botox...we're talking about gym skincare products and anti-wrinkle serums that work!

The first step we can take is to be conscious of your form and the facial/neck strain. 

Think of your muscles as a pulley system—when you pull down on one end, the other goes up. So when you lift with your arms and shoulders, the muscles in your neck pull up to support the weight, which means the muscles attached to them in your face pull down. This is what happens when you work out. And as long as you are aware of it and consciously correct it, you’ll be able to avoid it.

Which leads me to my next topic. Ever heard of "Facial Yoga“ or "FaceExercise"?

According to Gary Goldenberg, Medical Director of the Dermatology Faculty Practice at the Icahn School of Medicine, he say's "this is a terrible idea and will only cause wrinkles”. 

Here’s why: Repetitive muscle contractions cause your skin to wrinkle and lose elasticity (think: the two lines that show up on your forehead from furrowing your brow or crows feet from narrowing your eyes). So before you think to regularly give your facial muscles a “workout”, be warned that this will only speed up the process, increasing the chances of suffering wrinkles sooner. Yikes. That's enough to put someone off! 

Let's talk about workout skin care.

Training & Gym Skincare: The effects on your body regime can also come down to the type of workout you choose to perform. For example, continuous high impact training (like running) can promote sagging of the skin and loss of volume also known as 'runner’s face'. We're not trying to scare you off cardio and we're not saying 'runners face' happens to everyone... But the truth is, it can, and this is why it's important to find an anti-wrinkle serum that works!

How do I find the right gym skin care products?

There are many anti wrinkle serums on the market, so be sure to find one that deeply penetrates the skin for the purpose of restoring, hydrating and improving the overall quality of your skin. This will help to prevent the layers of skin from being damaged.

 And lastly, the most obvious tip of all... DRINK WATER!  

Drinking water keeps your body hydrated and refreshed and helps maintain your skin’s elasticity. People who drink large amounts of water are less likely to suffer from scars, wrinkles, and soft lines and they won’t show as many signs of aging as those who drink little amounts of water. As you grow older, it is tougher for your body to retain water, so by inputting more water into your system, you are helping your body and your skin stay hydrated.