The wellness industry is booming as people have become more conscious about their appearance and well-being in recent years. The beauty, antiaging, and personal care sectors took up the biggest share of the wellness market in recent years [1].
However, it appears that some healthy choices, including running and facial massages, may actually end up making us look older by straining facial skin.
During the pandemic, many people started running as part of their wellness journeys – there were around 20 million new runners in 2022, compared to 10 million in 2020 [2]. Recently, a viral Tik Tok video claimed that running makes the face age faster because the perpetual bouncing contributes to facial skin elasticity loss [3].
A plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Nordesthetics Clinic, one of Europe’s leading medical tourism clinics, says there is some merit to the claims made in the video, but not because of constant movement [4]. While, the quality of the skin is not directly affected by running, the appearance of the face can, however, be influenced by fat-burning activities.
As a result, even minor weight changes due to regular high-intensity exercise such as running might have a significant effect on facial tissues.
Why does the face age?
There are two main causes of facial changes: volume loss and ptosis, or drooping of eyelids. Volume loss can occur at any time, perhaps triggered by specific activities, such as running, and typically becomes noticeable around the age of fifty. The drop in skin volume, however, does not indicate premature aging.
Faces naturally lose some of their fullness as they age. Thinner and drier skin is a sign of aging. When these changes occur is largely determined by our genes. The medical name for this type of aging is “intrinsic aging.” Over time, we all get noticeable lines on our face [5].
Symptoms of mid-face volume loss include facial wrinkles becoming more pronounced, a mid-cheek fold becoming more apparent, deeper nasolabial folds and so on. Despite the fact that these changes might be perceived as premature aging, they are simply a result of volume deficiency. Revolumizing procedures like fat transfer and fillers may help resolve the problem.
Other reasons your face might look older
It can be more difficult to adapt to rapid weight loss than to gradual loss., and young bodies can adapt to weight changes better than older ones.
Taking diabetes drugs like Ozempic for rapid weight loss, which is the latest buzz around beauty treatments, may also age your face [5]. Rapid weight fluctuations caused by medications like Ozempic or other weight loss methods can lead to premature aging of tissue.
In addition to insufficient water consumption and lack of skin care, Dr. Samulenas mentions other reasons for facial skin changes that people may not be aware of, like incorrect facial massaging, as well as some things most people know about, but don’t always avoid – smoking and intense UV exposure.
There is no such thing as a late start
So what can be done? Making lifestyle changes can benefit everyone, even those with early signs of skin aging.
Protecting your skin from the sun gives it a chance to heal some of the damage it has sustained. And when smokers kick the habit, they often observe that their skin appears healthier.
You may want to consult with a dermatologist if you notice signs of aging on your skin. A variety of new treatments and procedures aim to deliver younger-looking skin by smoothing wrinkles, tightening skin, and improving complexion.
[1] https://blog.gitnux.com/health-and-wellness-industry-statistics/
[2] https://www.fleetfeet.com/blog/running-changes-everything-a-new-wave-of-running-emerges
[3] https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/plastic-surgeon-warns-running-ages-face-rcna73554
[4] https://www.nordesthetics.com/en/
[5] https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/reduce-premature-aging-skin
[6] https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/ozempic-face-before-and-after-photos-b2295506.html
