{"id":419704,"date":"2025-12-02T14:53:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T14:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/419704\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T14:53:27","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T14:53:27","slug":"this-exercise-habit-is-making-your-skin-look-older-according-to-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/419704\/","title":{"rendered":"This exercise habit is making your skin look older, according to experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are so many dilemmas when it comes to exercise<\/a>: quantity versus quality, volume versus intensity, high impact vs low impact. But when we factor in ageing well and maintaining beautiful, radiant skin<\/a> is added in as a factor, the choices suddenly become clearer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you want your skin to look great, don’t worry about clocking up more hours in the gym. There’s a way to efficiently do what’s necessary for your body – and it doesn’t involve excessive exercise, which can actually do more damage than good.<\/p>\n

The next question, of course, is how? Join us in delving into this anti-ageing<\/a> topic with three experts: a doctor, a personal trainer and longevity<\/a> specialist. Here’s what they have to say…<\/p>\n

How excessive workouts and stress cause cellular ageing<\/p>\n

One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to working out is thinking that more activity always guarantees more benefits. However, poorly structured workouts with too much exercise or moves that are not well planned can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on your body (including your skin).\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Running\u00a9 Getty ImagesModerate exercise boosts collagen and oxygen<\/p>\n

This increases the risk of injury and results in chronic fatigue, which is counterproductive in the long term.<\/p>\n

“The ideal approach is to create a structured, optimised exercise plan that stimulates key biological markers (or indicators) associated with living a long and healthy life – but without placing undue stress on the body,” explains longevity expert Gonzalo Ru\u00edz Utrilla<\/a>. “What truly makes a difference [with exercise] is the type of physical challenge the body receives and how it adapts to it.”<\/p>\n

If we overdo exercise past a certain age, we combine the stress of sport with a high allostatic load. The allostatic load is the wear and tear the body experiences as it responds to demands – not just physical, such as exercise, but also life stress. \u00a0When these loads become too heavy, they can over-activate your sympathetic nervous system.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“This excessive activation triggers chronic stress,” says the expert. “This stress not only impairs your body’s ability to repair itself but also decreases your metabolism’s flexibility, promotes continuous systemic inflammation and causes cells to age more quickly<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

\"Fitness,\u00a9 Getty ImagesExcessive workouts can cause us to look older than we are
\nThe skin benefits: How moderate exercise boosts collagen and oxygen<\/p>\n

How does working out affect blood circulation and tissue oxygenation, and what specific benefits does moderate exercise offer as far as skincare?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dr Sof\u00eda Ruiz del Cueto<\/a>, co-director of Madrid’s Mira+Cueto aesthetic clinic, states that, “When you boost blood circulation, the skin receives a greater supply of essential oxygen and vital nutrients.<\/p>\n

“This process allows the skin to renew itself by forming necessary collagen<\/a> and elastin, and repairing damaged cells while also boosting hydration. It’s also effective at speeding up the removal of waste and toxins, which stops the kind of inflammatory reactions that cause premature ageing.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Young\u00a9 Getty ImagesIn the right amount, exercise helps boost blood circulation, helping your body form necessary collagen and elastin<\/p>\n

According to the doctor, “Exercise also modulates cortisol<\/a> levels (a hormone related to stress), which helps prevent premature ageing.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

She advises moderate cardiovascular exercise<\/a> around three to five days a week, accompanied by a sensible diet<\/a> rich in protein and antioxidants, as well as adequate hydration.<\/p>\n

Is too much exercise making your skin look older?<\/p>\n

You may be wondering if there are certain types of exercise that should be avoided because of the potential negative impact on your skin’s appearance. \u00a0“You should avoid overdoing your workouts, because too much exercise speeds up cell damage (oxidation) and increases inflammation in the body,” says the doctor.<\/p>\n

The expert also has one big “Do” and a big “Don’t”:<\/p>\n