Exercise is perhaps the most well researched way to improve your overall health. Most of us don’t need a scientific study to tell us that regular exercise makes us look, feel, and even perform better. What fewer of us think about is how exercise can actually improve our skin health as well. The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and it is responsible for the first line of defense against the harms of the outside world.
With this in mind, today we will explore some general health benefits to regular exercise, how exercise translates to healthy skin, why excessive exercise may actually harm skin, and why athletes need to consider skin hydration as part of their daily routine.
The Top Health Benefits of Regular Exercise
So we all know exercise is great for our bodies and minds, but in what ways exactly? Here are a few high level ways that regular exercise can improve our overall health:
- Exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight. Body weight and body mass index are both huge factors in overall health. To reap this benefit, don’t worry as much about getting focused workouts in as much as remaining relatively active throughout your regular activities.
- Exercise boosts your mood. Conversely, improved mood boosts your physical health. Your brain chemistry is tied in directly with exercise and is tied into feelings of anxiety vs. relaxation and depression vs. happiness. Obviously things are never so simple, but regular exercise plays a huge role in mental and physical holistic health.
- Regular exercise can aid sleep. About ⅓ of adults experience some form of insomnia. One of the best cures for common sleep problems is getting regular exercise.
- Physical activity helps regulate heart health. Regular exercise may directly improve heart health conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, type 2 diabetes, risk for stroke, and much more.
How and Why Exercise Benefits Your Skin
Now to the matter at hand, how does exercise benefit your skin? While the correlation may not be as direct as say, exercise reducing blood pressure, there is no doubt that a connection exists. Your skin is integrated with just about all of your bodily functions, and exercise plays a very real role in skin health.
One of the key benefits of exercise is improved blood flow. With improved blood flow, skin receives the nutrients and oxygen it needs to remain healthy. This also aids in naturally flushing away excess debris from your skin.
Another huge correlation is how exercise improves our stress levels, which in turn improves our skin health. Our skin is hugely impacted by stress for a number of reasons. Exercise is therefore an effective way to reduce signs and symptoms of hives, rashes, eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
Can Excessive Exercise Lead to Skin Problems?
Exercise is great for the body and the mind. It is often also a dirty business. Certain workout routines such as lifting weights can also be tough on skin because they are so demanding. Yet the primary skin concern with excess exercise comes down to hygiene.
In today’s episode of stuff everyone already knows: exercise causes us to sweat. Sweat can lead to bacterial buildup, and some forms of exercise also come with their own ways of getting dirty. Your skin’s job is to protect you from these outside irritants, but there is a limit over which exposure can become detrimental.
All of these concerns can be mitigated with a proper hygienic ritual. Bathing after exercise is a must. Not a few hours later, not in the morning, as soon as you can! Because the longer you wait with that gym stank hanging around, the more likely you are to develop rashes, itchy skin, or even dry, cracked skin.
Why Athletes Need to Moisturize Their Skin Daily
Last but not least, exercise can often lead to your skin becoming dry and damaged. As men, we can see this as something that just happens and we move along with our days. I don’t know about you, but having cracked, bloody knuckles all winter doesn’t make me feel tough — it just makes me annoyed.
Instead, consider a once-daily moisturizing cream for men. This will hydrate and strengthen your skin so you can continue to work hard and play hard! Some men think moisturizers will actually soften up their skin, weakening it in the process. Quite the opposite is true. Consider the tensile strength of a leather belt. A dry belt will snap easily. A hydrated, oiled belt is many times stronger.
Dry skin is weak skin. Think of moisturizing cream as routine maintenance for hard working hands.
HEFF is a Daily Moisturizing Cream for Hard Working Men
HEFF cream for hands, elbows and feet has been specifically formulated for working men. Harnessing the power of amino acids, our lotion is ideal for even the most dry, cracked skin. Think of once-daily HEFF as routine maintenance for your body. Shower, shave, apply daily moisturizing cream, and you are all set for a day of hard work or hard play.
For every tube of HEFF sold, we are proud to donate a tube to Operation Gratitude. This is a small way of giving back to the men and women who keep our country safe.To find HEFF, shop on Amazon, find us at any of these national retailers, or contact us directly for more information today!