Yoga is a common practice that relaxes the body and mind. However, it is also believed to have skin benefits. What is the truth behind this? Let's find out in this article.
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The benefits of yoga on the skin.
Summary
- Benefit #1: Yoga could slow down skin aging
- Benefit #2: Yoga could potentially prevent the onset of inflammatory skin diseases
- Benefit #3: Yoga could increase skin hydration
- Sources
Published April 24, 2024,
updated on April 29, 2024,
by
Kahina, Scientific Editor
—
4 min read
Benefit #1: Yoga could slow down skin aging.
A study conducted by Takahiko SUMI and his team assessed the impact of yoga on aging characteristics by evaluating blood biochemical indices in 48 healthy volunteer women before and after following a yoga program consisting of two 60-minute lessons per week for 12 weeks.
Researchers found that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was significantly reduced in volunteers after yoga compared to before. Additionally, the levels of 8-OHdG, a marker of oxidative damage, were lower after yoga than before the session, from 0.16 ng/ml to 0.8 ng/ml. The increase in sirtuins, enzymes involved in DNA repair, proved to have anti-aging effects. In the study, the level of SIRT6 mRNA significantly increased after yoga. Finally, the depth of skin texture was reduced after yoga from 60 μm to 57 μm, and skin elasticity increased from 0.3 mm to 0.35 mm.
These results suggest that a yoga program can enhance the overall smoothness of the skin. Overall, the data described here suggest that it could play a role in the mitigation of certain aspects of aging, particularly through its antioxidant action. Indeed, it reduces the production of ROS, which are responsible for oxidative degradation following oxidative stress (sun, pollution, tobacco, etc.) that damage dermal fibers such as collagen and elastin. SIRT6 is also a central regulator of longevity and aging. Thus, in yoga participants, regulated SIRT6 could inhibit cellular aging through its function of deacetylating histones, but further studies are needed to explore these suggestions.
Benefit #2: Yoga could potentially prevent the onset of inflammatory skin diseases.
Nandagudi SRINIVASAMURTHY and his colleagues aimed to evaluate the effect of practicing yoga and physical exercise on TNF-α and IL-6 levels. 109 volunteers, who have been regularly practicing yoga for over five years at a rate of one hour per day, performed moderate and intense exercise. Two groups were formed: those who practiced yoga and those who did not (control group). Blood samples from both groups were taken before and after the exercises.
The resting plasma concentration of TNF-α and IL-6 was significantly higher in the group that did not practice yoga compared to the group that did, respectively 112.78 pg/mL and 63.07 pg/mL for TNF-α, and respectively 61.62 pg/mL and 31.03 pg/mL for IL-6.
TNF-α and IL-6 are known markers of inflammation, and their presence in large quantities may indicate the presence of an inflammatory disease, potentially a skin condition such as the psoriasis or the rosacea. Therefore, we can suggest that the practice of yoga could lower the levels of pro-inflammatory markers and thus reduce the risk of contracting an inflammatory skin disease.
More studies on the subject are necessary to confirm these results.
Benefit #3: Yoga could increase skin hydration.
In the study by Takahiko SUMI mentioned earlier, the team also measured the water content in the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the skin) of the participants before and after yoga. They noticed that hydration significantly increased after yoga, from a score of 45 to 50. Therefore, the skin would be more hydrated and less dry after a yoga session. The mechanisms behind this are currently unknown, but further experiments may shed more light on this phenomenon.
Sources
SRINIVASAMURTHY N. & al. Effect of yoga practice on levels of inflammatory markers after moderate and strenuous exercise. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (2015).
SUMI T. & al. Hot yoga increases SIRT6 gene expression, inhibits ROS generation, and improves skin condition. Glycative Stress Research (2021).
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