{"id":206370,"date":"2025-12-23T06:05:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T06:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/206370\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T06:05:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T06:05:10","slug":"worried-about-sagging-your-face-from-running-heres-what-runners-face-is-and-what-it-isnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/206370\/","title":{"rendered":"Worried about sagging your face from running? Here\u2019s what \u2018runner\u2019s face\u2019 is (and what it isn\u2019t) |"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Worried Running has always had good press \u2014 mostly. This high-on-convenience and low-on-cost cardiovascular exercise has always been praised for being one of the best workouts you can do for your health. It\u2019s great for your heart, lifts your mood, keeps your weight in check, and even helps your mind stay sharp \u2014 all without the fuss of a hefty gym membership, or pricey gear, or even hard-to-afford equipment.But lately, something a bit unexpected has been making the rounds on social media \u2014 a runner\u2019s face.A US doctor has kicked up a storm online by saying that long-distance running might actually make your face sag and age faster, a look people have started calling \u201crunner\u2019s face.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is ‘runner\u2019s face’ anyway?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve heard about \u201crunner\u2019s face\u201d and started worrying that your daily jog is making you look older, you\u2019re definitely not alone. The idea has exploded all over fitness groups and social media: run too much and your face will hollow out, sag, and wrinkle before its time.In beauty and fitness circles, \u201crunner\u2019s face\u201d is the term people use when they notice some long-distance runners, especially as they age, end up with really lean cheeks, deeper lines, or just a more tired look. You\u2019ll see online threads pop up with photos of pro athletes who have super low body fat and sun-worn skin. \"Runner'sBut here\u2019s the thing: as per dermatologists and skin experts, \u201crunner\u2019s face\u201d isn\u2019t actually a real medical diagnosis. It\u2019s just a catchy way to describe how a mix of factors can change your face over time. It\u2019s not like the act of running itself is pulling your skin down. There\u2019s no solid science showing that all that bouncing makes your face sag.<\/p>\n

What did the US doc say?<\/p>\n

Now, about that viral doctor video. A NYC-based plastic surgeon, Dr. Gerald Imber, posted a TikTok video saying that you should quit running to avoid saggy skin, and the internet ran with it. In the video, he said, \u201cRunning feels great, that\u2019s terrific, you get a high from it,\u201d adding, \u201c[But] your knees go, your ankles go, your hip goes, your skin goes, and your face sags.\u201dThat\u2019s not all. \"Runner'sIn another video, he went on to say, \u201cHave you ever seen a long-distance, long-time runner that didn\u2019t have a gaunt, old face? That\u2019s what happens.\u201dBasically, Dr. Imber claimed pounding the pavement for years causes your face to look tired and worn out.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the truth?<\/p>\n

Although Dr. Imber\u2019s post and claim made quite a stir on the internet, and some did approve the potential association between running and a sagging face, other doctors and skin experts jumped in fast to dismiss the \u201cmyth\u201d that states, \u201crunning causes runner\u2019s face.\u201dFor instance, Susan Massick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Health that there is no evidence to support that this type of movement causes the skin to sag or appear aged. As per Health, Dr. Massick said, “It’s an urban myth to associate running with skin sagging \u2014 the physical activity of running itself is not causing the texture or the elasticity of your skin to change.”However, a runner might have a changed appearance, especially in their face \u2014 but that\u2019s due to some other factors, and not due to the activity of running itself. \"Runner's<\/p>\n

What\u2019s really making some runners look older or more drawn?<\/p>\n

There are a few main things at play:1. Losing facial fat and staying very lean: Runners burn a lot of calories and often carry very little body fat, including in their faces. When those little fat pads disappear, your cheeks can look hollow and less full, which some people think looks saggy. But that\u2019s just a change in volume, not actual skin damage from running.2. Sun exposure: Runners spend hours outside, soaking up UV rays. Over time, sunlight breaks down collagen and elastin\u2014those proteins that keep your skin firm and springy. This process, called photoaging, leads to wrinkles, fine lines, rough skin, and, yes, some droopiness. If you skip sunscreen or a hat, the effect speeds up.3. Dehydration and the elements: Long runs dry you out, and dry skin looks more wrinkled. Add wind, pollution, and general outdoor stress, and your skin can start looking rough if you\u2019re not careful.And by the way, this isn\u2019t just a runner problem. Cyclists, outdoor workers, or anyone who spends a lot of time in the sun and has low body fat can see the same changes. \"Runner's<\/p>\n

Practical tips to prevent \u2018runner\u2019s face\u2019<\/p>\n

Now, if you love running, there\u2019s no need to quit. Here\u2019s what experts actually recommend:Use sunscreen every day before your run, and reapply if you\u2019re out for a long one. Better yet \u2014 wear a hat and clothes that block UV rays.The more you sweat, the more you need water to replenish your body. Drink plenty of water before and after you run to keep your skin hydrated.Make sure that you get proper nutrition \u2014 eat a balanced diet with good fats and antioxidants to help your skin stay strong.Spruce up your workout routine \u2014 add some strength training to your routine to keep your muscles and facial structure in good shape.And as for running, the activity itself isn\u2019t responsible for fast-forwarding the wrinkles on your face. Keep running if it brings you joy \u2014 just take care of your skin along the way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Running has always had good press \u2014 mostly. This high-on-convenience and low-on-cost cardiovascular exercise has always been praised…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":206371,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[108216,108218,108213,108217,499,103,108221,61,60,108215,108212,108214,108219,108220],"class_list":{"0":"post-206370","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-causes-of-sagging-skin","9":"tag-dermatologist-advice-for-runners","10":"tag-effects-of-running-on-skin","11":"tag-effects-of-sun-on-skin","12":"tag-fitness","13":"tag-health","14":"tag-hydration-and-skin-health","15":"tag-ie","16":"tag-ireland","17":"tag-prevent-runners-face","18":"tag-runners-face","19":"tag-runners-face-myth","20":"tag-running-and-aging","21":"tag-skin-care-for-athletes"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=206370"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/206370\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/206371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=206370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=206370"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=206370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}