Resistance training rejuvenates aging skin by reducing circulating inflammatory factors and enhancing dermal extracellular matrices.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Controlled intervention trial comparing two exercise modalities in humans
PubMed 37353523 · doi:10.1038/s41598-023-37207-9
What was done
A 16-week intervention compared the effects of aerobic training (AT) versus resistance training (RT) on skin aging in 61 healthy sedentary middle-aged Japanese women (56 analyzed). Outcomes evaluated included skin elasticity, upper dermal structure, dermal thickness, circulating factors (cytokines, hormones, and metabolites), and dermal extracellular matrix-related gene expression in human primary dermal fibroblasts.
What was found
The abstract contains no numerical values, effect sizes, or p-values. Both AT and RT significantly improved skin elasticity and upper dermal structure. Resistance training additionally improved dermal thickness and increased dermal biglycan (BGN). Training was followed by increased expression of dermal extracellular matrix-related genes, with AT and RT demonstrating different effects on circulating factors.
Why it matters
This paper provides direct comparative evidence that resistance training confers distinct structural skin benefits beyond aerobic exercise, specifically promoting dermal thickness.
Limits
No quantitative data or statistical parameters are provided in the abstract. The sample size was small (n = 56 analyzed) and restricted to healthy sedentary middle-aged Japanese women, limiting generalizability to men, other age groups, or broader ethnicities. Randomization and blinding procedures are not described in the abstract.
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