How to Breathe Yourself to Glowy Skin
Is deep breathing really the key to fresh, glowy skin? From anti-anxiety benefits to feeling totally zen, here's what implementing breathwork into your self-care routine can do for you.
The intertwining of health and beauty is taking over the wellness space. We know the importance of gut health, taking care of our skin's moisture barrier, and the benefits of "slugging." But all of these trends require some outside source. What if we could improve our skin, reduce anxiety, enhance digestion, and cultivate better mental health with one internalized technique: breathing? Could it really be this simple? Here are four ways breathwork can improve your overall health and make your skin glowy.
It fights inflammation.
Breathing deeply fights inflammation, the main cause of acne. While pimples are often thought of as being caused by dirt, debris, or bacteria, inflammation is the most common culprit. Inflammation can be caused by dealing with stress, eating sugar, or not sleeping enough. By simply breathing, we can slow our body's production of the stress hormone, cortisol, which causes inflammation. When the body produces too much of this hormone, our skin becomes oily, we take shallow breaths, our concentration deteriorates, and our anxiety increases. When cortisol is over-produced, inflammation is, in turn, more difficult to fight. Just by breathing mindfully, we can reduce stress which keeps the cortisol hormone in check. Our skin reduces its oil production, and the body is more capable of fighting inflammation.
It makes your skin glowy.
In addition to reducing acne, breathing can actually make skin appear more glowy and youthful. When we breathe deeply, our lymphatic and circulatory systems are engaged. This promotes cell regeneration, a key component of achieving glass-like skin. Also, mindful breathing can promote digestion and improve gut health. An unhealthy microbiome in the gut can result in bacteria that affect the skin's health and depletes its natural glow.
It makes you feel zen.
Have you ever heard your therapist just tell you to breathe? It's so easy to roll your eyes, but they're right. Breathing combats and calms anxiety. When we're anxious, we take short, shallow breaths which then exaggerates anxiety's mental and physical manifestations. Our body goes into fight-or-flight mode, which leads to oily skin, leading to breakouts, and then we get more stressed because we lack self-confidence. It's a never-ending cycle that can be halted just by taking a step back and breathing. Further, breathing slowly and thoughtfully can make you feel much calmer.
You can do it wherever, whenever.
You don't need to be in front of the mirror to breathe. We all do it: all day, every day. Glowy skin is even more achievable by taking advantage of this constant defense mechanism. It's an easy, free step to add to your self-care routine that's doable on the train, in the office, or even just in your room.
