Do you want to look younger? Try these facial exercises that were developed in the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
According to a new study, exercising your face for 30 minutes at least every other day can significantly reduce visible signs of aging.
For the study, the researchers enrolled 27 women aged 40-65 years. During their sessions, the women were taught 32 facial exercises developed by study co-author Gary Sikorski, of Happy Face Yoga in Providence, RI.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the facial exercises.
Cheek lifter:
Open your mouth to form an ‘O’ shape, position your upper lip over your teeth, smile to lift the cheek muscles, then lightly place fingers on the top of your cheeks. Then, repeatedly lift and lower your cheeks.
Happy cheeks sculpting:
Smiles with your lips pursed together to lift the cheek muscles. Place your fingers at the corner of your mouth and slide them to the top of your cheeks. Hold this position for 20 seconds.
The researchers took photos of the women before and after performing the exercises for the study period.
The dermatologists who studied the photos noted increased fullness in upper and lower cheeks.
Dr. Alam explained that the fat pads between the muscles and skin which help form the face get thinner from aging.
“But if muscle underneath becomes bigger,” says senior study author Emily Poon, of the Feinberg School of Medicine, “the skin has more stuffing underneath it and the firmer muscle appears to make the shape of the face more full. Muscle growth is increasing the facial volume and counteracting the effects of age-related fat thinning and skin loosening.”
“The exercises enlarge and strengthen the facial muscles, so the face becomes firmer and more toned and shaped like a younger face,” says Dr. Alam.
The researchers found that the facial exercises decreased signs of aging by up to 3 years.
Dr. Alam concluded: “Assuming the findings are confirmed in a larger study, individuals now have a low-cost, non-toxic way for looking younger or to augment other cosmetic or anti-aging treatments they may be seeking.”
Note: None of the information in our website is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. The content on our website is for educational purposes only.
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1. “Facial Exercises: The Key to Looking Younger?” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 4 Jan. 2018, http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320531.php.
2. “Association of Facial Exercise With the Appearance of Aging.” JAMA Dermatology, The JAMA Network, 3 Jan. 2018, jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2666801?redirect=true.
