Did you know that excess body fat can sabotage your skin health?
When it comes to weight loss, it’s easy to focus solely on the obvious benefits:
Improved heart health…
Decreased risk of disease…
Clothes that fit comfortably and snug…
Increasing energy levels and self-confidence…
Most people want to be lean and healthy for a reason!
However, you may not know how impactful weight loss can be on your skin health.
If you’re carrying extra pounds, the excess weight could be causing skin issues, so focusing on getting to a healthy body weight is like a miracle drug for your skin…
…and it’s free!
Here are 5 hidden, cosmetic benefits of losing weight:
#1. Reduced Acne
Losing weight is often a result of cleaning up your diet, which usually means cutting out fatty, greasy, processed food sources.
Along with stubborn abdominal fat, these fatty foods are associated with an increase in acne and oil production.
So if you’re suffering from the same blemishes you had as a teenager, focusing on higher-quality food is a great way to clear up your skin while losing weight.
#2. Eliminate “Acanthosis Nigricans”
That’s a scary name for a skin condition, and for good reason. Acanthosis nigricans is the most common skin problem associated with obesity, and appears as dark, blotchy, velvety patches in the folds of your neck and armpits.
If you’ve noticed unsightly dark spots in the creases of your body, there’s a good chance it’s caused by excess body fat, and will clear up as your weight comes down.
#3. Prevent Varicose Veins
Carrying too much weight is a leading cause of varicose veins, or “spider veins”—those twisted, gnarly, purple veins that can protrude from your legs.
Due to carrying excess weight, the pressure on your legs can stretch your veins, giving them a raised, twisted, and bumpy appearance.
While weight loss doesn’t always eliminate existing spider veins, it certainly helps prevent new ones from forcing their way through your skin.
#4. Resilient Skin
Obesity greatly increases water loss across your skin, leading to cracked, dry, wrinkled skin no matter how much moisturizer you slather on! You’ll also notice slower healing from knicks, scrapes, and other wounds of the flesh.
As your bodyweight goes down, your skin’s natural moisture levels will skyrocket, helping restore smooth, silky skin all over your body.
#5. Decreased Inflammation
As you lose weight, you’ll notice less inflammation, along with improved insulin sensitivity (meaning, your body is better equipped to process carbohydrates, and is less likely to store them as fat).
When you’re overweight and insulin sensitivity is poor, you’re at an increased risk of developing all sorts of skin conditions, like keratosis pilaris (chicken skin), psoriasis, acne, and even hair loss.
If you’ve been carrying some excess body fat, and struggled with any of these common cosmetic issues, losing weight may be exactly what you need to restore glowing, radiant, and healthy skin.
