Runner's Face: Myth or Reality?

Self Magazine

by Kafi Drexel

Riccardo Tinelli
Riccardo Tinelli

You guys already know running is one of the best ways to melt pounds and do a solid for just about every part of your body. It even does amazing things like stop you from grabbing seconds from the buffet line, according to a University of Wyoming study from last year.

But over and over, we hear readers asking about "Runner's Face." If you haven't heard the term, the scary-sounding idea behind it is that your cheeks will start to sag from all the bouncing while you run, or that you'll get a skeletal, premature-aging mug from burning off too much fat beneath the skin. (With the ING New York City Marathon approaching, we've even had plastic surgeons approach us with the answer to "Runner's Face." The suggested fix? Cosmetic fillers and even surgery. Hmm, convenient, but we're not gonna go under the knife anytime soon.)

See more: 5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin

It all sounds pretty extreme, but if you've ever run on a treadmill in front of a mirror and watched your jowls shake, it does make you wonder, doesn't it?

But here's the reassuring verdict: While it's true that some ultra-runners (or anyone who's excessively exercising) become so lean they can develop hollow cheeks or that drawn, haunted-looking-face, top dermatologists say that for any regular runner who's going out for four or five miles a few times a week, the Runner's Face urban legend is just that, an urban legend.

See more: How to Lose Weight and Feel Great in 7 Days

"In every way, being fit is the best anti-aging investment you can make in your brain, heart, lungs, circulation, mood, productivity, even your skin," says dermatologist Ellen Marmur of Marmur Medical in New York City, "Your complexion is better, your acne improves, even your puffy under eye circles improve with exercise."

One thing that will make runners look 100 years old? Skipping out on sunscreen. Lots of sun exposure from outdoor pavement pounding can lead to early aging, because it breaks down collagen and elastin. Marmur suggests tear-free and wax-stick sun protection for the best coverage. We love Sun Bum's SPF 30 Face Stick, $10.

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