Research confirms Jünger's appearance thanks to facial yoga

Regular facial exercises make middle-aged women look younger

Many middle-aged women are looking for a younger look and are willing to resort to questionable remedies such as injecting Botox. Regular face exercises can provide an efficient, low-risk alternative here. According to a recent study women achieve through the special facial yoga a firmer skin and fuller cheeks and cheeks.

"A 30-minute daily or two-day facial exercise program, conducted over 20 weeks, improved the facial features of middle-aged women, resulting in a younger appearance with fuller cheeks and cheeks," report scientists from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine their study results. For the first time, the positive effect of facial yoga was scientifically confirmed. The researchers published their results in the journal "JAMA Dermatology".

Facial yoga makes the wrinkles disappear, giving the face a younger look. (Image: Syda Productions / fotolia.com)

Reduce visible signs of aging

From anti-wrinkle creams and scrubs to Botox injections and cosmetic surgery, the means by which people try to retain a youthful appearance even in advanced age range. Apparently, however, can also help a regular facial training. "Now there is some evidence that facial exercises can improve the appearance of the face and reduce visible signs of aging," says Dr. Murad Alam, a professor of dermatology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

Structure of the facial muscles

As the face ages, the skin loses its elasticity and the fat deposits between muscle and skin become thinner. Wrinkles form as clear signs of aging. Building up the facial muscles through regular exercise could lead to skin tightening and less wrinkling, according to the researchers, which they reviewed in their study of 27 middle-aged women.

Regular facial exercises for 20 weeks

Participants, aged 40-65 years, completed a 90-minute training session with a facial exercise instructor and then continued the exercises for a total of 20 weeks at home. For the first eight weeks, they completed the exercises daily for 30 minutes, for the remainder of the period every other day for 30 minutes each. The facial exercises were developed by Gary Sikorski of Happy Face Yoga, who co-authored the study.

Targeted training of the cheek muscles

The participants learned 32 different face exercises, which they each performed for about a minute. One exercise was, for example, the cheek lifter, in which the mouth is opened and formed into an O. At the same time an attempt is made to smile in order to lift the cheek muscles - the upper lip remains over the teeth. In this position, the fingers are lightly pressed on the upper part of the cheek to release the control muscles and to lower the cheek muscles. The lowering and raising of the cheeks is repeated several times in this way.

Another exercise smiles without showing the teeth. The lips are pressed together tightly and with the finger the corner of the mouth is pushed towards the cheek. This position should be held for 20 seconds. "Facial exercises that may be beneficial include those that cause the cheeks to curl and pinch," Dr. Alam. Because the movement of the cheeks stress many muscles in the face.

Rating based on photos

Based on photographs taken at baseline, after eight weeks, and after week 20, dermatologists then evaluated the women's skin texture without knowing which photograph was taken at what time. For evaluation, the experts used a standardized facial aging scale (Merz-Carruthers Facial Aging Photoscales). A total of 19 sites on the face were analyzed individually. In addition, the subjects were asked how satisfied they were with the results.

Fullness of the upper and lower cheeks significantly improved

The dermatologists found that especially the fullness of the upper and lower cheeks was significantly improved by the exercises. The exercises increase and strengthen the facial muscles, so that the skin is tightened and the face looks younger, explain the researchers. "Muscle growth increases facial volume and counteracts age-related fat thinning and skin loosening," said senior author Emily Poon of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

A young complexion can be supported not only with cosmetics, but also the strengthening of facial muscles through facial yoga shows here a scientifically proven effect. (Image: detailblick-foto / fotolia.com)

Age estimated much lower after the exercises

The positive effect of the facial exercises is also reflected in the reduced estimated average age of the subjects after the exercises. Thus, the dermatologists came from the evaluation of the photos to an average age of 50.8 years in the pictures from the study, at 49.6 years after eight weeks of study duration and in the pictures after completing the exercises, the age of the subjects on average 48.1 Estimated years. "That's almost a three-year decline in the appearance of age over a 20-week period," Dr. Alam.

Cost-effective, non-toxic anti-aging method

For their part, the participants reported being very satisfied with the results of facial yoga and noted improvements in almost all facial areas. However, the number of study participants was too low to make a final assessment. Further studies with larger samples should therefore follow. "However, assuming the results are confirmed in a larger study, people now have a cost-effective, non-toxic way to look younger"; so the conclusion of Dr. Alam. (Fp)