They say good sex makes your skin glow, and it’s true: research has demonstrated that orgasms have numerous benefits for enhancing skin wellness, sleep quality, heart health, and more.
But how exactly do orgasms lead to good-looking, youthful skin? Dr. Randa Jaafar, pain management specialist and owner of FILD Studio in Manhattan, in partnership with Certainly Health, discusses the impacts of the Big O on ageing skin and whether orgasms reduce the need for skin-boosting cosmetic procedures.
Good sex = Good skin?
1. Stress reduction
"Stress is a major factor that can deeply impact the state of your skin. Stress hormones can break down the collagen and elastin in our skin, which can lead to more fine lines and wrinkles. Managing stress is vital to keep skin looking rejuvenated and to slow the ageing process.
"Studies have found that chronic and acute stress can worsen several skin conditions, such as acne breakouts, psoriasis, and eczema. With low stress levels, can often come noticeably clearer, healthier skin.
"According to clinical research, sex can be an effective method to reduce daily levels of stress. When you orgasm, your brain releases several ‘happy hormones’ including dopamine and oxytocin that typically work effectively to reduce stress.
"Oxytocin has also been found to play a part in slowing skin-ageing and preventing wrinkles."
2. Better beauty sleep
"There’s a lot of research to show that beauty sleep is real and essential for skin wellness. Sleep deprivation can be extremely dehydrating, causing aesthetic skin issues like dark circles and hollowing cheeks. Lack of sleep can also drastically reduce skin elasticity, which can lead to sagging and wrinkles.
"Sexual activity can be helpful to maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Oxytocin and vasopressin released during orgasms can reduce the stress hormone cortisol. When your cortisol levels are too high at night, it can disrupt sleep patterns.
"While there won’t be devastating impacts to your skin after 1 or 2 nights of bad sleep, there’s really no serum or moisturiser on the shelves to replace a consistent sleep schedule."
3. Boosting blood flow
"Similar to any other kind of physical activity, sex increases your heart rate and gets blood flowing around the body. This increased blood flow delivers more oxygen to the skin and your other organs.
"More oxygen stimulates more collagen production, which keeps your skin looking bouncy and prevents sagging and wrinkles.
"Dilated blood vessels can also give you a flushed, rosy look that some people love – but this effect doesn’t usually last very long after sex is over."
The jury’s still out
"Many doctors are doubtful about whether orgasms truly have definitive impacts on skin wellness. The subject requires a lot of further research to fully understand the relationship between our skin and our sex lives.
"As of today, it’s not a widely held belief that frequent orgasms minimise the eventual need for skin-related cosmetic procedures. The demand for anti-ageing aesthetic services like Botox, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels will likely remain unaffected as more studies on this topic roll in.
"In addition to a fulfilling sex life, there are many other lifestyle elements that are also essential to having healthier skin:
Protection against sun exposure
Avoiding smoking
Staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet
A gentle, effective skincare routine
"Our skin is a complicated organ and can be shaped by so many parts of our lives. On the flip side, you may be comforted to know that there are so many different ways we can help our skin to slow its ageing and keep its glow.
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