Orgasms are good for your skin. Does that mean no Botox needed?
Orgasms have all kinds of health benefits. They can help you relax. Sleep better. Improve your heart health.
But can they heal your aging skin and reduce the need for anti-aging procedures like Botox?
The jury is still out on that, with some doctors evidently more convinced than others. Dr. Gowri Rocco, family medicine and regenerative, anti-aging and functional medicine physician and author of "Growing Younger," praises the estrogen released during orgasm as a pathway to younger-looking skin, for example. Research shows it does stop collagen decrease.
But dermatologist Dr. Anthony Rossi points out that the post-sex "glow" you get is "probably just from the blood flow and endorphins. So will it keep your wrinkles away? I've never seen that, truthfully."
The takeaway? Don't rely on orgasms alone to better your skin health – but it won't hurt your health to have more of them, either.
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'You might be making more wrinkles'
Doctors are skeptical about the orgasms-lead-to-fewer-wrinkles claim mainly due to a lack of research.
"I do not believe this is a widely held belief by board certified dermatologists because there are no peer reviewed studies to support this," says dermatologist Dr. Bruce Brod. "In my own practice I do not counsel patients that daily or frequent orgasms are associated with a diminished the need for aesthetic medical and surgical procedures."
Plus, when it comes to sex "you're making so many facial movements and facial contractions, you're actually moving your muscles even more," Rossi says. "So in theory, you might be making more wrinkles."
Still, the hormones you release during sex, including oxytocin and endorphins, might give people reason to think they're looking better. "There's always that adage that you have this glow," Rossi says. While there's no harm in that, it's not magic either.
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Other tips for healthier skin
So what do medical professionals recommend?
Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. "No matter what skin type you are, whether you have very fair skin or very dark skin, just using sun protection in some way, shape or form, is helpful," Rossi says. It's obvious when you haven't worn it. "Youthful skin has all this elasticity and bounce. It hasn't really been hit by the sun. But you can see people who have leathery skin, it just looks older."
A healthy diet. Drinking alcohol and smoking affect your skin, as do sugars from processed foods. Go for foods high in vitamin A, like fruits and vegetables, to promote skin health. "Topical agents such as vitamin A acid derivatives in topical form used on a regular basis can be used to reverse photo-aging," Brod adds.
Moisturize and hydrate. Don't overcomplicate it. Use a good moisturizer with peptides (to produce more collagen) and retinoids (to help skin cells turn over faster). Make sure to use it overnight, too, to clear out the effects from the day and lock in moisture while you rest.
Beauty sleep. "Sleep is critical for beautiful skin," Rocco says. "Beauty sleep is not a joke."
Consider orgasms another tool in your skin health toolbox. Just don't use them as an excuse to not wear sunscreen or skip moisturizing.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Does an orgasm a day stop need for Botox?