Athletes are known for diligence in their workouts and commitment to improving body strength, stamina, and endurance. What they may not realize, however, is that certain types of exercise adversely affect facial appearance, which board-certified dermatologist Dr. Estee Williams refers to, tongue-in-cheek, as “race face.”
Dr. Williams, who works at Madfes Aesthetic Medical Center on the Upper East Side, explains that running and other endurance sports certainly get you in shape, but also put you at risk for premature facial aging, due to low body mass index (BMI), hormonal imbalance, and environmental exposures.
Male and female runners alike tend to have lean bodies and low BMIs, which translates into loss of the desirable facial fullness.
Patients believe that by working out, they'll lose fat in their thighs or abdomens, but in reality, they may also lose fat in their faces, causing hollowing and sagging.
