Sex afterglow can refer to that initial blush and rosiness that people get after they have an orgasm.
Sex afterglow can also mean the general idea that having more sex, whether it’s by yourself or with a partner, can give you better skin.
Is It Real?
Yes, having sex and masturbating may help improve your skin and give you a blush-like appearance.
What Causes Sex Afterglow?
That initial glow you get after having sex is similar to the one you would get when working out. Much like working out, sex helps increase blood flow, sending an extra rush of it to your skin – and face.
Combine that with a nice sheen of sweat and your skin will appear more glowy.
However, if you’re prone to breakouts, that same sweat can lead to acne, so be sure to thoroughly wash your face and body after sex.
Blood flow and sweat may be what give you that initial sex afterglow, but the skin-boosting benefits of sex don’t stop there.
Sex, Stress, and Your Skin
One of the biggest ways sex can help improve your skin is by lowering your stress levels. Your brain and skin are directly connected through something called the bi-directional pathway. This means that psychological stress that happens in your brain can affect the skin and vice versa.
Your body produces hormones to help regulate physiological processes. Stress releases stress hormones like cortisol. Many of these stress hormones are inflammatory and can make you susceptible to breakouts, eczema and psoriasis.
Can having sex heal these issues? Probably not on its own, but regular orgasms may help you manage the stress that’s making your skin act up.
Hormones and Your Skin
Oxytocin, commonly referred to as the “love hormone”, can also be powerful in combating skin-irritating stress levels. One of the best ways to increase oxytocin is through orgasm.
Collagen plays a significant role in the health and longevity of your skin and declines with age. Stress can expedite this breaking down of collagen, which can make you more likely to develop fine lines and wrinkles. Since sex can help reduce stress and cortisol levels, it may also help preserve collagen levels.
Researchers found that having an orgasm helps raise estrogen levels in the body, which help to prevent the decrease of collagen.
Sleep and Sex
There’s a lot of research supporting the idea that sex can help improve sleep. There’s also research that shows that adequate sleep improves skin.
This is partially because sleep is essential for the health of your immune system and inflammatory responses. If you’re not sleeping enough, your body doesn’t have what it needs to maintain the health of your skin.
Having sex may increase the quality of sleep, which can also help you manage your stress levels.
Can You get Sex Afterglow from Masturbation?
You may be wondering if you can reap the same benefits from masturbating. While there’s no specific research on this topic, the same logic should apply. Solo orgasms can help decrease stress levels, improve sleep, and increase blood flow.
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