Is Masturbation Good For Your Skin?

You might have heard about the post-orgasm glow, where the skin on your face might look flushed and healthy after a masturbation session.

Is masturbation good for your skin? Check below, some of the short-term and long-term effects of masturbation on your body, including your skin.

Summary

What Effects Does Masturbation Have on the Body?

Masturbation triggers the hormones in your brain. These hormones include:

Dopamine. This is the body’s natural “happiness” hormone that triggers the reward system in your brain.
Endorphins. This hormone relieves pain, de-stresses, and boosts overall mood.
Oxytocin. Known as the “love hormone,” oxytocin increases feelings of closeness and bonding.
Testosterone. This hormone, present in all genders and sexes, is released during sex to increase arousal and physical stamina.
Prolactin. This hormone, most well-known for its role in lactation, can strengthen your immune system and influence your mood.

This rush of hormones can have several different effects on the body. It can boost your mood, increase your focus, help you sleep, and alleviate stress and anxiety. Practicing self-love can also help boost your self-esteem. These effects can lead to overall physical, mental, and sexual wellness.

Is Masturbation Good For Your Skin?

While there’s no hard scientific evidence of masturbation benefitting the skin, some dermatologists point towards evidence showing how other effects of masturbation, like hormone changes, might lead to improvement in the skin.

Increase Blood Flow

The post-orgasm glow comes from an increase in the blood flow in your body, which increases your oxygen levels. This is why your skin, especially on your face, might look rosy and flushed after an orgasm.

Lower Stress

When you’re experiencing stress, it tends to show on your skin. Stress can lead to inflammation, which then might manifest as breakouts, rosacea and psoriasis. Studies show that an increase in oxytocin — one of the hormones released during masturbation — can lower stress, tension and anxiety.

‌Boost Estrogen Levels ‌

Having an orgasm increases the levels of estrogen in your body. This hormone can prevent the natural decrease in collagen over time, effectively slowing the aging process and maintaining more youthful skin. It can also keep the skin hydrated, improve elasticity and make it more resistant to wrinkles.

‌Can Masturbation Cause Acne?

While both masturbation and acne are linked to hormones, there isn’t any proven cause-and-effect relationship.

‌Both acne and masturbation are common during teenage years, but that’s the only link between the two. Masturbation can lead to a small increase in testosterone in both men and women, but this change is barely significant, and your hormone levels typically go back to normal a few minutes after climax. This influx in testosterone isn’t enough to trigger a breakout.