Actress Lee Cheong-ah (41) had a healing time while viewing art pieces.
Lee Cheong-ah uploaded a video of her train trip to Gyeongju on her YouTube channel ‘MOCA Lee Cheong-ah’. During this trip, she visited an unexpected location: an art museum featuring the representative works and videos of artist Nam June Paik.
Listening to the curator's explanations, Lee Cheong-ah seriously appreciated each piece of art. Boasting a youthful appearance that is hard to believe for someone in their 40s, Lee Cheong-ah appeared even more relaxed. We explore how her hobby of appreciating art influences her youthful looks.
Art Appreciation, Stress Relief... Positive Changes in the Immune System
Research shows that viewing artworks in an art museum can improve health. According to a study by a research team at King’s College London, appreciating the works of masters like Van Gogh and Gauguin can relieve stress and strengthen the immune system.
In the study, participants were divided into two groups, and the group that viewed original works by masters in the museum showed an average 22% reduction in cortisol levels, a stress hormone. In this regard, Dr. Woods from King’s College London stated, “Stress hormones and inflammation markers are related to a wide range of health issues, from heart disease and diabetes to anxiety and depression.”
Stabilizing the Autonomic Nervous System and Entering Recovery Mode... Suppressing Skin Aging
Focusing on art pieces activates the parasympathetic nervous system, stabilizing heart rate and relieving muscle tension. This signals that our body is in a ‘recovery phase’. When the nerves are stabilized, the secretion of the stress hormone ‘cortisol’ decreases.
With less cortisol secretion, the secretion of collagen-degrading enzymes also decreases, maintaining skin elasticity. Stress acts as a factor that exacerbates skin inflammation, redness, and troubles. Conversely, achieving psychological stability can help restore the skin barrier.
Improving sleep quality also promotes cell regeneration. A relaxed mind leads to deep sleep, and deep sleep promotes the secretion of growth hormones. Most importantly, when there is no stress, there are fewer instances of frowning or getting angry, resulting in fewer wrinkles.
