A Guide To Managing Workout Related Acne

Exercise is good for your body and mind in various. It not only helps you keep fit, but it can boost your mood and even give you that coveted post-workout glow.

While the benefits of exercise are invaluable, if you have acne-prone skin, there are some precautions you might want to take to minimize the chances of exacerbating your skin and causing a breakout.

Along with acne on your face, acne on your body can also make rain on your parade if you live an active lifestyle. Thankfully, you can adopt some of the following habits to manage workout-related acne.

Wash Off Your Makeup Before And After You Workout

When you work out, your pores open up, making it easier for makeup to settle into your skin. The makeup combined with sweat can clog your pores and possibly lead to breakouts over your skin.

As such, it's important to cleanse the face before you begin your workout and afterward. If you're someone with acne-prone skin, it's advised to use a cleanser with salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or another acne-targeting ingredient. This can help to gently exfoliate and rid your skin of the potential pore-cloggers like sweat and oil that may have accumulated on your face.

Choosing Workout Clothes

If you are prone to acne on other parts of your body like the chest or back, consider the kind of clothing you're working out in. Acne on the body is caused by similar reasons to acne on the face. Therefore, you want to reduce the chances that the pores might get clogged.

With that, it's advised to wear loose, moisture-wicking fabrics to minimize acne-causing bacteria from exacerbating the skin. Some fabrics that you might consider are wool, nylon, polyester, or bamboo. Also, consider keeping your hair out of your face because the moisture from the hair products can easily transfer to the skin, encouraging a breakout.

Get Out Of Gym Clothes ASAP

Get out of your gym clothes and into the shower to remove the sweat, oil, dirt, and bacteria you may have accumulated. Also, make sure that your gym clothes are clean before putting them on again.

And while it might not always be possible to hop right in the shower after working out, try at least to wash your face to reduce the chances of a breakout.

Clean Your Equipment

If this isn't a habit that you had previously practiced, chances are the pandemic has already gotten you into the habit. But when it comes to managing acne, this goes for shared and personal gym equipment.

Clean and sanitize your mat, pilates ball, and other equipment that might be in contact with your skin and potentially transfer bacteria.

See A Dermatologist

When you've tried it all, and you cannot try to reduce the acne that keeps popping up on your skin, sometimes, it's best to see a dermatologist.

While it's not always the case, but acne can leave long-term or permanent scarring to the skin. As such, it might be advisable to see a professional about your skin concern and hopefully do something about it.