Exercise and Acne: What is the Connection?
Moderate exercise not only helps you maintain a healthy body and manage stress; it is also great for your skin. Some complain that their acne is aggravated by exercise. In truth, exercise-related acne is usually caused by something you are using on the body, not the actions of the body. Here are some factors to examine if you find your acne is aggravated by exercise.
The first thing to consider is make-up. They make items that are free of oil and will not clog your pores, but if you wear these products during heavy exercise, your pores may still clog. You should only put on a bare minimum amount of make-up if you are going to exercise. After completing your workout, make sure you wash off your make-up at the earliest possible opportunity.
Although there have been studies that have concluded sunlight in small amounts can help to lessen acne, prolonged exposure has been proven to clog pores and cause damage. Some kinds of acne medicine can even elevate how sensitive you are to the sun's rays. You should, therefore, always use sunscreen if you plan on doing your exercises outside. Make sure the sunscreen you choose has no oil and an SPF factor of at least 15 for both UVA and UVB rays. After completing your workout, make sure you wash off the sunscreen as soon as possible, because these products can clog your pores as easily as your make-up does.
The clothes you wear can also affect your skin. When you wear manmade materials, heat and moisture can get trapped next to your skin. This will create the right environment for bacteria to grow, which contributes to acne outbreaks. Two particular fabrics to avoid are lycra and nylon. If you exercise heavily, you may want to try out some of the newer fabrics that have come out recently. They have specially designed to keep wetness away from your skin.
Proper fitting clothing and equipment are also crucial to consider, as they can lead to skin irritation as a result of friction. Wearing outfits that are too snug in places like armpits and crotches are prime areas for irritation. Helmets need to fit properly and snugly to the head, and should be lined with a soft fabric that can be removed and washed regularly, such as cotton.
A great tip for your after exercise routine is to remove the saturated clothing and get into the shower and then dry clothing quickly. Wearing wet clothes for a prolonged period of time can breed bacteria and worsen the blocking of pores in the skin. If showering isn't an option, cleaning the skin in places where irritation is common with a treated wipe or towel can reduce the amount of moisture on the skin and clean out any dirt or blockage of the pores. Pay particular focus to the face, making sure to blot the pores instead of simply wiping. This will ensure that any sunscreen or makeup that you have applied will not sink into the pores and dirt will be drawn out of the pores into the wipe or towel.
Showering right after a workout is the best possible scenario. You should, however, use a medicated exfoliate cleanser whenever you get the chance to bathe. Just keep in mind that you should treat your skin kindly. Hard scrubbing does not clean your skin any better, and it does not eradicate acne, either. It may actually cause more irritation.
Maintaining a healthy exercise schedule is beneficial for every person, and a healthy body is naturally conducive to healthy skin. You will be more likely to have one if you have the other. Know what causes your skin to become irritated, and take care to avoid those things. Once you have removed those irritants from your exercise routine, your workouts will always be free from breakouts.
