5 Tips to Preventing Post Exercise Acne Breakouts

Exercise is essential to healthy looking skin. It increases blood circulation and brings nutrients to our skin’s surface.  Unfortunately, some people find that their acne breakouts can worsen after a good workout.  This is not a result of the workout it’s self, but rather of poor hygiene practices. Here are a few tips to prevent post acne breakouts, and help control overall acne symptoms.

1.     Makeup: Try not to wear any makeup when working out because it could potentially seep into your pores after or during an intensive workout, making your acne worse and pores bigger. Makeup also has a tendency to pack into fine lines in the skin, accentuating wrinkles and aging your appearance.

2.     Sunscreen: Wearing sunscreen while exercising outdoors is smart, as it prevents premature signs of aging and protects against being over exposed to the sun, which can trigger acne.  Before heading out for a jog apply a "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic" broadband sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. Be sure that your products do not clog pores, as that will increase an acne problem.

3.     Clothing: For those prone to body acne, avoid wearing synthetic fabrics like lycra and nylon because they tend to trap heat and moisture against the skin, increasing the chances of bacteria production. Always wear lightweight, natural fabrics, like cotton, which will allow your skin to breathe. If you are able to get your heads on synthetic fabrics that wick moisture away from the body, those might even be a better option for your specific situation.

4.     Exercise Equipment: When using or wearing exercise gear, there are 2 things to be aware of. The first is friction. Make sure that your swimming or bike suites are not rubbing against the skin, and if you wear a helmet make sure it is snug. If you are able to line your helmet with a washable fabric, like a t-shirt this would be ideal, as it would create a clean protective barrier between you and the lingering bacteria resting inside the helmet. Secondly, be aware of surfaces harboring bacteria. Wear protective barriers that will not allow used equipment to touch your skin. Wash your exercise clothes after using them, and make sure that you clean your gear before and after your workouts.

5.     Showering: After a good workout, you should have a nice layer of sweat that encompasses your body.  This moisture barrier is a good thing, but should be dealt with immediately in order to prevent acne breakouts. Get out of your stinky wet clothes, because sweat might aggravate acne and cause skin irritation. As a good rule of thumb, take a shower immediately after your rigorous workout with a medicated face wash to get your skin feeling fresh and clean.  And as always, remember to pat your face dry with a clean towel.