1984317
2011-06-01 19:15:25 UTC
Acne and Exercise
Moderate exercise is actually good for your skin. It helps you
maintain a healthy body and manage your stress levels, too. If you
find your acne is aggravated by regular exercise, then you may want to
examine your routine. What do you wear? Where do you go? How hard do
you work? Exercise-related acne is usually caused by something you put
on your body rather something you do with it. Remove these outside
factors, and you may put an end to your workout breakouts. Here are
just a few things to watch for.
Acne & Exercise – Make-up. When exercising, wear as little make-up as
possible. Even oil-free and non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging)
cosmetics can clog pores if worn during heavy exercise. When you’re
done working out, wash as soon as possible.
Acne & Exercise – Sunscreen. If your regimen takes you outdoors,
always wear sunscreen. While acne may improve slightly after brief
periods in the sun, studies show that prolonged exposure actually
promotes comedones (clogged pores) and, of course, sun damage. Some
kinds of acne medication make skin more sensitive to the sun, so
sunscreen is even more important. When choosing a sunscreen, look for
products that are oil-free and have a protection factor of at least
SPF 15 for both UVA and UVB rays. Like make-up, sunscreen can travel
across the skin’s surface and lodge in the pores — so wash immediately
after working out.
Acne & Exercise – Clothing. If you’re prone to body acne, avoid
garments made exclusively with lycra or nylon. Why? Some synthetic
fabrics can trap the heat and moisture against your skin, creating a
fertile breeding ground for the bacteria that contribute to acne. For
moderate exercise, your best bet is lightweight, loose-fitting cotton,
or a lycra-cotton blend. Natural fabrics allow the skin to breathe,
and loose garments are less likely to cause friction. If you’re
exercising vigorously and working up a good sweat, however, you may
want to try some of the new fabrics designed to wick moisture away
from your skin.
Acne & Exercise – Equipment. Some people are more likely to get acne
or have their lesions aggravated in the areas affected by sports
equipment. The best defense against friction-related breakouts is a
good fit — make sure your helmet doesn’t slide around on your
forehead, or your wetsuit isn’t too tight under the arms. You can also
curb equipment-triggered breakouts by lining your helmet with a layer
of soft, washable cotton fabric; it’s a great use for those old t-
shirts, too. And no matter what the sport, it’s always a good idea to
keep your equipment clean and dry when not in use.
Acne & Exercise – Moisture. Mom was right: You should get out of those
wet clothes! No matter how you get your exercise — treadmill, trail,
tennis court, or whatever — don’t sit around in your sweaty clothes or
wet bathing suit when you’re done. If you can, shower off immediately
and change into dry clothes before driving home. If this isn’t
possible, change into dry clothes and wipe down as well as you can.
When toweling sweat off your face, always use a clean towel, and blot
gently rather than wipe. Vigorous wiping can irritate your skin,
driving make-up and sunscreen deeper into the pores.
Acne & Exercise – Showering. Again, it’s best to shower immediately
after working out. You may want to use a medicated exfoliant cleanser,
but always be gentle with your skin. Scrubbing harder isn’t going to
make you any cleaner, or make your acne go away — and it may actually
irritate existing lesions or promote the development of new ones. If
you can’t shower right away, you can still curb breakouts by wiping
down with medicated pads; keep a few in your gym bag just in case.
So keep up the good work! A healthy exercise program is an integral
part of your overall health; and a healthy body is more likely to have
healthy skin. Just keep an eye on the various factors that accompany
your regimen, and try to remove the acne triggers — you’ll be on your
way to breakout-free workouts.
For more information visit: http://aqhealth.com/html/y2011/1489_acne-and-exercise.html
Moderate exercise is actually good for your skin. It helps you
maintain a healthy body and manage your stress levels, too. If you
find your acne is aggravated by regular exercise, then you may want to
examine your routine. What do you wear? Where do you go? How hard do
you work? Exercise-related acne is usually caused by something you put
on your body rather something you do with it. Remove these outside
factors, and you may put an end to your workout breakouts. Here are
just a few things to watch for.
Acne & Exercise – Make-up. When exercising, wear as little make-up as
possible. Even oil-free and non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging)
cosmetics can clog pores if worn during heavy exercise. When you’re
done working out, wash as soon as possible.
Acne & Exercise – Sunscreen. If your regimen takes you outdoors,
always wear sunscreen. While acne may improve slightly after brief
periods in the sun, studies show that prolonged exposure actually
promotes comedones (clogged pores) and, of course, sun damage. Some
kinds of acne medication make skin more sensitive to the sun, so
sunscreen is even more important. When choosing a sunscreen, look for
products that are oil-free and have a protection factor of at least
SPF 15 for both UVA and UVB rays. Like make-up, sunscreen can travel
across the skin’s surface and lodge in the pores — so wash immediately
after working out.
Acne & Exercise – Clothing. If you’re prone to body acne, avoid
garments made exclusively with lycra or nylon. Why? Some synthetic
fabrics can trap the heat and moisture against your skin, creating a
fertile breeding ground for the bacteria that contribute to acne. For
moderate exercise, your best bet is lightweight, loose-fitting cotton,
or a lycra-cotton blend. Natural fabrics allow the skin to breathe,
and loose garments are less likely to cause friction. If you’re
exercising vigorously and working up a good sweat, however, you may
want to try some of the new fabrics designed to wick moisture away
from your skin.
Acne & Exercise – Equipment. Some people are more likely to get acne
or have their lesions aggravated in the areas affected by sports
equipment. The best defense against friction-related breakouts is a
good fit — make sure your helmet doesn’t slide around on your
forehead, or your wetsuit isn’t too tight under the arms. You can also
curb equipment-triggered breakouts by lining your helmet with a layer
of soft, washable cotton fabric; it’s a great use for those old t-
shirts, too. And no matter what the sport, it’s always a good idea to
keep your equipment clean and dry when not in use.
Acne & Exercise – Moisture. Mom was right: You should get out of those
wet clothes! No matter how you get your exercise — treadmill, trail,
tennis court, or whatever — don’t sit around in your sweaty clothes or
wet bathing suit when you’re done. If you can, shower off immediately
and change into dry clothes before driving home. If this isn’t
possible, change into dry clothes and wipe down as well as you can.
When toweling sweat off your face, always use a clean towel, and blot
gently rather than wipe. Vigorous wiping can irritate your skin,
driving make-up and sunscreen deeper into the pores.
Acne & Exercise – Showering. Again, it’s best to shower immediately
after working out. You may want to use a medicated exfoliant cleanser,
but always be gentle with your skin. Scrubbing harder isn’t going to
make you any cleaner, or make your acne go away — and it may actually
irritate existing lesions or promote the development of new ones. If
you can’t shower right away, you can still curb breakouts by wiping
down with medicated pads; keep a few in your gym bag just in case.
So keep up the good work! A healthy exercise program is an integral
part of your overall health; and a healthy body is more likely to have
healthy skin. Just keep an eye on the various factors that accompany
your regimen, and try to remove the acne triggers — you’ll be on your
way to breakout-free workouts.
For more information visit: http://aqhealth.com/html/y2011/1489_acne-and-exercise.html