There’s no doubt that exercising is one of the most essential practices to keep yourself fit, active, healthy, and of course, in shape. Apart from all these benefits, exercising is also an excellent method to enhance the glow of your skin by stimulating blood circulation. But despite this, we often get complaints from our patients regarding acne or pimples caused due to working out. This is because, while the sweat released during a workout is great to detoxify the skin, it also makes room for acne-causing bacteria to thrive by mixing with dirt and oil on the skin.
But no need to put a damper on your workout routine! All you need to do is maintain proper hygiene before, during, and after your workout. Here are some tips you can follow to prevent post-workout acne.
Wash your face pre-workout
We can’t stress this enough! The key to an acne-free face is to wash it before you start your workout. Most people do this step after the sweat session is over, but it is much more important to clean your face before working out as during the workout when you wipe the sweat off, you can unknowingly make the dirt and grime go deeper into the pores which may clog them and cause breakouts.
Keep your hair away
If you have long hair, tie them up to keep them off your face during the workout. If you have short hair, use a headband. You may not realize but the hair care products and oil from your tresses can easily transfer on your face which can change the pH level of your skin and clog pores, contributing to acne.
Clean your equipment
Gym equipment is said to have more bacteria than public toilets! Gross, right?
Since too many people use the same equipment, again and again, they carry a whole lot of germs that can ultimately transfer to your skin and cause breakouts. So it’s always advisable to wipe or disinfect the gym equipment before using it.
Avoid touching your face
While exercising, sometimes it gets extremely tempting to touch your face to remove the sweat or an itch. But it is the leading cause of post-exercise acne. Any germs, bacteria, oils, or dirt that will be present on your hands will get transferred to your skin to clog pores and spread infections.
Wear light, moisture-wicking gym clothes
If you tend to get acne on your back or other parts of your body, then always make sure to wear lightweight, airy, and moisture-wicking gym wear that will accumulate less sweat. While you cannot avoid a firm-fitting sports bra, you can always go for t-shirts and joggers made of light and airy fabrics.
Tight clothing will rub against your skin and will lead to itching and breakouts on acne-prone areas.
Get out of your gym clothes ASAP!
The longer you wear your gym clothes post-workout, the more likely it is for the bacteria and dirt to accumulate in the pores of the skin. Moreover, the tight-fitting straps of the sports bra will rub against your skin and irritate it. All this is a recipe for disaster.
Do not skip the shower
No matter how tired you are after a hectic gym session, never skip the shower. And remember, use lukewarm water to shower instead of hot water. Hot water removes the crucial oils from your skin that leaves it dry and itchy.
Use a mild and ‘oil-free’ cleanser to wash your face and body. But before you start doing all this, wash your hands! They carry the most amount of germs and dirt.
Clean Up
Post-shower, wear fresh clothes and put the used gym wear in the washing machine. Never re-wear the same gym clothes twice without washing them. Always clean your equipment after the workout to prevent the build-up of bacteria.
Conclusion
To be honest, keeping your face and body free of post-workout breakouts is no rocket science. Just maintain basic hygiene and keep yourself and your exercise equipment clean.
That’s it!
If you still feel that you need help, connect with us at Skinzest. Here, we offer the best acne treatments that are specially customized as per your requirements.
So what are you waiting for? Call us now and get the best acne spot treatment by Dr. Noopur!
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