Is Your Workout Breaking You Out?

Have you ever noticed that when you exercise more often you break out more often? Well, if so, you’re not alone. But what’s causing this might actually surprise you- it isn’t the exercise. In fact, exercise is great for your skin. It increases circulation, regulates hormones, and opens your pores to get all the gunk out.

So, if it’s not exercise, why do some of us break out more when we workout? Check out the answers below and get my best tips from my dermatologist on how to avoid acne flare ups while toning up!

1. Start with a clean slate. It’s not actually the sweat alone that’s the problem, but more so what it comes into contact with. Be sure that when you are training you clean your skin before exercising to remove any bacteria. Don’t wear makeup. Use a light non pore clogging moisturizer without fragrances, parabens, phthalates, etc. which are not only toxic to your system, but also clog your pores.

2. Wear the right clothes and avoid baseball caps. Many studies on exercise and acne show that it's often the clothes we wear that are a part of the problem, such as a ball cap or tight fitting sports uniform. This is because tight clothes that don’t breathe can compress bacteria and dead skin cells into our pores. So ditching the ball cap and wearing loose fitting, breathable clothing is key.

3. Avoid touching your face! Our hands are covered with bacteria because we are constantly touching things from the railing of a public stairway to bathroom door handles, etc. You definitely want to avoid transferring any of those little buggers to your face as a general rule of thumb, but this goes double for when you are at the gym. Gyms are a hot bed for bacteria because so many people are sweating on the equipment. Be sure to disinfect your hands before touching your face, neck, back, etc., and cover any cuts on your body to avoid a more serious risk of infection like MRSA (antibiotic resistant bacteria).

4. Exfoliate regularly. Speaking of dead skin cells, be sure to gently exfoliate on a regular basis to remove any gunk from your face that can clog pores.