Is your workout causing your breakout?

You hardly manage to spare some time for yourself once a week because of your busy schedule, and when you break away, the gym is where you head on first. Maybe nothing refreshes your body more than a couple of hours spent there, but how about at the end of the week you end up with a back full of zits? Is there any link between your workout and your acne?

First of all, there is not any direct connection between your exercising and your acne, but there are a few outside factors that are strongly related to the two. If your skin will feel much better after some moderate exercises which will help you maintain a good health, and increase your immune system, it could also be affected by what you wear, or how hard do you work when you exercise. The only way to eliminate your workout breakouts is to get rid of these factors.

It is recommended when you exercise to avoid wearing any make-up, because oil-free and non-pore-clogging cosmetics can harm your skin by clogging your pores. Also, another piece of advice is to always wear sunscreen if you exercise outdoors because although on a short term the sun could actually ameliorate your acne problems, long-term sun exposure will only make your breakouts worse. If you are using certain medication to treat your acne, you should be even more aware because there are some pills that are more sensitive to the sun, so oil-free sunscreen with a protection factor of at least SPF 15 for UVA and UVB is even more necessary.

Because perspiration and bacteria aggravates your condition, it is best to always wear clean bras and T-shirts when working out and to avoid as much as you can lycra or nylon, because of the synthetic fabrics that can trap the heat and moisture against your skin. Use loose-fitting cotton and natural fabrics to allow your skin to breathe. Put a clean towel down before lying on exercise machines in the gym.

Remember to never go directly from a workout to a steam room; first, get rid of dirt and bacteria by taking a shower. Friction breakouts are caused by sports equipment; to avoid them, make sure everything is at its place: your helmet does not slide around on your forehead and your wetsuit is not too tight. Also, regardless to the sport, be sure to keep your equipment clean and dry.

Other ways to prevent breakouts after workout is to change your sweaty clothes as soon as you can, or change into dry clothes and wipe your skin as well as you can with a clean towel. If you use exfoliant cleansers, toners or restoring lotions be sure not to scrub hard because you may cause yourself irritations. A healthy skin means first of all a healthy body, so be aware of everything around you and you will be on your way towards an acne-free workout.