Acne, Sports and Exercise

From strengthening the heart to meeting new people, from releasing endorphins to burning calories, from creating relationships within a team to building one’s character, there are so many great reasons for teenagers to engage in sports and exercise.

But studies show that people who have acne are less likely to engage in physical activities. A part of it has something to do with social anxiety--meeting new people when you join a team, not being able to wear make-up during games, or even baring your blemishes and scars in a locker room can be uncomfortable if you feel self-conscious about your skin.

Another consideration for the acne-prone is the fear that their condition will worsen when working out. While this is indeed a valid concern, worrying about the clearness of your skin should not stop you from taking care of your body and health.

There are many ways that you can minimize acne while getting your sweat on.

Ditch the make-up.

If you’re the kind of person who loves make-up, join the club. Cosmetics allow you to express yourself, be creative, and generally feel bomb. But as great at make-up is, it’s in your skin’s best interest to go bare-faced when you’re working out or playing a game.

Here’s what could happen: That fresh layer of make-up you put on your skin prior to exercising will start to settle into your skin. As you begin to strain yourself physically, your body temperature invariably goes up, signalling your body to sweat in order to cool down. At this point, your pores also start to secrete sebum, and this mixes with the tiny particles of make-up that lie on the surface of your skin. And on top of that, your sweat and increased heat of your body sets the stage for bacteria to grow. Blocked pores? Check. Bacterial proliferation? Check. A new pimple? Check.

The few hours you spend makeup-less is well worth avoiding a breakout that could last days and acne marks that could last for weeks.

But if you’re in an aesthetic sport like gymnastics, dance, or synchronized swimming, it’s understandable that you have to wear make-up for performances. But as much as you can, leave it off for practice.

Lather on the sunscreen.

If there is one product that you should put on your skin when you work out, it’s sunscreen. Although this is a skincare must for absolutely everyone including couch potatoes, it’s particularly important for those who play sports under the sun or exercise out in the open.

A non-comedogenic, fragrance-free broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 is your meal ticket. Though it may not do much for active acne, it makes a huge difference for post-acne hyperpigmentation and wrinkles. If you want to get rid of the marks left by pimples past and prevent your skin from looking older than you are, you best lather on a teaspoon of sunscreen on your face and a shot glass of sunscreen on your body.

And even then, it’s not enough--particularly if you’re out in the sun between 10am to 3pm. If you can get away with wearing a visor or using a long-sleeved shirt and pants, all the better. 

Wear clean and airy workout clothes.

If you’ve ever sniffed at workout clothes you used the day before and figured they smell okay enough to use again, know that you are not alone. What can we say? The inconvenience of washing a new set of clothes that you’ve only used a couple of hours sometimes trumps the grossness of this habit.

Unfortunately, this is the kind of thing that leads to pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads on your back. Acne-causing bacteria celebrate whenever you choose to rewear used gym clothes. Without the wash, they’re free to grow in number on the sweaty cloth and jump off on your skin. The clothes you wear during exercise are also chock full of dead skin cells. This plus the bacteria can clog up your pores and cause pimples.

To prevent this from happening, you’ll have to start washing your sports clothes after every use. If you don’t have the time to do that, then you’d better go shopping for enough sets to workout clothes to last you until your regular laundry session. Yes, you heard it right. We’re encouraging you to go shopping. You might have more clothes to launder, but at least you’ll be laundering less often.

While you’re out shopping for the perfect pair of jersey shorts or a cute pair of yoga pants, here are a couple of other things to keep in mind. It’s best to buy workout clothes that are airy and made of material that does not retain moisture. Clothes that are occlusive will trap the sweat, oil, and dead skin cells inside and create the perfect breeding for bacteria. Tight shirts will chafe against your sweaty skin and cause a specific type of acne called acne mechanica. You might even get different types of frictional dermatoses on other parts of your body!

What you want to add to the cart are loose, moisture-wicking clothes. With less moisture and less pressure comes less friction and irritation. This will play a big role in minimizing backne and a host of other skin-related sports issues.

Pad your protective gear.

If you regularly play contact sports that require you to wear protective equipment, you might notice that your breakouts are concentrated in the areas that are covered. This is likely to be acne mechanica, brought about the inflammation from constant friction against your equipment. Chin straps, helmets, shoulder pads, weightlifting belts, and face guards are all common culprits behind sports-related breakouts.

It may be time to consider buying your own gear and making sure it’s padded. By buying your own, you can regularly clean it to prevent accumulation of sweat, oil, and bacteria. By choosing one that has a cushion, you protect your skin from constant chafing. Both of these will go a long way in helping you stay blemish-free.

Wipe off shared sports equipment.

If your workout or sport requires you to wear or use shared equipment, the least you can do is wipe it down before you put it on. The sweat, dead skin cells, oil, and grime that is left by however many previous users could initiate or exacerbate a breakout. Use a clean, dry hand towel to wipe the parts that come into contact with your skin.

Take a shower after working out.

Once you’re done working up a sweat, take a bath as soon as you can. Be gentle with your skin, especially the parts that are red from friction. It’s best to use gentle, oil-free, non-comedogenic cleansers on both your face and body. If your dermatologist prescribes one with active ingredients, that would do great too. Then change into a clean, new set of clothes.

If you can’t take a shower immediately, then you might want to get a tub of salicylic acid pads to wipe your body down with. This helps remove sweat, dead skin cells, and oil that could clog up your pores during the time it takes for you to get home and wash everything off.

Conclusion

Acne treatment does not have to come at the expense of neglecting fitness and exercise. If you want to try a new sport or continue playing one that you’ve grown to love, there is no need to stop. By incorporating a few new habits to your workout routine or game preps, you can enjoy getting your sweat on without worrying about worsening your skin condition.