by Jamie Fessenburg
A number of us who have acne are also very active. We participate in sports at school, workout at the gym, etc. We like to exercise any time we have the opportunity to do so. The unfortunate fact is that exercise and acne sometimes come hand in hand. The perspiration that ensues after periods of intense physical activity can lead to body acne and facial acne down the road.
We live in a society that places immense emphasis on physical appearance, and as a result, most of us wouldn’t dare to tread shirtless along the beach for the world to see our back acne. If you would like to continue working out without having to face the threat of acne breakouts, we have some tips for you to follow. If adhered to closely, they will drastically reduce your susceptibility to breakouts.
As mentioned above, sweat is a big offender when it comes to body acne. It is the bacteria contained in sweat which gives it that unpleasant odor, and you can rest assured that acne bacteria are in sweat as well. As soon as you conclude your exercising activities, it is best to shower immediately. This will remove the bacteria-filled residue from your skin and prevent acne from forming. If you have to hold off on the shower, at least change into clothes that aren’t drenched with sweat.
There are also some indirect effects which can be attributed to sweat. For instance, when sweat beads move down our forehead, we are tempted to wipe them away. In most settings, this is unacceptable because our hands are littered with contaminants. If someone was at the gym, for example, they may be cleaning away sweat with the same hands they used to lift those dirty dumbells or to dunk a basketball. The urge to touch needs to be resisted if clear skin is the ultimate goal. A clean towel can be used, but bare hands are a no-no unless they have been adequately washed.
Anyone who works outdoors for a living or participates in outdoors athletic activity should be familiar with hats. While useful for providing relief from sunlight, they can also pose a risk for acne. They gather sweat from our skin and oils from our hair and bring them to open pores as we readjust their position on our head. The best solution is to wash them regularly to remove any existing contaminants which may linger on them.
