6 Oily Skin Must-Dos Before and After Your Workout to Prevent Pimples
Staying active has many skin benefits, including reduced acne. But exercise can also create the perfect environment for breakouts to occur, particularly if you have oily skin. Why does this happen and what can you do to prevent it? Here we explore the link between exercise and acne and how you can start taking control, all while staying fit.
Oily skin, pimples, and working out: what’s the connection?
Oily skin is a common skin type among Filipinos and a skin issue that also affects how prone you are to acne. Oiliness is mainly due to the overproduction of sebum in the skin. Some triggers include the environment, cosmetics, age, genetics, and even the cosmetics you apply to your skin. Sebum is generally good for the skin and is vital for keeping it hydrated and healthy. However, too much sebum can lead to clogged pores and eventually, pimples. (Read more: Oiliness 101: Causes and Remedies)
Aside from maintaining a good acne care routine and a healthy diet, working out is actually a great way to keep skin healthy and keep skin issues at bay. Exercising lowers stress levels, making you less likely to suffer from stress-induced acne. Exercise also improves circulation and promotes sweat, which helps the body eliminate toxins and push impurities out through the pores, helping make the skin look brighter and clearer.
All this sounds great but if you’re not taking the right precautions, there are ways that your workout can also mess with oily skin and pimples. In other words, your workout can simultaneously help and harm your acne in some situations.
So if you suspect that your fitness routine is affecting your skin for the worse, don’t fret! Here the steps you need to follow before and after your workout to ensure that your skin also gets the full benefits of your workout:
Before your workout
1. Remove your makeup.
Experts recommend cleansing your face with a foam cleanser or oil-free makeup wipes to remove any makeup on your face prior to working out. This is because, during exercise, the increased blood flow to the skin causes your pores to open up. The makeup on your face can cause sweat and bacteria to become trapped in the enlarged pores. Over time, this can lead to acne.
2. Keep your hair away from your face.
Hair in your face distracting you from your workout? Well, it can also be causing your skin problems. Natural oils from your hair and your hair care products can be transferred to your skin. With your pores enlarged from physical activity, the hair product residue and bacteria can clog pores and encourage fungal growth, contributing to breakouts. So before you head out, pull your hair back with a headband or a hair tie.
3. Wipe down any equipment that will be touching your face.
This is something we don’t really think about but so many of the objects that touch our face have so much bacteria that can cause skin problems. So make a conscious effort to clean any workout equipment that you know will be in contact with your face. This includes your headphones, goggles, helmets, yoga mats, or workout mats.
It seems a little extra but since your hands touch your face most often, just make it a habit to wipe down all exercise equipment prior to use to remove bacteria, dirt, and oils that might end up on your skin.
4. Wear loose, moisture-wicking exercise clothes.
When choosing exercise attire, avoid sweaty, tight-fitting clothes that trap moisture next to your skin, which can flare up acne (particularly on your back). This kind of environment can also cause a type of fungal acne to develop, one that is often mistaken for bacterial acne, which can lead to improper treatment.
After your workout
1. Change your clothes.
For the same reason as mentioned above, be sure to change out of your sweaty clothes as soon as you can. Also, avoid repeating gym clothes without washing them, since pore-clogging oils and dirt can be trapped on the fabric and be transferred to your skin the next time you work out.
2. Take a shower.
If possible, shower after you train to remove sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria that may have accumulated on your skin. Experts recommend face and body cleansers with benzoyl peroxide (an acne-fighting ingredient) to cleanse acne-prone skin. Alternatively, you can use a gentle, oil-free cleanser to clean your face after your workout.
Can’t shower immediately after your workout? Washing your face should be the bare minimum.
As with acne and skincare in general, these small precautions can make a world of difference in the long run. Consider these extra steps part of your overall acne care regimen and you can enjoy the benefits of a good workout, plus healthier, acne-free skin.
Treating oily skin and pimples with Lactezin
Aside from taking care of your skin and observing proper hygiene, you can also consider acne medication with Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc to help control oily skin and acne. Through regular intake, these skin-boosting ingredients help fight pimple-causing bacteria, lessen pimples, and improve skin’s health and appearance
Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc is the generic name of Lactezin.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
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