Is Your Workout Causing Your Acne? Here’s How to Stop It

Exercise
offers
numerous
benefits
for
the
skin,
including
improved
blood
circulation
and
reduced
stress,
which
can
help
with
stress-related
acne.

Increased
blood
flow
delivers
essential
nutrients
and
oxygen
to
skin
cells
while
aiding
in
the
removal
of
waste,
potentially
supporting
healing.

However,
sweating
during
workouts
can
also
create
an
environment
where
acne-causing
bacteria
and
yeast
thrive,
leading
to
more
frequent
breakouts.

To
counter
this,
it’s
important
to
keep
the
skin
clean
and
dry.

Over-the-counter
medications
can
also
be
effective
in
managing
these
issues.


How
Your
Workout
Might
Be
Causing
Acne

It’s
not
always
obvious,
but
several
factors
during
and
after
exercise
can
contribute
to
breakouts.

Sweat,
friction,
and
even
certain
types
of
clothing
or
gym
equipment
can
all
play
a
role.

Let’s
look
at
some
of
the
most
common
culprits.

Sweat:
Friend
or
Foe?

 A close-up of a woman's sweaty chest in a black tank top after exercising

Sweat
helps
cool
you
down,
but
letting
it
sit
can
lead
to
breakouts|Image
source:
Artlist.io

Sweat
itself
isn’t
the
enemy.
In
fact,
it’s
your
body’s
way
of
cooling
you
down
and
flushing
out
toxins.

But
if
it
stays
on
your
skin
too
long,
it
can
mix
with
bacteria,
dirt,
and
oil,
creating
the
perfect
storm
for
acne
according
to

Irish
Examiner
.

Tight
Clothing
and
Gear

A woman in a bright yellow workout outfit lifting a dumbbell in a gym with treadmills in the background

Tight
clothing
can
trap
heat
and
cause
irritation|Image
source:
Artlist.io

Those
sleek
leggings
or
compression
tops
might
make
you
feel
like
a
fitness
pro,
but
they
can
also
trap
heat
and
sweat
against
your
skin.

Add
friction
to
the
mix—think
about
the
rubbing
from
sports
bras,
helmets,
or
weightlifting
belts—and
you’ve
got
a
recipe
for
clogged
pores
and
irritation.

Skincare
and
Hygiene
Mistakes

It’s
easy
to
overlook

your
skincare
routine

when
you’re
focused
on
working
out,
but
skipping
a
quick
pre-workout
cleanse
or
using
the
wrong
products
can
make
things
worse.

Harsh
cleansers,
heavy
lotions,
or
makeup
left
on
during
exercise
can
all
contribute
to
breakouts.


How
to
Prevent
Acne
While
Working-out

Thankfully,
there
are
simple
tweaks
you
can
make
to
keep
acne
at
bay
without
sacrificing
your
workouts.
Here’s
what
works
for
me
and
many
others.

1.
Clean
Your
Skin
Before
and
After
Exercise

  • Start
    with
    a
    clean
    slate
    by
    washing
    your
    face
    before
    you
    exercise.
    Sweat
    mixes
    with
    whatever
    is
    already
    on
    your
    skin,
    so
    cleansing
    beforehand
    reduces
    the
    chance
    of
    clogged
    pores.
  • After
    your
    workout,
    wash
    your
    face
    (and
    body,
    if
    needed)
    as
    soon
    as
    possible.
    A
    gentle
    cleanser
    that
    suits
    your
    skin
    type
    is
    your
    best
    bet.

2.
Choose
Breathable
Clothing

Opt
for
workout
gear
made
of
moisture-wicking
fabrics.
They
draw
sweat
away
from
your
skin,
keeping
it
drier
and
less
likely
to
cause
irritation.
Make
sure
your
clothes
aren’t
too
tight
or
restrictive—your
skin
needs
to
breathe
too!

3.
Avoid
Touching
Your
Face

A young man with acne pressing his fingers on his chin, highlighting the importance of avoiding facial contact

Keep
your
hands
off
to
prevent
bacteria
from
clogging
your
pores|YouTube
Screenshot/Gentleman’s
Gazette

This
one’s
easier
said
than
done,
especially
when
you’re
wiping
away
sweat.
But
gym
equipment
and
even
your
hands
can
carry
bacteria
that
can
transfer
to
your
skin.
Instead,
keep
a
clean,
soft
towel
handy
to
blot
sweat
away.

4.
Shower
ASAP

A woman taking a shower, letting water rinse over her face and shoulders

Rinse
off
sweat
and
bacteria
quickly
to
keep
your
skin
clear|YouTube
Screenshot/Cassandra
Bankson

Don’t
let
sweat
sit
on
your
skin
for
too
long
after
working
out.
A
quick
shower
not
only
helps
you
feel
refreshed
but
also
removes
the
grime
and
bacteria
that
can
trigger
breakouts.
If
you
can’t
shower
immediately,
try
using
cleansing
wipes
to
tide
you
over.

5.
Pick
the
Right
Skincare
Products

  • Use
    non-comedogenic
    or
    oil-free
    skincare
    products—they
    won’t
    clog
    your
    pores.
  • Avoid
    heavy
    or
    occlusive
    products
    like
    thick
    creams
    or
    greasy
    sunscreens
    before
    exercise.
  • For
    acne-prone
    skin,
    look
    for
    ingredients
    like
    salicylic
    acid
    or
    benzoyl
    peroxide
    in
    your
    cleansers
    or
    spot
    treatments.

6.
Incorporate
an
Over-the-Counter
Retinoid

A woman in a towel applying skincare cream to her face in a relaxed bedroom setting

Retinoids
help
unclog
pores
and
improve
skin
texture
over
time|YouTube
Screenshot/Cassandra
Bankson

Retinoids,
derivatives
of
vitamin
A,
are
widely
recognized
for
their
effectiveness
in
treating
acne
and
reducing
the
appearance
of
wrinkles
according
to

UW
Health
.
These
products
are
typically
available
as
creams
or
gels
and
come
in
various
strengths
to
suit
different
skin
types
and
needs.

Over-the-counter
options,
such
as
adapalene
(Differin),
can
be
applied
daily
to
promote
skin
cell
turnover,
reduce
inflammation,
and
help
unclog
pores,
which
can
lead
to
clearer
skin.

For
additional
skin
benefits,
consider
adding
products
like
a

Korean
vitamin
C
serum

to
your
routine.
Vitamin
C
serums
can
brighten
the
skin,
reduce
pigmentation,
and
promote
a
smoother
complexion
when
used
consistently.

For
more
persistent
or
severe
acne,
prescription-strength
retinoids
like
tazarotene
(Tazorac)
and
tretinoin
(Retin-A)
may
be
more
effective.


The
Role
of
Diet
and
Hydration

You’ve
probably
heard
it
before:
what
you
eat
affects
your
skin.
I’ve
noticed
my
skin
looks
and
feels
better
when
I
stick
to
a
balanced
diet
and
stay
hydrated.

Foods
high
in
sugar
or
dairy
sometimes
trigger
breakouts
for
people,
so
it
might
be
worth
paying
attention
to
what
you
eat
around
your
workouts.

Hydration
is
also
key.
Drinking
enough
water
not
only
supports
your
workout
performance
but
also
helps
your
skin
stay
healthy.
Plus,
it
can
reduce
the
chances
of
sweat-related
irritation.


When
to
See
a
Dermatologist

If
you’ve
tried
everything
and
your
skin
still
isn’t
cooperating,
it
might
be
time
to
consult
a
professional.

Persistent
or
severe
acne
could
need
prescription
treatments,
like
topical
retinoids
or
oral
medication,
to
get
it
under
control.

There’s
no
shame
in
asking
for
help,
your
skin
is
worth
it.


My
Personal
Tricks
for
Clearer
Skin

Here
are
a
few
things
I
swear
by
to
keep
acne
away
while
staying
active:

  • Buy
    a
    good
    gym
    towel.
    I
    keep
    one
    with
    me
    during
    workouts
    and
    another
    clean
    one
    for
    my
    post-gym
    routine.
  • Use
    a
    lightweight
    moisturizer.
    Sweating
    can
    dehydrate
    your
    skin,
    so
    applying
    a
    light,
    hydrating
    lotion
    afterward
    helps
    keep
    it
    balanced.
  • Double
    cleanse
    after
    heavy
    sweat
    sessions.
    First,
    I
    remove
    dirt
    and
    oil
    with
    micellar
    water,
    then
    I
    follow
    up
    with
    a
    gentle
    foaming
    cleanser.


Bottom
Line

Exercise
is
important
for
your
overall
health,
but
it
can
lead
to
acne
if
sweat,
bacteria,
or
irritation
from
clothing
and
gear
aren’t
managed
properly.

The
good
news
is
that
simple
adjustments
like
washing
your
skin
before
and
after
workouts,
wearing
breathable
fabrics,
and
using

non-comedogenic
skincare
products

can
make
a
significant
difference.

If
you’ve
tried
these
steps
and
still
struggle
with
breakouts,
it’s
worth
seeing
a
dermatologist
to
explore
other
treatment
options.

Staying
active
doesn’t
have
to
come
at
the
cost
of
healthy
skin,
and
with
the
right
approach,
you
can
address
both
effectively.