Photo Credit: HeadExplodie on Flickr.com
Reaching fitness goals requires hard work and that means regularly breaking a sweat. Unfortunately, sweating can also have a negative result: acne. Popping up on faces and backs everywhere, acne is no fun. The misconception is that exercise actually causes acne. This isn’t the case; moreover, it actually charges your body in a positive way so your body can fight acne with even greater power.
Let’s talk about ways to fight acne, so we can exercise as much as we want without having to worry about such a pestering problem.
- Use salicylic acid based facial wash which will remove the upper layer of your skin freeing pores clogged with dead cells.
- Shower immediately after doing any type of exercise. The longer you let the sweat and clogged pores stand on your skin, the bigger fight you’ll have. Also, shower when you wake up as oils have accumulated from a long night of sleep.
- Use a medicated acne shampoo, but don’t scrub too hard. Scrubbing your face or back in the shower too hard can worsen acne.
- Benzyl peroxide is one of the most popular treatments for acne. It comes in washes, pads, and creams. You can use it in the morning, after a workout, and before bed.
If over the counter options don’t work, visit a dermatologist. They can prescribe topical creams that include: Tazorac, Retin A, Duac, etc. or they may prescribe an oral antibiotic to help you fight the acne from the inside out.
