It is a common misconception to assume that sweating causes acne growth to the skin. Here’s the fact: Sweating itself doesn’t cause acne! Instead, (anecdotally) it seems that doing exercise (and sweating) may actually reduce the risk of acne.
So, what is the correlation between sweat and acne that we keep hearing? The truth: Sweat that is not washed off after physical activity can clog your pores! When pores are clogged, the dirt, grime, dead skin cells and bacteria that is trapped in the pore can become infected (by the p Acnes bacteria) and the bodies, response with inflammation is what causes those pesky pimples.
How do we prevent the risk of acne growth after we sweat? Get cleansing after you sweat. It’s that easy! Don’t let the sweat sit on your skin for too long and clog your pores.
Rough removal, particularly of dry sweat such as wiping with a dry cloth or towel also drags salt crystals across the skin. Doing so can damage the skin, impairing its barrier function and increasing the risk of acne. Instead of wiping the sweat, pat dry your sweat or use water to wash the sweat off. Once you’re done with your workout or physical activity, wash off your face with a gentle soap-free cleanser and pat dry.
Wearing makeup before and during working out will likely increase the risk of acne growth while sweating. Dried sweat mixed with makeup, dirt, bacteria and grime significantly increase the risk of getting acne. Make sure you remove all makeup on your skin thoroughly before you begin your physical activity.
What about working out outdoors? Be sure to apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. It is crucial to always protect your skin from the sun’s UV. Apart from the sun’s UVA rays leading to premature skin aging, damage to the skin from UV too much UV exposure can compromise it’s barrier function and increase the risk of acne. Look for a sunscreen that is SPF 15 or higher, that is water-resistant and won’t clog pores aka non-comedogenic – zinc based sunscreens are often perfect for the job.
Get smooth and acne-free skin without drying out your skin with ESK Acne Kit today and see a difference within 3 weeks!
