6 Ways Training Can Affect Your Skin and How to Regain Shine

You may already know that exercise has a big influence on your well-being, from improving cardiovascular health to strengthening bones and muscles and increasing brain power. But it may come as a surprise to discover that a sweat session also has a fairly significant effect on the skin, for better or for worse.

May make rosacea worse

When you sweat in the gym, your blood vessels widen in a process called vasodilation.

6 Ways Training Can Affect Your Skin

This increased blood flow increases the oxygen supply to the skin and nourishes the skin cells by transporting nutrients to repair damage from the sun and the environment. Not only will your face look brighter, but that hemoglobin surge will give it a rosy glow that can last up to two hours.

But for people with rosacea, vasodilation has a downside: It triggers inflammation, which, along with increasing body temperature, can make the condition worse. In this case, it is advisable to keep a cold cloth nearby to apply it to the face and avoid overheating.

Sweat can clog hair follicles

Perspiration cools you and pushes toxic free radicals (compounds related to aging and disease) out of your body through the pores, but it can also irritate the skin.

It can clog your body’s sweat glands and hair follicles, resulting in an acne-like rash called folliculitis. This can happen anytime you’re sweaty, especially in occlusion areas like your back and chest.
Those spots also have a higher concentration of sebaceous glands that can become blocked when sweat and dirt dry on the skin’s surface.

Eczema can also be exacerbated by sweat, which breaks down the skin barrier and can make itching worse.

The best solution is to wear loose clothing when you are sweating. Shower immediately afterwards with warm water to eliminate perspiration, and apply a gentle moisturizer to restore the skin’s barrier.

Can cause acne breakouts

Clogged hair follicles can also trigger blackheads or whiteheads, which can become inflamed or infected and become acne.

To protect yourself against an acne attack, remove makeup before training. CivicScience discovered in 2019 that 25% of women use it while exercising. Not only does it further clog the glands and hair follicles, but it is often contaminated with bacteria, which can aggravate the skin and cause breakouts.

Even if you don’t have makeup, it’s best to wash your face first. Dirt and oil build up on your skin, and you want to remove that. Use facial wipes if you are short on time, they do not require soap or water.

In case you have a stain you want to hide, apply concealer or a moisturizer with color only in that area, instead of covering the face with a base. A BB cream adds that touch of color and gives a shiny look, but is generally very light.

Adequate fluids and electrolytes are needed to ensure proper function of the skin. If your face looks pale or you have dry lips, it is a sign that your hydration level is low.

Sweating, and using sweaty materials, change your microbiome

Everyone is talking about gut flora these days, but did you know that your skin also has a microbiome?

The skin microbiome is an ecosystem of organisms that live on the skin, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. A healthy microbiome protects the skin against infection and maintains a strong barrier between your body and external elements.

Exercise-induced sweat can disrupt that sensitive microbiome. Certain organisms, like yeast, thrive in a humid environment. Allowing sweat to remain on the skin for a long period of time often changes the balance of the microbiome and allows the yeast to overgrow. That can cause an itchy, scaly rash on the face and torso, in addition to dandruff.

And, speaking of germs, a hot, humid gym is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Every time you put your hands on a yoga mat or cardio machine and then touch your face, you are spreading bacteria on your skin.

The solution is to bring your own towel and spray it with an antibacterial after training, such as a bottle filled with alcohol. Many gyms also offer wipes to keep germs at bay. Dive into the shower as soon as you can, and consider disinfecting your equipment.

It can dry your skin

When you sweat, your body loses moisture, even from your skin. Outdoor workouts have a double impact because sun exposure also reduces hydration.

Adequate fluids and electrolytes are needed to ensure proper function of the skin. If your face looks pale or your lips are dry, it is a sign that your hydration level is low.

Have a bottle of coconut water or a sports drink, and snack like an energy bar or a banana. If you’re outside, remember to apply SPF. The sunscreen that contains titanium and zinc dioxide, which will give the best protection to your skin. Avoid products that contain mineral oil or glycerin, which can clog pores.

It could irritate your thighs

Surely there are exercises that make you feel uncomfortable. Repeated rubbing or exposing yourself to moisture or irritating fabrics can break down skin cells and cause a rash that can itch or burn.

Apply antiperspirant to areas of your body that are heavily sweaty and lubricated, such as creams, oils, or powders, wherever there is friction. Also, get moisture-wicking clothing that allows perspiration to evaporate, rather than materials like cotton that retain sweat and keep skin moist.