Exercise is a must for increasing the strength and efficiency of your body by keeping your weight under control. It improves your brain function and also benefits many organs like heart, lungs, and skin.

No one wants acne or blemishes prone skin. Regular exercise keeps your skin healthy and slows down the ageing process.

Healthy blood circulation keeps your skin glowing and vibrant.  While exercising, your skin can get acne simply by touching your skin as your fingers might transfer bacteria to your skin.

Dead skin, clogged pores and the bacteria in combination cause breakouts.

Other than sweat, there are other factors that increase the chances of breakouts. In the case of players, it is the pads and helmet.

The clothing you wear if tight or restrictive can also cause breakouts. Buy good quality gym apparel to ensure adequate breathability of skin.

Here are five post-gym skin care tips that you should follow to prevent breakouts: 

Cleanse after your workout. 

Wash your face immediately after your workout. Dirt, oil, and bacteria change the pH level of skin and clog your pores if you leave your skin unattended for a long time. If you don’t find any water in your workout area, carry your facial wipes with you.

Use a gentle cleanser with antibacterial properties. If your cleanser contains extracts of chamomile or lavender, then that’s an added advantage to your skin.

Splash your face with cold water. It helps in closing your pores and of course cool your skin.

After cleansing, always pat dry your skin. Never wipe your skin with a dry towel. Rubbing your skin with a dry towel can irritate your skin.

Exfoliate more often.

Removal of the dead skin from your top layer of skin i.e. epidermis is called exfoliation. It’s important that you exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week, depending on the type of your skin.

If you are a person who sweats a lot, then you might need to exfoliate more compared to someone with a sensitive skin.

Dry brushing your body is also helpful. Remember to exfoliate your skin after you cleanse your face with a cleanser.

After coming out of the workout, use gentle, circular motions to exfoliate and do it in the shower preferably, so that your skin doesn’t soak in it as it can cause irritation.

Moisturize your skin 

One of the key by-products of any gym workout is the sweat that your body releases when it burns calories.

Sweating is amazing and purges your body out of impurities. But it also makes you get rid of skin’s natural oil and moisture.

In fact, your skin dries even more once you cleanse your skin. So, moisturize after every time you cleanse or exfoliate your skin. This gives a naturally soft and supple skin.

Use a moisturizer that’s rich in ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, as they lock in water into your skin.

Balance your skin’s pH level by using a toner or calming mist.

Drink a lot of water 

You lose a lot of water through sweat, especially after a strenuous workout. You need to keep drinking water to replenish the lost water.

After an exercise, consider hydrating yourself with cherry juice, chocolate milk with whey protein that helps in building your muscle as well.

A good flow of H2O in your body will definitely fight against breakouts. If you don’t drink enough water, the toxins, bodily waste, and bacteria can get trapped and increase the chances of acne.

Water also helps in carrying essential water-soluble vitamins like B-vitamins and C-vitamins which are very effective in skin repair and rejuvenation.

Sunscreen 

Excessive sweat and heat can cause breakouts. Using sunscreen is always a savior. There is a myth that sunscreen causes acne.

For people who have experienced this, might be because of an irritant reaction with sunscreen or the sun. Oil-free sunscreens are available for acne-prone skin.

Remember that all the skin that’s exposed to sun needs to be covered with sunscreen. Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause free radical damage to the skin, destroys skin collagen and elastin and makes acne scars more prominent. Look for sunscreens that are non-comedogenic.

Using sunscreens with zinc and titanium has a drying effect on the skin making it more susceptible to breakouts.

So, no more worries about having skin breakouts after gym workouts. Follow the above easy steps to keep your skin healthy and ensure a fast recovery of your skin post-gym workout.

Remember the golden acronym for skin care after every workout i.e. C-T-M (Cleanse, Tone and Moisturize).