5 Dermatologist-Recommended Skin Care Tips for Active Women
If you’re partaking in the sweeping trend towards becoming more active and physically fit, you’re certainly not alone. With so many women (and men) finding the perfect exercises to fit their interests and lifestyles, there seems to be a much larger focus on overall health and wellbeing than in recent years.
But if you’re hitting the gym, running outdoors, or otherwise working up a sweat, you may notice that your skin tends to be more prone to breakouts and other unwanted skin conditions. If this is the case for you, take a look at our top five dermatologist-recommended skin care tips for active women to help keep your skin glowing and healthy even after you sweat.
1. Remove Your Makeup
Before working out, whether in the form of heavy weightlifting or even walking around the block, one of the best things you can do for your skin is to remove your makeup. Once you start to sweat, any makeup, dirt, and oil that’s already on your face will only get pushed down deeper into your pores and then trapped there, which can result in breakouts, blackheads, and whiteheads. To avoid this, simply wash your face with a gentle cleanser prior to exercising.
2. Exfoliate Face and Body
Exfoliation can come along with a whole host of skin health benefits, especially when you lead a very active lifestyle. When you exfoliate, you’re actually sweeping away dead skin cells, dirt, and other pollutants that have built up on your skin over time. And, like your makeup, these things can get trapped inside your pores when you add sweat into the mix. (Dermascope)
But don’t forget to exfoliate your face and your body, as this healthy skin habit can help to prevent breakouts on your back and chest as well, in addition to helping you maintain smooth, glowing skin all over.
3. Hands Off
It can be tempting to touch your face to wipe away sweat while you’re at the gym, but this is one place where you should really try to avoid this habit. Any bacteria that others have left behind on the equipment can be transferred from your hands to your face, which can cause all sorts of skin issues. It can be a good idea to bring a towel with you to wipe away sweat instead of resorting to your germy hands. (The New York Times)
4. Keep Your Hair Pulled Back
Whether you have long or short hair, it can actually help your skin to keep it pulled back away from your face. Otherwise, any products that you use in your hair can end up on your face, clogging pores and possibly causing irritation, not to mention trapping sweat, dirt, and oil on your skin.
5. Limit Sauna and Shower Time
A common skin care mistake that many people are often guilty of is immediately hopping into a hot, steamy shower or sauna right after their workout. While this may be relaxing, the heat and humidity of a sauna or shower can dehydrate your skin and deplete it of its natural oils, leading to lines, wrinkles, and an overall dull appearance. Instead, try cooling down before hitting the showers, and make sure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout. (Livestrong)
The Bottom Line
Adopting an active lifestyle can have a plethora of health benefits for the mind and body, including your skin. Keeping these few simple tips in mind can help to ensure that your skin stays healthy, smooth, and beautiful, even after you’ve finished strenuous activity.
If dry, dehydrated skin is a chronic concern, you may want to consider speaking with a board-certified dermatologist to discuss your treatment options. At Acqua Blu Medical Spa in Pittsburgh and Wexford, we offer a variety of professional skin care products that can treat a wide range of skin conditions. Our board-certified Dr. Ana Busquets, along with Dr. Susannah McClain and physician assistant Christopher Foti have the experience and skill necessary to provide educational and professional consultations to those seeking skin care advice.
For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please contact us at (724) 933-1800 to take the next step toward achieving healthy, glowing skin.
