Exercise is not only good for your weight and your health – it is also good for your skin! The skin is your body’s largest organ, so an overall healthy lifestyle including exercise will actually benefit the skin in a number of ways:
– Exercising increases blood flow to the skin, which helps nourish cells and keep them healthy.
– That increased blood flow from exercise helps carry away waste from the skin, including cellular debris and free radicals.
– Exercise relieves stress, which can be an exacerbating cause for some spot sufferers. Studies have shown that stress hormones affect sebaceous glands that are responsible for oil production in the skin.
– Exercise boosts your immune system, which helps the body fight off bacteria and inflammation that can lead to spots.
If you have a special skin condition, such as being blemish-prone, you may need to take particular care of your skin to keep it protected before, during and after exercising.
– Prior to working out, clean skin with warm water and mild soap. This will allow pores to release toxins through sweat without mixing with bacteria that can be present from makeup, dirt and oil.
– During your workout, make sure to wear sunscreen if you’re exercising outside! Also, when wiping sweat from your face, make sure you use a clean towel to dab the sweat off your skin; don’t swipe. Vigorous swiping can irritate pores, which may lead to inflammation and breakouts.
– Following your workout, shower immediately, thoroughly washing your body and face. Put on an oil-free moisturiser to help replenish skin hydration. And continue to hydrate with water-rich snacks throughout the rest of the day.