Maintaining a regular workout routine is not only beneficial for your overall health and wellbeing, but it also does wonders for your skin health! With all the benefits exercise brings, breaking a sweat can also pose some potential risks to your skin. So, let’s take a look at the positive and negative effects exercise can have on your skin health, as well as some helpful tips to ensure you gain all of the pros and mitigate some of the con’s!
PROS:
- Can improve your skin’s complexion
Notice your heart rate picking up the pace when you are working out? As your heart rate increases, so does your blood circulation. Increased blood circulation delivers oxygen, and vital minerals, vitamins and hormones to nourish the skin. These can improve the skin’s elasticity and vitality.
An increased circulatory system also helps to flush toxins and waste products from the body which can attribute to problematic skin. The post-workout glow is not a myth and lasts for several hours!
- No cost facial!
When you want to give your skin some extra love, consider switching up a facial for a workout. Working up a light sweat opens the tiny arteries in your skin, allowing more blood and nutrients to reach the skin’s surface. This can help repair the damage from sun exposure and environmental pollutants.
- Reduces stress induced breakouts
Exercise is well known for its stress relieving benefits! Your sebaceous glands which produce oil to the skin are influenced by stress hormones, so when you are stressed, your skin can overproduce oil, causing breakouts! So, if you regularly breakout due to stress, give a sweat sesh a go!
CONS:
- Can irritate pre-existing skin conditions
Those who suffer from common skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema and psoriasis can experience negative side effects from exercise. Increased body temperature and the salt from perspiration can cause irritation and cause the skin condition to flare-up.
- Breakouts
If you let sweat dry and sit on your skin for a while post workout in can attract bacteria and clog your pores, leading to congestion and breakouts.
To avoid unwanted breakouts, up your personal hygiene practice post workout and rinse your face as soon as you’re done.