Here is all you need to know about keeping your skin happy and clear while you break a sweat!
Regular exercise is the key to healthy skin. It helps promote good blood circulation to the skin which keeps it healthy and vibrant. If you have oily and acne-prone skin, you may need to take extra special care of your skin during exercising, but don’t let that prevent you from living an active lifestyle.
Exercise will help to cleanse your skin cells from the inside out. By boosting blood circulation, exercise helps nourish skin cells because it improves oxygen and nutrient supply to the skin cells while removing waste products and toxic debris. This circulation boost creates immediate results, giving you that ‘lit from within’ glow.
Exercise also helps to reduce stress by increasing the production of endorphins, which are your happy hormones. Stress reduction through exercise means that endorphins help decrease cortisol (stress hormones) and other acne-provoking hormones. Ever broken out when you were stressed? Now you know why.
Whether you enjoy running, swimming, cycling or horse riding – a danger of exercising outdoors is the increase exposure to the sun. Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer, dark spots and inflammation in the skin. Try and avoid exercising outdoors during peak sun time; between 10am and 4pm and always wear a broad-spectrum SPF.
An increase in sweating can also irritate the skin and lead to impurities. Your skin needs to be properly cleansed before and after exercising. Bacteria and moisture build up when you sweat so make sure to cleansed your skin immediately after exercising to prevent clogged pores that can lead to acne. Avoid wearing make-up when you exercise and allow your skin breathe.
Exercise is great for targeting oily and acne-prone skin because it propels toxins, oils and dirt straight out of your pores. Exercising helps to flush your pores, but if you don’t clean your skin after exercising, you’ll be negating the positive effects exercise can have on your skin.
So, what are you waiting for? Get moving, it’s not just good for your health, it’s also good for your skin!