Sweat-Induced Acne: Gym Bunnies, Read This

By the end of the heavy workout, after sweating it out through heavy weights or sprint repeats, you're feeling those much needed endorphins surging through you. As you trudge towards the locker room, ready to rinse off the sweat, you catch a peek of that acne flare up scattered across your forehead, red and prickling little bumps accompanied by pimples popping up around your chest, shoulders and even your back. 

If this scenario sounds familiar to you then you need to go through this comprehensive guide dedicated for all the gym bunnies. The gym bunny community can be prone to the frustrating skin woe called sweat acne. It’s ironic that while doing so much to improve your physical health through fitness, your body seems to be indicating you to pay attention to not only your physical but skin health too.

Sweat acne refers to the acne flare ups that you face after intense sweating episodes which are normally characterized around areas like forehead, hairline, nose, chin, neck, chest, shoulders or back. 

How Acne Formation Takes Place Due To Sweat?

Sweat causes acne: Step By Step

Step 1 Sweat Release

During exercise, your body emanates heat and so in order to optimize the body temperature, the sweat glands present beneath the skin surface secrete sweat which is composed of salts and water. It evaporates with heat from the body causing a cooling effect. The harder you exercise, the harder it sweats.

Step 2 Increased Sebum Production

Many people naturally produce sebum alongside sweat to compensate for the dehydration and moisturize the skin barrier but often ends up clogging the pores. 

Step 3 Clogging Of Pores

Dead skin cells are trapped inside the follicles of the pilosebaceous units, over flushed with oils, dirt and sweat. 

Step 4 Microbial Growth

The acne causing micro-organisms proliferates feeding on the excess oils in these clogged pores and induce inflammation.

How Sweaty Gym Wear Triggers Sweat Pimples?

Friction

Tight skin fit tops, body hugging sports bra, tight headbands, leggings, etc. causes friction in the sweaty skin which irritates the skin barrier and causes acne mechanica.

Dirt Buildup

Repeating the worn gym wear has buildup of accumulated dirt, oils and sweat which has high chance of increasing the tendency of pathogenic invasion resulting in acne when repeatedly exposed to the skin. 

How Common Use Equipment In The Gym Can Cause Post Workout Pimples?

Heavy lifting, cardio, and other activities involving the use of gym equipment-weight benches, mats for yoga or stretching, handles of cardio machines-lead to acne mechanica due to their non-porous surfaces like rubber, vinyl or plastic trap heat and moisture from sweat onto your skin and physical friction or repeated pressure during weight training or support presses dirt and oil down your skin pores. Using equipment for gyming which is shared among many has a high chance of presence of germs when exposed in direct contact with the skin.

Fungal Acne Due To Sweat

Malassezia furfur which is acne causing yeast/fungi loves to grow in hot, humid environments with sweat, feeding on the excess dirt and sebum on the skin due to heavy work out. It is commonly seen with clusters of tiny pinkish red bumps. This way sweat is one of the reasons behind fungal acne.

Post-Workout Tips To Prevent Gym Acne

• Wear Clean & Washed Clothes--Putting on your sweaty workout clothes for another go means you’re piling old bacteria and dead skin all over yourself. Once you start sweating again, all of these will easily settle into your pores and get stuck inside your hair follicles, causing them to become irritated and result in acne. Never rewear gym clothes. Always change into a clean and breathable item of clothing.
• Disinfect common use items and equipment--Gym equipment and floor mat areas often contain other people’s bacteria, sweat and body oils. The practice of pressing your bare skin into this material while working out transfers the infection to skin. A spray of disinfecting cleaners before or after working out ensures you are not sharing or picking up any microbial infections.
• Take shower after your workout--If left as is, your dried sweat and dirt leave a perfectly stifling breeding ground for bacteria to multiply. A simple splash of cool water can remove this build-up from your skin before it hardens and plugs up the pores. A swift shower with a targeted Cleanser is just the way to avoid nasty back and chest acne.
• Use Targeted cleanser soap--Standard body washes just don't have the active ingredients to cleanse the clogged pores. Swap out your usual cleanser and opt for a pharmaceutical grade Soap packed with salicylic acid and tea tree oil. These ingredients dissolve sebum and kill acne causing  bacteria.
• Switch to Anti-Acne products--Thick, oil-based cosmetics suffocate skin while restricting its ability to naturally release excess heat during strenuous activity. Swap to a water-based, light and non comedogenic alternative that allows pores to breathe and prevents the overgrowth of anaerobic Cutibacterium acnes that actively reduces skin irritation when you start to sweat. 
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands--During every single workout session, your hands contact all kinds of potentially contaminated surfaces like weight stacks, machinery, gym handles, etc. If you touch your face with unclean hands, your hands can literally smear germs and dirt particles all over the skin on your face. Hands must be strictly avoided from making contact with your face. 
• Use Separate Towels--Using the same towel to swipe facial sweat and the sweat on your torso, means more vulnerability to bacteria coming into contact with your face. Buy a fresh microfiber towel for just your face and use a different one to clean off the other parts.

What Should You Look For Post Workout Hygiene?

Face and Body Cleanser

Alite presents a wide range of dedicated anti acne cleansers to be used right after workout. Use a mild facial cleansing wash to remove salt, sweat and impurities from your face which might otherwise have dried and settled into your skin. It takes away these surface pollutants without leaving your skin dry. A cleanser, which is devoid of sulphates, will help tone and prep your skin for a clean look. You should look for the below listed active anti acne ingredients to prevent sweat acne:

• Activated Charcoal--Deep-seated dirt, impurities and excess oil within the pores can be drawn to activated charcoal like a magnet. To decongest the pores of your skin after a workout, activated charcoal is the answer to pull the heavy dirt out of the pores of the skin. It purifies effectively, decreases shine and prevents the formation of comedones. 
• Ceramides--Ceramides are key lipids that help to enhance your barrier because exercising often strips our skin of moisture, it becomes more susceptible to irritation. Ceramide based products essentially help lock in hydration while sealing moisture within your skin, protecting you against the germs. Here, Alite Charcoal & Ceramides Face Wash will be a good choice to have combined benefits of both activated charcoal and ceramides.
• Neem--Neem is a science-backed herb known for its remarkable anti-bacterial & anti-inflammatory components that help calm inflamed skin. It’s known to specifically attack and eliminate acne producing bacteria that often flourish in warm workout sweat. Consistent use reduces the occurrence of skin irritation & the formation of painful facial bumps. 
• Aloe Vera--Aloe Vera cools flushed and irritated skin immediately while delivering light, oil-free hydration. It helps calm inflammation and redness after your workout without irritating or clogging pores. Loaded with antioxidants, it calms, balances and hydrates skin while repairing micro-tears on the skin. Alite Neem and Aloevera Antibacterial Soap is suited for both face and body cleansing for regular use.
• Tea Tree Oil--The unique essential oil in this tea tree extract works with anti-bacterial qualities to eradicate bad bacteria, going into pores to clean all those pesky sweat, sebum and dead cell buildup. Tea tree oil also calms skin quickly when irritated from the workout by reducing acne breakouts, minimizing inflammation and soothing the painful blemishes without the skin damage.
• Salicylic Acid--Oil-soluble beta-hydroxy acid has high penetrating power. It will delve deep into the pores and break down pore blockages and excess dead cells. It is one of the best  post-workout secret weapons against sweat acne. As it sloughs away dead skin cells from inside the pore lining, you prevent this excess sweat from mixing with sebum and dirt to clog the pores and give you a clear radiant skin. Alite Salicylic Acid And Tea Tree Oil Anti-Acne Soap is best suited for acne-prone skin. It is made with high grade TFM >75.99%. 
• Niacinamide--This multitasker can help control oil production to reduce your enlarged pores post-sweat and enhance skin barrier to prevent redness and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation on top of reducing appearance of those breakouts. It also helps to keep skin texture smooth without any irritation.
• Glycolic Acid--An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that is a chemical exfoliant in nature. Glycolic acid will strip the dead cells off your surface to unblock the pores that can contribute to breakouts. Speeding up cell turnover means new cells will resurface and your face will look a whole lot fresher. Incorporating it after a workout helps ensure that any sweat doesn't just glue the dead cells deep down your hair follicles.
• Glutathione--Glutathione acts as a powerful antioxidant and works to fight with the oxidative stress and the free radicals triggered by heavy physical activities. It helps reduce sweat acne and brighten up the tired and dull complexion by balancing the melanin amount. It promotes the restoration process of the skin.

Gels

Alite Anti Acne Gel is a good option to fight acne by clearing out the pores and repairing the skin barrier. Formulated to fight congestion within the pores and restore a broken skin barrier, this gel is light, easily applied to your skin without feeling thick and suffocating. Fighting inflammation and restoring key lipids, it heals the breaks out and offers protection for your skin’s susceptibility to breakouts induced by sweating.

It consists of the following ingredients mentioned in the table below:

Points To Remember

Acne is not a concern encountered by just teenagers. Hard workouts can also lead to sweat acne as a result of sweat, surplus oil, clogged pores, tight clothing that causes friction and bacteria. Sweat acne occurs mainly as a result of sweat itself as well as acne mechanica. Moreover, using the equipment and mats at the gym can transfer germs over as a moist environment may lead to fungal acne too. 

There are certain precautions to prevent any breakout of acne, which include wearing clean and airy workout clothes, cleaning the gym equipment before and after, having a shower immediately after exercising, avoiding touching face, as well as not sharing gym mats or towels after exercising. Some skin care products can help to promote clear skin in the post workout hours, with components such as salicylic acid, niacinamide, tea tree oil, ceramides, aloe vera, neem, glycolic acid, activated charcoal or glutathione and a dedicated  anti-acne gel.