Skincare Tips for Gym Rats 10

Exercise is good for the body and mind. But did you know exercise and sweating is good for your skin, too? Dr. Susan Stuart, is a La Jolla, California board certified dermatologist and co-founder of La Jolla plastic surgery and dermatology. She explains that, “You’re releasing (when exercising) toxins from your skin and clearing out your pores. But if you miss one important step when it comes to exercising and skin, you’ll start to notice your skin going downhill.” Here are some pointers to help your skin look its post-workout best.

A head to toe routine is a must. A few points that you should consider:

Use disposable body wipes or medicated/herbal wet tissues right after a workout. This will help in removing excess oil from your skin.

Always carry a small towel with you to wipe the excess sweat.

Avoid touching your face time and again with bare hands to keep bacterial infections and acne at bay.

A foot deodorizer is a great way to clean your feet after a heavy workout.

Skip the Tanning Bed. The first step in after gym skin care is to skip the tanner. It’s harmful to your skin, in so many ways. There’s also the range of cosmetic skin concerns, like wrinkles and sun spots, so skip the tanning bed!

Hygienic cleaning – If you opt for a gym washroom for a shower, be careful of the towels and cleansing products you use. Do not use towels already used by someone. The sweat of other people can cause acne on your skin. You must use clean and washed towels to clean your body off from the sweat. Cleaning your skin should be hygienic. This is a must-follow tip for skincare after workout. Also, avoid wearing gym clothes after washing yourself clean. Gym clothes will be sweaty and grimy; they may cause acne and other skin related problems. Avoid contamination. Other people’s sweat may also cause skin acne, pimples and other related problems. After a workout, avoid coming in contact with other people, their sweat filled clothes, towels, etc. This is an important post workout tip for skincare after a workout. When you are in a gym you must be careful with your skin.

Skip the Hot Water
Your muscles are sore, and you’re exhausted. Resist the urge to spend the next half-hour in the hot shower. It may soothe your muscles, but it will also strip your skin of vital oils, leaving you dry, itchy and unhappy.

Cotton Scarf
Keep your hair off your face and unwanted oils from clogging your pores and causing breakouts. Toss on a cotton scarf before you begin your workout and you’ll avoid fighting with your skin post-workout.

Controlling Redness
Calm down a flushed face with a cooling mist you can spray on after you’ve hit the shower or create your own redness control remedy with a little bit of iced green tea and a spray bottle. You’ll cool down your skin and add in a few extra anti-oxidants in the process.

Rehydrate your skin. After enduring a good workout and cleanse, it’s critical to re-establish the natural moisture and oils that have been removed from your skin. When it comes to your face, you really should invest in a high quality, fast-absorbing, nutrient-rich product that includes vitamins A and E and the super-ingredient hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring compound that is expert at restoring moisture to your skin and has also been shown to stimulate collagen production. If you’ve been exercising outdoors, a moisturizer with anti-oxidant ingredients is important to help repair damage caused by UV exposure and other environmental factors.

If, after washing your hair with the harsh shampoo provided at the gym, you’re prone to dry, frizzy hair don’t lug hair products to the gym, try running a small amount of face moisturizer through your hair. This will keep your hair looking healthy and hydrated and doesn’t require toting an extra product to the gym.

Go Bare
Skip out on applying your makeup for the gym. You want your skin to be able to breathe while you’re working out or else you’ll end up with majorly clogged pours. If you must, try putting on a tinted moisturizer rather than all those heavy products.

About Dr. Stuart

Dr. Stuart is co-founder of La Jolla Plastic Surgery & Dermatology.

Susan Stuart, M.D. received her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. She completed a highly competitive one year internship at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in San Diego followed by a residency at Emory University, one of the most highly respected dermatology training programs in the U.S. She also completed a one year postgraduate dermatology fellowship in pediatric dermatology at Stanford University Medical Center.

Dr. Stuart’s career began with her undergraduate education where she received her B.A. degree from Duke University and was elected into Phi Beta Kappa, an elite academic honor bestowed upon a small percentage of undergraduates who have achieved the highest standards of scholarship in the U.S. In addition, Dr. Stuart is the founder and past president of a nationally recognized organization for children with physical and emotional disorders at Duke University.

After completing 8 years of postgraduate medical education, Dr. Stuart began offering San Diego skin care services and has remained in the area ever since. She has worked with several internationally respected dermatologists and laser experts while continuing her academic endeavors as a faculty member at UCSD Medical Center, where she has instructed interns and residents. She maintains active staff privileges at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.

Dr. Stuart is considered one of San Diego’s leading experts in dermatology and lasers and has been selected as one of American’s top physicians in dermatology. She has been featured regularly on news shows including NBC, ABC, and KUSI for her expertise on a variety of dermatology topics and procedures, including San Diego Fraxel® laser skin rejuvenation and BOTOX® Cosmetic.