2 min read

Friend or Foe — Does Sweating Cause Acne?

May 3, 2019

By: tonkec

Here’s all the dirt on sweat acne The short answer to the question “Is acne caused by sweat?” is: no. That’s right, sweating does not cause acne! So why does a good workout have such devastating effects on your skin? The reason is pretty simple; the act of sweating itself isn’t suddenly going to create nasty sweat pimples, but what WILL is not cleansing before and after your exercise sesh. Dried sweat (mixed with makeup residue, mixed with all the dirt and germs you pick up along the way), is enough to clog up your pores and give you uncomfortably swollen zits. But what about your best friend who seems to never get breakouts, despite having a terrible post-workout routine? Well, it’s time for some breaking news. A lot of the negative effects of sweating on your skin have to do with your skin type. Simply put, some people’s skin is less prone to sweat acne. That’s right, your dear friend “Sally with the good skin” is the exception, not the rule.

Now you know what the problem is, but what’s the solution? We’ve taken the liberty of highlighting some of the easiest ways to give your skin some much-needed pre and post-workout TLC:

Ditch the Makeup, Ditch the Acne.

Our first piece of advice is to be proactive: before your workout make sure you’re not suffocating your face with loads of heavy makeup because that’s a sure-fire way to get you the sweat acne you’re trying to avoid. There are so many great pre-workout skincare tips and tricks online that you can check out if you aren’t sure where to begin. In short, if you do have on a full face, make sure to wash it off before starting your workout (or you could always opt for some non-comedogenic products that won’t block your pores).

Wiper, No Wiping!

Another workout faux pas is wiping away the sweat with your hand, shirt, towel, etc. The wiping motion can create friction which will result in unsightly breakouts, and this isn’t helped by the germs that you transfer onto your skin in the process. A much better alternative would be to pat away the sweat with a clean towel. [caption id="attachment_12154" align="aligncenter" width="810"]

LUNA mini 2 will cleanse your face after a workout. Say bye-bye to sweat pimples![/caption]

Adios Sweat Pimples!

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to talk about what you can do to help stop pesky acne caused by sweat. And no, the answer isn’t to stop exercising. In fact, workouts can actually do wonders in getting you that natural after-workout glow. The first thing you can do is think of a manageable gym skincare routine (or gym-care routine, if you will). This doesn’t mean that you need to bring your whole skincare arsenal, but some wipes, or even a compact facial cleansing device can go a long way for treating your skin post-gym. Check out these handy gym bag essentials and find what works best for you.

Still Not Pumped?

If sweating it out in the confines of a gym isn’t really your thing, the warm weather is coming up and summer is just around the corner. Why not opt for some outdoorsy exercises? Check out these outdoor workout ideas that you might want to try out. Just be sure to stock up on sunscreen for your open-air activities!

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