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Managing Acne on a Fitness Journey

When starting a fitness journey, it’s common for us to struggle with new breakouts. Stressful physical activity can temporarily raise our hormone levels. Heat increases oil production. Sweat irritates our pores. We could’ve already cleared your acne and suddenly, new lesions are popping up. For Acne Awareness Month, let’s review what we should do to protect our skin and prevent new breakouts as we try to live healthier lifestyles.



Rinse and Wear A Physical SPF


Have you ever applied sunscreen to your face and, as the day goes on, your eyes start to burn? You may be using sunscreen with a chemical filter. Chemical filters are safe to use and are well loved for being invisible on the skin. However, they commonly irritate the eyes. You can avoid this discomfort by wearing a physical sunscreen.

At The Skin Alcove, I carry the TiZO Ultra Zinc SPF 40. It’s an acne safe, physical sunscreen that leaves a glowy finish on the skin. Other sunscreens from TiZO I recommend but don’t carry are the AM Replenish SPF 40 (matte finish) and the TiZO3 Primer Sunscreen SPF 40. I don’t carry them in the clinic (read Why I Don’t Carry All of One Line for why) but they’re both excellent, acne safe sunscreens. (Use code Anita10 for 10% off at checkout).


If you workout in the mornings, simply rinse your face with water and apply your acne safe, physical sunscreen of choice. You’ll protect your skin, won’t burn your eyes, and can do a proper skincare routine post workout.


Spray with Antimicrobial Skin Mist


Are you working out at a gym and driving home to do your skincare routine? Are you coming back from your outdoor run and need to help the kids or cook before you get to wash your face? These are niche cases where I've found hypochlorous acid mists helpful. Hypochlorous acid mists are formulated to be gentle on the skin while killing c. acne bacteria. 


When I began working out again a few months ago, I noticed new breakouts on my chin. I started letting myself cool down from my workouts before a shower. This also allowed the sweat and acne bacteria to work its magic and develop new pimples. This led to my decision to bring on the Antimicrobial Skin Mist. I've found it to be a great item in my toolkit when I know I won't be doing my skincare routine immediately after my workout.


I say toolkit and not routine because I don’t want us to over use hypochlorous acid mists on our face. It’s not an issue of safety. Hypochlorous acid solutions are even safe enough to be used on infants. I advise only using it a maximum of three times a week because it is an oxidant which can accelerate signs of aging. We’re using antioxidants like vitamin C to protect our skin from free radicals in our environment. Let vitamin C work on our daily exposure of free radicals and not deplete it with us adding topical oxidizing agents daily. I don’t have this concern with body acne. You can spray Antimicrobial Skin Mist daily on the body after your workouts.


Fitness Supplements


Whey protein is very common with athletes and weightlifters. I know our protein intake is something we agonize about when we’re on our fitness journey, whether it’s to increase muscle mass or just for healthy muscle recovery. Unfortunately, whey protein consumption triggers more oil production in the skin which can lead to blocked pores, the perfect environment for c. acne bacteria to grow. Look to pea and rice protein powders instead if you want to increase your protein intake without increasing acne lesions.


Pre-Workout powders and energy drinks often contain excessive amounts of b12 (cyanocobalamin) which can lead to acne. Adult humans only need 2.4 mcg daily and it’s very easy to hit this with a traditional western diet. Creatine, another common additive in pre-workouts, may increase hormone levels that can lead to acne. Review the nutritional facts on your Pre-Workout to see if it’s hindering your acne clearance. 


Post-Workout powders leucine, valine, and isoleucine (BCAA’s) increase oil production and hyperkeratinization, two things we’re trying to balance while treating acne. Unless it’s been deemed medically necessary by your physician, save your skin from heartache and leave the BCAA’s on the store shelves.


To summarize: 


  • Use physical sunscreen to avoid eye burn.


  • Rinse your face immediately after your workout.


  • Use Antimicrobial Skin Mist after your workout. 


  • Review your pre and post workout drinks, bars, and powders for additives that can trigger acne.


Del Rosso, J. Q., & Bhatia, N. (2018). Status Report on Topical Hypochlorous Acid: Clinical Relevance of Specific Formulations, Potential Modes of Action, and Study Outcomes. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 11(11), 36–39.


Tran, A. Q., Topilow, N., Rong, A., Persad, P. J., Lee, M. C., Lee, J. H., Anagnostopoulos, A. G., & Lee, W. W. (2021). Comparison of Skin Antiseptic Agents and the Role of 0.01% Hypochlorous Acid. Aesthetic surgery journal, 41(10), 1170–1175. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjaa322


Ryguła, I., Pikiewicz, W., & Kaminiów, K. (2024). Impact of Diet and Nutrition in Patients with Acne Vulgaris. Nutrients, 16(10), 1476. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101476f



van der Merwe, J., Brooks, N. E., & Myburgh, K. H. (2009). Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players. Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, 19(5), 399–404. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0b013e3181b8b52f



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