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Exercise can do wonders for your body and your mind. You’re becoming a happier, healthier version of yourself by strengthening and stretching muscles, increasing blood circulation, and improving balance and agility. Working out or playing a sport affects your skin too! The lymphatic system (responsible for draining and cleansing the fluids that escape the bloodstream) functions better with increased blood flow. When you exercise, you aid the lymphatic system, which keeps your fluids balanced and boosts immunity. When you sweat, you’re allowing tons of dirt and bacteria to leave your pores. Through both of these processes, your skin will become healthier and look clearer!
On the flipside, an excess of sweat, being exposed to dry air, or becoming sunburned are all things that will hurt your skin. Your skin is your largest organ and it’s also your first line of defense when it comes to dirt, bacteria, and other toxins. Maintaining healthy skin should be a priority for everyone and athletes face a unique set of challenges when it comes to this. Those who play contact sports or spend time in a gym will come into contact with many different bacterias and sometimes this can turn into an infection! There are a few skin problems that all athletes deal with, such as acne and issues with footwear. Here’s what you can do about common skin problems.
Problem: Bacteria that gets trapped in the pores.
Avoid by: Start your workout with your natural skin.
Solution: Wash your skin right after you’ve finished to cleanse your skin of the sweat, dirt, and bacteria sitting there. Using a soap with Activated Charcoal is especially powerful to pull toxins.
Problem: Too much friction, moisture, heat, or a combination of all three causes a blister to form.
Avoid by: Avoid unnecessary friction and moisture. Let your shoes dry out and don’t wear them for longer than necessary. Go barefoot as much as you can.
Solution: If you do get a blister they can be drained (if needed) and should heal quickly as long as you don’t tear off the skin. Bandaging and cushioning the area will also help (one option is wearing two pairs of socks inside your shoes). Using a product with beeswaxafter your post-workout shower is especially effective for sealing in restorative nutrients (that work against blister formation)
Problem: Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that can spread from person to person. It shows up in many ways but the main symptoms are cracking and raw skin, itchy and stinging sensations in the feet and discolored, crumbly toenails.
Avoid by: Don’t keep your shoes on for longer than necessary. When in public areas (shower, pools) wear sandals. Don’t share towels, socks, or shoes with people. Go barefoot when you’re home and make sure your shoes are completely dry before you put them on again.
Solution: This is a fantastic article with 8 different ways to naturally treat Athlete’s foot and keep it from coming back. Our foot creamis another option! It’s filled with natural ingredients that fight fungi and soothe the feet.
It’s important to keep in mind that healthy skin starts on the inside! So hydration, a clean diet, and listening to your body will improve your skin as well.
And there you have it! How to naturally care for your skin as an athlete. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Healing damaged skin is a process. Once your skin is in a healthy place it’s important that you nourish and maintain it. Just like you pay attention to muscles and bones, be aware of your skin and give it the time it needs.
