Does Sweating cause 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. 

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.

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 cleansing device like the Insu Mini Sonic Skin Cleanser (which comes in a small travel pouch) can go a long way for treating your skin post-gym. 

So there you have it! Work-outs a great way to feel good inside and out, you shouldnt let the fear of a breakout stop you!

Love Insu!

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