Build-up of sweat on the skin after a workout can not only lead to body odor and dull skin, but new or worsening acne. Adding BODDI™ no-rinse face and body cleanser to your gym bag can provide an easy one-step way to cleanse and hydrate the skin—no water required.
Skin breakouts are a common complaint amongst athletes and regular gym-goers. Persistent and prolonged exposure to sweat, dirt and oil on the skin can contribute to development or worsening of acne. This is because dirty skin can harbor acne-producing bacteria and lead to clogged pores. Together these changes promote inflammation on the skin that can not only lead to breakouts, but redness, puffy and dull skin.
Exercise is incredibly important for overall physical and mental health. Therefore, it is important to develop skincare and hygiene habits to implement before and after exercise, so you can focus on moving your body, rather than feeling insecure about your skin.
What is acne?
Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that involves the hair follicle and associated oil glands on the skin. These pilosebaceous units are found in the highest quantity on the face, chest, and back. Acne includes the development of blackheads and whiteheads, known as comedones, red bumps, known as papules and nodules, pus bumps, known as pustules, and cysts, which are often large and painful beneath the skin surface.
There are many contributing factors to the development of acne. These include genetic factors, hormonal imbalances, clogged pores, excessive oil production, and an inflammatory reaction to bacteria present within hair follicles on the skin.
What causes acne?
As previously mentioned, there is not one direct cause of acne. Many factors such as genetics, hormonal influences, and our immune system make certain individuals more susceptible to the development of acne. Some medications such as steroids and certain prescription psychiatric medications can lead to new or worsening acne, as can medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
While some of these causative factors may not be easy to control, acne is also influenced by the environment and our lifestyle habits. Many cosmetic products that contain pore-clogging ingredients can cause acne. Over-exfoliation of the skin from mechanical rubbing or abrasive scrubs can increase inflammation on the skin leading to breakouts.
For some individuals, acne can be triggered by certain foods in the diet. Research has shown that milk, whey protein, and foods with a high glycemic index that cause a sharp increase in blood sugar, may be acnegenic.
Finally, as previously mentioned, our skin care and hygiene practices can play a major role in acne development. How we care for and cleanse our skin, such as cleansing sweat and oil from the skin, can greatly impact our propensity for breakouts.
How do you treat acne?
Acne treatment is often dictated based on what type of acne lesion is present, the severity of breakouts, individual factors, and personal preferences. There are many treatments for acne, both prescription and non-prescription. Other advanced therapies include chemical peels, light therapies, cosmetic lasers, and facials, often performed by a licensed medical aesthetician or clinician.
Prescription acne treatments typically involve topical creams, lotions, or cleansers, alone or in combination with oral medications. Oral medications may include antibiotics, hormonal therapies, or isotretinoin (Accutane). If you are interested in prescription medications for acne, it’s important to seek evaluation with a board-certified Dermatologist or Dermatology Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner.
Non-prescription techniques for acne-prone skin
There is often apprehension from patients regarding the potential side effects of prescription acne medications, particularly oral antibiotics where bacterial resistance has become a growing concern. Furthermore, some patients prefer a more natural or sustainable approach to skincare and do not want to take oral medications. Others may not have access to healthcare professionals or medical insurance to cover the out-of-pocket expenses of these medications.
There are many non-prescription options available to help control acne. These include cleansers and creams with bacteria-fighting ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, witch hazel, and phenethyl alcohol, as well as pore-clearing ingredients such as salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy and beta-hydroxy acid (AHA/BHA), lactic acid, niacinamide, adapalene and retinol.
BODDI™ no-rinse face and body cleanser contains a combination of ingredients including witch hazel, citric acid, phenethyl alcohol, and niacinamide, that not only cleanse and hydrate the skin, but also work to treat and prevent acne. Even better, all these ingredients are rated a Hazard Score of 1, or “Low Hazard”, by the Environmental Working Group (EWC) which rates ingredients on a scale from 1 to 10 based on known and suspected safety concerns linked to the ingredients.
The EWC is a nonprofit organization who evaluates the safety of personal care products and their Skin Deep® ratings are considered the “gold standard” of product safety.
How should I care for my skin before and after work-out?
Understanding the basics of skincare and skin hygiene can lead to significant improvements in break outs and overall skin health. The skin should ideally be cleansed and hydrated upon waking and before bed to ensure the oils, dirt, bacteria and sweat that may have accumulated during the day or while sleeping are removed from the skin.
It is equally important to ensure the same degree of hygiene immediately following a work-out or bout of strenuous activity because accumulation of these acne- and odor-producing compounds increases exponentially. Furthermore, as sweat evaporates from the skin to cool the body, it can have a drying effect on the skin.
When the skin interprets its surfaces as dry, the body acts to produce more oil, or sebum, to naturally lubricate and hydrate the skin surface. Therefore, it is important to not only cleanse the skin but also hydrate to prevent excessive oil production. This can be accomplished with traditional gentle face cleansers and moisturizers.
BODDI™ provides an alternative option for when you are traveling or on-the-go as a one-step skin cleanser and hydrator. Ingredients including aloe vera and glycerin are skin soothing and hydrating, while others such as xylitylglucoside and caprylolyl glycine moisturize the skin and protect it from water loss.
Jennifer Fisher, MMSc, PA-C is a medical writer, and Dermatology Physician Assistant who completed her training at Tufts University School of Medicine.