Sport and acne: mistakes not to make

It's no longer a surprise to anyone, sport is good for your health. But is it also for your skin? It depends on your beauty routine before and after training! Toni Ionesco, dermatologist in Paris, gives the advice to follow for a pimple-free glow even after your sports activity!

1. Remove make-up before training
2. Protect yourself from the sun
3. Avoid touching your face with your hands during your session
4. Shower… the right way!
5. Apply the right care to your skin

Acne is "a sometimes infectious inflammatory disease which is due to a greater secretion of sebum than it should be" explains the referring dermatologist. Often visible on the face and upper back, acne mostly affects adolescents and adult women with hormonal imbalances.

However, it can occur in anyone at any stage of life. Can the practice of sport encourage the arrival of pimples or aggravate the phenomenon of acne? Toni Ionesco's opinion is clear: "Physical activity is good for our body and this also goes for the skin. But be careful, you have to take the right steps before and after your workout to avoid aggravating the phenomenon and blackheads multiply". How to avoid post-sport injuries and keep skin as healthy as possible every day? Here are the good tips to follow.

Remove make-up before training

Why ? Cleansing your skin before a sports session does not necessarily seem obvious and yet! Wearing make-up like powders and comedogenic foundations can be a real disaster for your skin! The dermatologist explains: "Avoid complicating things by wearing cosmetics during sports practice, it will only smother your skin more". We therefore remove all the superfluous before starting our training (the most flirtatious are authorized to keep their mascara)!

How ? Wash your hands well before starting the cleaning routine. Then apply a foam such as Sébium Foaming Cleansing Gel from Bioderma or Cleansing Water Foam from Uriage to remove make-up and cleanse the skin. We finish this pre-sport routine by applying thermal water to the entire face.

Protect yourself from the sun

Why ? This is an essential step if we are to believe the explanation of dermatologist Toni Ionesco. "It is believed that the sun helps make acne disappear when in reality, a few weeks after exposure, the pimples come back stronger and more numerous. In fact, UV rays tend to thicken the stratum corneum and comedones which cannot pierce the skin multiply". Another point to watch out for: certain retinol acne medications should not be combined with sun exposure. It is therefore necessary to be well informed by your dermatologist on this subject.

How ? By protecting yourself first by opting for the right clothes: T-shirt that covers the shoulders and cap. On the dermo-cosmetic side, it is essential to bet on a sunscreen with a high SPF rather than fluid material. The right product on the market: Exfoliac solar fluid from Noreva.

Avoid touching your face with your hands during your session

Why ? “Touching your face with your fingers is never a good idea. Even less when you develop acne,” explains Dr. Ionesco. Indeed, this tic can amplify and widen the area affected by pimples. During sport, we would tend to do this gesture more frequently, especially to wipe the perspiration from our forehead or on Cupid's bow. Bad idea to avoid absolutely.

How ? To prevent sweat from running down your face, however, you can bring a clean towel on which you spray thermal water like that of La Roche-Posay. The idea is then to dab the skin and not to rub it.

Shower… the right way!

Why ? Do you tend to take a very hot shower after sports? This is the first bad idea! Cold water will be better for skin (especially acne-prone skin). On the product side, the dermatologist encourages you to "completely forget the classic soap that washes everything and too much!". Indeed, by erasing all the elements that are on the skin, it sends the wrong message to the body and aggravates the production of sebum. It is therefore necessary to choose a specific product for the face.

Tooth brushing: mistakes not to make

All about acne

How ? By applying a cleansing gel such as Hyséac from Uriage, taking care to rinse thoroughly. Namely, if you don't have makeup to remove, it can be the same cleanser as the pre-sport routine.

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Apply the right care to your skin

Why ? After sport (and the shower), you may have skin that feels a little tight, especially if it tends to be acne-prone. It's time to apply a dedicated treatment on the face. For skin already treated for acne, carefully follow the dosages prescribed by the dermatologist or pharmacy. For the others, we opt for a soothing treatment that will hydrate your skin while limiting imperfections.

How ? By betting on a specific product for oily to acne-prone skin such as Sébium Sensitive skincare from Bioderma, which can also be tinted like Hyséac 3 règul tinted from Uriage if you want to conceal redness.

All you have to do is find the motivation to play sports!

Slide: How to have beautiful skin?