Acne Cream for Athletes

As an athlete it is easy to feel the cards are stacked against you when trying to avoid acne problems. Depending on the uniforms, training regimens and equipment necessary to play a sport, the potential of acne developing in problem areas is even greater. To manage or prevent acne outbreaks associated with a sport or sports of choice, a quality skin care regimen needs to be developed, including the use of an acne cream; yet which acne cream offers the best chance at controlling acne?

Athletes and Acne Cream

Nearly every acne cream offers the same active ingredient. They come by different brand names, in different colored packaging, sometimes in a thick cream, sometimes in a thinner, gel-like cream, but most often they all possess the most effective acne treatment product available over-the-counter: Benzoyl Peroxide.

The question that most athletes have about the use of standard, over-the-counter acne creams has to do with the effectiveness of the cream. Especially when athletic acne will occur on the face, shoulders, back, chest and even the buttocks. These are common trouble areas, having to do with sweat patterns, equipment and skin irritation.

To present a simple answer, yes, acne creams can be highly effective for athletes looking to control acne outbreaks. These creams just need to be used properly, and part of a skin care regimen.

Using Acne Cream as an Athlete

As an athlete there are a few things that need to be considered when developing a skin care regimen. For starters, it’s good to understand that acne is always potentially being formed just inside the skin due to shedding skin cells, common bacteria and sebum produced by the sebaceous glands. Adding to this equation the use of sports equipment, excessive sweat and more skin cells lost due to skin chafing, and the potential for acne can be even greater.

For athletes it is best to cleanse the face twice daily, and treat it with an acne cream at least once daily. Other areas susceptible to acne can be treated in the same manner. An exfoliation in the morning, even before a morning practice session, will help to rid the skin of dead cells that could cause problems when combined with sweat or equipment. Following an exfoliation with the use of an astringent or a skin toner will also help to ward off the development of pimples by constricting the pores.

If a practice is scheduled for afternoon, an application of benzoyl peroxide acne cream can be applied liberally to all potential acne areas: The face, shoulders, neck, shoulders, back or buttocks. Most people, including athletes, use acne creams as spot treatments—this prevents benzoyl peroxide from working most efficiently and effectively.

After the application, it is a good idea to apply a quality facial moisturizer with an SPF after the benzoyl peroxide has dried—a simple moisturizing lotion can be used on other parts of the body following the application of the acne cream.

If practice is scheduled for morning, simply wait until the practice is complete to perform the skin care regimen. The same regimen can be used in the evening to help in the prevention of acne.

Maintaining Equipment – Athletes and Acne

For the athlete playing football, baseball, lacrosse, softball or any other sport requiring protective helmets and padding, it is necessary to keep them clean—especially helmets using exposed foam padding.