Best Acne Cures for Athletes

Athletes have some unique issues when it comes to acne. Body acne is more noticeable for athletes who may spend more time in locker rooms or playing sports recreationally, situations where more of their skin may be exposed than normal. In addition, there is a certain type of acne that is more common to athletes than most. It’s only natural that men who are athletes might be especially interested in potential acne cures.

What Acne Cures can Athletes Try?

There are no actual acne cures in the sense of an injection or pill that can kill acne causing bacteria so that acne never returns. Acne simply does not work that way. There will always be opportunities for acne causing bacteria to mix with the oil secreted by the athlete’s own body to form acne. However, there are ways to seriously curtail the spread and frequency of acne outbreaks.

Acne Cures – Prevention

Many athletes can suffer from a kind of acne known as acne mechanica. This is a repetitive motion skin irritation that can occur when an athlete sweats and pads or tight clothing continually rub one area of the skin. The acne that results can be alleviated by wearing a cotton undergarment or otherwise protecting the skin from this repetitive motion. However, this method will not help with standard forms of acne. It’s also important to note that sweat does not cause acne, nor is it one of the major products found in acne. Excessive sweating does not necessarily mean more acne. That being said, sweat can trap dead skin cells and dirt in the skin, and these are products that are found in acne, so it is important to shower after any serious amount of sweating.

Acne Cures – Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is a powerful acne fighter that can be so effective as to mimic a cure. However, it must be used in the right concentrations as part of a complete acne control system to be most effective. Furthermore, it must be used consistently to achieve results, and should be used even after acne fades away if an individual wishes to remain acne free.

The athlete should apply benzoyl peroxide as directed by the makers of the product he is using. It’s important for the athlete to think ahead a little bit in order to maintain an effective acne care regimen. If you apply an acne treatment, then run around and work up a sweat, the medicine may not have time to penetrate. If you then take a shower, it may wash off. Know when your workouts and other physical exertions will be and schedule your acne care treatments accordingly. In other words, be sure to apply your treatment after your exercise and shower, or at least an hour or two before. Use the discipline and planning you’ve learned through sports to make sure you derive the maximum benefits from your acne care system.