Sports and Oily Skin

Acne can strike anyone regardless of gender, race or age, but it is certainly more inevitable for certain groups of people such as teenagers or women during pregnancy. However, there is one group who experiences acne on a frequent basis, and on more than just the face: athletes. It is completely common for athletes to experience acne when they’re working out on a regular basis. This is even true for those who enjoy clear skin when they’re out of their sport season. One reason behind this phenomenon is oily skin.

Sports and Oily Skin

Many athletes, as well as acne sufferers, want to know the correlation between acne and oily skin. Oily skin is the product of an overactive sebaceous gland. Each hair follicle possesses a sebaceous gland which is responsible for producing sebum, most commonly referred to as skin oil. This oil serves a vital purpose for skin health, but in many people, especially athletes and teenagers, it is produced in excess.

Many athletes experience oily skin for several reasons. Oftentimes diets for athletes consist of a lot of starchy foods, packed with sugars, or high calorie, oily, fatty foods in the form of animal proteins. Also, when the sweat glands are highly active, it’s only natural that the sebaceous gland is also going to be active. Sebum is what provides protection from outside moisture from getting in. This includes sweat, once it has been released by the pores.

Sweat possesses salts. When these salts dry on the skin, it creates an environment that can serve to absorb moisture from the surface of the skin. In turn, the sebaceous gland will engage to counteract and combat that dryness. At this point, the skin has become more susceptible to developing acne, due to excess sebum.

Oily Skin and the Cause of Acne

Regardless of several variables that aid in the development of acne, all acne occurs due to three components: dead skin cells, bacteria found on the skin and sebum. Increase the prominence of one of those agents and the skin becomes even more susceptible to acne. This is especially true when it comes to sebum, which provides the perfect environment for bacteria to settle and grow in. When this happens inside a follicle, a whitehead, blackhead or acne cyst can develop.

Treating Oily Skin

Many athletes suffering from oily skin buy into one of the worst acne myths that have been passed down for years. Some think that for an oily complexion; simply wash the face more often. Such a “treatment” actually serves to dry out the skin, and create even more oil production. The most effective treatment for acne-prone, oily skin is a simple, daily skin care regimen.

An exfoliating acne wash with the potent ingredient of benzoyl peroxide will work well to cleanse the skin of excess sebum, while also ridding the surface of the skin from dead skin cells and bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide serves as an organic antibacterial, creating an oxidized, bacteria killing environment on the surface of the skin, and within the pores.

Follow an acne wash with a relaxing toner to will help calm the skin and constrict the pores. The use of a quality, moisturizing acne cream will further help to control oily skin issues, while treating present acne, and preventing future acne from developing.