Chamjin Korean Medicine Clinic
ACNE & CHARMJIN
[Health Week] Is exercise the cause of back and chest acne?... There's another reason!
These days, there's a sharp increase in people who try to exercise regularly, believing they're "getting their workouts done" or "getting a fresh start." Patients often report that their back and chest acne worsens after exercising. Is it really true that exercising too hard causes body acne?

To get straight to the point, it's difficult to say that exercise itself causes acne. Several secondary factors that occur during exercise can worsen acne.

For example, sweat contains a mixture of water, salt, oil, and bacteria, so if left unwashed after exercise, it can clog pores and lead to inflammation. Tight, non-breathable synthetic workout clothes are also bad for you, as they can retain sweat and oil on the skin for a long time. While protein supplements can help with muscle growth and recovery, the whey protein and amino acids in them can also increase insulin levels and sebum production, which can promote acne.

However, many patients who complained of worsening acne on their back and chest after exercise had a different problem: their shower habits. You can examine your habits by checking the items below.

∨ I shower with hot water.
∨ I cool down my body heat from exercise with a cold shower.
∨ I take the time to thoroughly wash when I shower.
∨ I shower whenever I sweat. (In the summer, I shower three to four times a day, or even five or six times a day.)
∨ I prefer a body wash that leaves my skin feeling squeaky clean.
∨ I use a shower ball or shower towel.
∨ I don't have a set routine for changing my bath products.
∨ Even if my skin turns slightly red, I feel like I've washed thoroughly only after I scrub it thoroughly.
∨ I wash my body first, then my hair.
∨ I don't like my skin feeling slippery or sticky, so I don't apply body lotion separately.

The more times this happens, the more likely it is that you have shower habits that are worsening your back and chest acne. Back and chest acne can improve significantly simply by correcting your poor shower habits. How should I wash?

The first thing to check is the water temperature. Both your face and body should be washed with lukewarm water. Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils and evaporate moisture, weakening the skin barrier. Cold water can irritate your skin, hindering moisture absorption and causing dryness.

The second thing to check is the frequency and duration of your showers. The optimal number of showers per day is once in the evening or twice a day, morning and evening. If you have thin, dry skin or prone to flaking after showering, it's best to shower only once in the evening. If you have thick, oily, sebum-producing skin, it's best to shower twice a day, morning and evening. If you exercise outside of these times, simply rinsing off the sweat with water is sufficient. Showers should be limited to 10 minutes, or no longer than 15 minutes. Prolonged exposure to water can damage the skin barrier, making it more prone to breakouts.

If you have back and chest acne, avoid standing while washing and rinsing your hair. It's best to minimize the contact of shampoos with various chemicals with your skin. The ideal shower routine is to bend over and wash your hair, then wash your body, and then wash your face. Washing your face last ensures that any other cleansers are thoroughly removed and you can moisturize immediately. It's also a good idea to develop the habit of moisturizing your body at this time.

If you're deeply concerned about back and chest acne, it's a good idea to seek appropriate treatment before managing it. Back and chest acne tends to recur quite frequently once treated, so treatment can maintain a clear appearance for a long time, making it a cost-effective option.

Source: Health Week - https://www.healthweek.co.kr
Original article:https://www.healthweek.co.kr/news/view.php?bIdx=7449
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