6 Must-Dos for Protecting Your Skin Before and After Working Out

6 Must-Dos for Protecting Your Skin Before and After Working Out

Washing off your makeup before your sweat session isn’t necessary, but you’ll definitely want to rinse off post-workout, dermatologists say.iStock

Just as exercise is good for muscles, it’s also good for the health of your skin. One study suggests that both endurance exercise and high-intensity aerobic training may help prevent and reduce signs of aging in the skin.

Stress reduction is a key reason to stay fit. A study review noted that exercise can help fight stress — which, when chronic, can contribute to skin aging and exacerbate skin conditions such as psoriasis and acne, according to another review.

Now that you know just what exercise can do for your complexion, you’ll want to maintain the skin-care habits that prevent acne, improve hydration, and reduce irritation and damage. Going that extra mile — in the gym or with your skin — can help turn back the clock.

We talked to two dermatologists about what you need to do to prep your skin before and after exercise.

7 Easy Home Hacks For Healthy Skin1. Before You Break a Sweat, Don’t Forget to Apply Sunscreen

If you’re going outside, don’t forget to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30, says Deirdre Hooper, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Audubon Dermatology in New Orleans and an associate clinical professor in the Department of Dermatology at Louisiana State University and Tulane University. Make sure you choose a noncomedogenic formula so it doesn’t clog your pores.

This advice applies even if you’re working out in a gym with windows that let light in. “Anytime there’s visible light, you’re exposed to some part of the electromagnetic spectrum,” Dr. Hooper says. “Growing evidence is showing that all light is important when it comes to skin damage and aging.”

Because you’ll likely be sweating, and especially so if it’s hot out, you’ll want to ensure your SPF is sweatproof, too. Sports sunscreens usually have this in mind; the label should also list how many minutes the product is both water- and sweat-resistant.

Apply it to your face, ears, throat, chest, and back of the neck. The last is the spot most people forget, and these are often the folks who are surprised when they see signs of aging, like discoloration, appear in their late thirties and forties, Hooper says.