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Are You Breaking Out After Working Out? ​

The good: You’re working out. The bad: You’re breaking out. The ugly: Acne scars.

Street Insider reports that while a physical workout can improve your health and mood, many find that all that sweating causes their skin to break out more than usual.

breakingout

But, the answer is not to stop working out in order to save your skin.

The key to avoiding workout acne, according to the report, is to maintain proper hygiene. That includes dressing in clean, loose-fitting clothing, removing makeup, patting sweaty areas with a clean towel, wiping down equipment and showering immediately after exercising. Oh yes, and afterward, be sure to dress in clean clothing and wash your workout clothes. (Do we really need to say that?)

Acne is a sign of imbalance in your body and can be tackled by making sensible changes to your diet and lifestyle. One of the most common skin conditions, acne affects nearly 85% of people between the ages of 12 and 24.

Diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates literally feed acne. Due to their high hormone levels, dairy products also contribute to breakouts. Because of this, it’s better to tackle acne from the inside through diet rather that with topical treatments or, worse, with drugs or antibiotics that come with multiple side effects. 

So, even though you may be taking great care of your skin each day — cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing and hydrating — the foods you’re eating may be undoing all of your good work.

The number of people with gluten sensitivity is close to 20 million in the U.S. alone. A gluten sensitivity affects your blood glucose and insulin resistance and triggers skin damage.

Gluten or wheat is in many processed foods and can interfere with a healthy complexion and contribute to psoriasis and eczema outbreaks. The proteins in wheat are responsible for inflammation and can negatively impact your gastrointestinal tract, nervous system and cardiovascular system.

Even after your skin clears up, the breakouts may leave behind acne scars. Again, before booking an appointment with an expensive skin technician, try one of the numerous natural remedies that may help eliminate acne scars.

There are a large variety of natural remedies involving ingredients already on hand in your home,  including baking soda, coconut oil, lemons, cucumbers, rosehip or olive oil, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera and more.