6 Ways Your Workout Can Screw With Your Skin — and How to Get Your Glow Back

You may already know that exercise wields a huge influence on your wellbeing, from improving cardiovascular health to strengthening bones and muscles to boosting brainpower. But it might come as a surprise to discover that a sweat session also has a pretty significant affect on your skin — for better and worse.

Here, dermatologists describe exactly what happens to your largest organ (yep, you read that right) when you're getting your fitness fix — plus skin-care tips to minimize the unwanted side effects of exercise on your skin.

When you sweat it out at the gym, your blood vessels widen — a process called vasodilation.

"This increased blood flow ups the supply of oxygen to your skin and nourishes skin cells by carrying nutrients to repair damage from the sun and environment," says Sonya Johnson, MD, dermatologist and CEO of Dermatology Associates, PC.

Not only will your face look brighter, but that surge of hemoglobin gives you a rosy glow that can last up to two hours, according to the book ‌Skeletal Muscle Circulation‌.

But for those with rosacea, vasodilation has a flip side: It triggers inflammation, which, along with increased body temperature, can worsen the condition.

Perspiration cools you down and pushes toxic free radicals (compounds linked to aging and disease) out of your body via your pores — all good things — but it can also irritate your skin.

"It can clog sweat glands and body hair follicles, resulting in an acne-like eruption called folliculitis," says Robin Evans, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. "Folliculitis can occur anywhere that is sweaty, especially areas of occlusion like the back and chest."

Dr. Batra points out that those spots also have a higher concentration of sebaceous glands that can become blocked when sweat and dirt dry on your skin's surface. Enter: backne, buttne and boobne.

"Eczema can also be exacerbated by sweat, which breaks down the skin barrier and can worsen itching," Dr. Batra says.

Plugged hair follicles can also trigger blackheads or whiteheads, which might become inflamed or infected and turn into acne, Dr. Evans says.

Even if you're makeup-free, it's still best to wash your face first. "Dirt and oil build up on your skin, and you want to remove that," says Debra Jaliman, MD, a dermatologist, professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and author of ‌Skin Rules‌. "Use face wipes if you're short on time — they don't require water or soap."

Then, if you have a blemish you want to hide, dot on concealer or smooth on a tinted moisturizer instead of coating your face in foundation. "A tinted BB or CC cream adds that hint of color and gives you a glowy look but is usually very light," Dr. Jaliman says.

"You need adequate fluids and electrolytes to ensure proper skin functioning. If your face looks pale or your lips feel dry, that's a sign your moisture level is low."

Everyone's buzzing about gut flora these days, but did you know that your skin also has a microbiome?

"The skin microbiome is an ecosystem of organisms living on your skin, including bacteria, viruses and fungi," Dr. Batra says. "A healthy microbiome protects skin against infection and maintains a strong barrier between your body and external elements."

Exercise-induced sweat can disturb that sensitive microbiome. "Certain organisms, such as yeast, thrive in a moist environment," Dr. Batra says. "Allowing sweat to remain on the skin for a long period of time often shifts the balance of the microbiome and allows yeast to overgrow." That can lead to an itchy, scaly rash on your face and torso, plus dandruff.

And speaking of germs, a hot, humid gym is an ideal bacteria breeding ground. A December 2014 study in the ‌International Journal of Environmental and Public Health‌ found an "alarming" degree of bacteria on equipment like free weights, exercise machines and mats. In 2017, research by the website FitRated — which tests and rates popular fitness equipment — tested 27 pieces of equipment from three different gyms and discovered that it contained significantly more germs than a cafeteria tray, toilet seat and faucet knobs—and 70 percent of it was potentially harmful to humans.

‌Read more:‌ 7 Weird Side Effects of an Unhealthy Gut

The upshot: Every time you put your hands on a yoga mat or cardio machine and then touch your face, you're spreading bacteria across your complexion.

When you sweat, your body loses moisture — including from your skin. Al fresco workouts pack a double punch because sun exposure also zaps hydration.

"You need adequate fluids and electrolytes to ensure proper skin functioning," Dr. Evans says. "If your face looks pale or your lips feel dry, that's a sign your moisture level is low."

‌Read more:‌ How to Make a Healthy and Hydrating Homemade Sports Drink

Chub rub making workouts uncomfortable?

"Repeated rubbing or exposure to moisture or irritating fabrics can break down skin cells, leading to a rash that may sting or burn," Dr. Batra says.

Collagen is a protein found in connective tissue that helps make your skin firm, full and smooth. But as you age, your collagen levels drop off, according to the AAD, causing lines and sagging.

The good news: You can partly reverse that process by getting your cardio on. "Fibroblasts are cells that produce collagen," Dr. Johnson says. "When you exercise, fibroblast activity increases, generating more collagen." Hello, bouncy, dewy skin.

And the benefits don't stop there. As you grow older, your top layer of skin becomes thicker, rougher, and drier. At the same time, the deeper skin layers thin by about 6.4 percent each decade, leading to drooping and wrinkles — particularly in the face, neck, chest, hands and forearms, according to a February 2013 review in the journal ‌Advances in Wound Care‌.

Consider exercise your anti-aging elixir: Research featured in the journals ‌Aging Cell‌ in August 2015 revealed that working out can make your face look years younger.

"Exercise stimulates substances called myokines — specifically interleukin-15, which increases the thickness of the deeper layers of the skin and decreases the thickness of the outer layers," Dr. Jaliman says. The result? A smoother, brighter, more baby-faced complexion. Yes, please!

‌Read more:‌ 21 Anti-Aging Foods