After a workout, you may notice your muscles are sore or tender. Even the most athletic people can feel it after doing something strenuous. Muscles are not the only part of your body that takes a toll after a workout, though. Your skin collects sweat, dirt, grime, and other residue. That’s why robust skin care for athletes is so important.

Everyone has unique skin care needs and challenges, but athletes must take special care to ensure the body’s largest organ is healthy. The more you put your skin through, the more you need to do to nourish it. Keep reading for some skin care tips for athletes to help you keep your skin in top shape, just like your body.

Unique Challenges for Athletes’ Skins

Sweating is a normal and healthy bodily process for all humans. Without it, we’d have no efficient way to cool down once our body temperatures rise above normal. Athletes, though, experience hotter-than-normal body temperatures for longer periods because the body expends more energy. 

This reality creates unique challenges that athletes need to manage as they care for their skin. Understanding your needs can help you seek out products and routine changes that work for you.

Sweat

Contending with more sweat means athletes must be extra diligent in keeping their skin clean. Sweat can clog pores on the skin’s surface, which can lead to blemishes and sometimes a buildup of bad bacteria. Bad bacteria that lingers on the skin often leads to rash, acne, and plenty of inflammation.

Acne

Most people experience acne at some point in their lives, often during puberty. Acne is typically nothing more than a few raised red spots (pimples) or clogged pores (whiteheads or blackheads). Excess oil and dead skin cells often cause acne.

Though acne is hardly a serious ailment, those with it may experience lowered self-esteem, confidence, and body image. In some cases, acne can cause scar-like spots on the skin. Athletic skincare with natural ingredients can help cut down or eliminate acne. 

Infectious Diseases

Athletes, especially those who play team sports, may be at higher risk for contagious infections. Being in close proximity to other sweaty humans on the court or in the locker room can increase the likelihood of getting certain fungal or bacterial infections that thrive on the skin.

Athlete Skincare Routine Basics

To combat the challenges that come with being active, you’ll need to create a skincare routine fit for an athlete. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to create an athlete skincare routine. Make sure you check off each aspect of basic skincare routines for athletes for optimal skin health.

• Wash your face and body. You probably need to cleanse your skin more often than the average Joe. But just hopping in a hot shower won’t do the trick – you need quality cleansers that break down dirt, oil, and sweat locked deep in your pores.
• Invest in products designed for your needs. Choose hygiene products – soaps, deodorants, etc. – that are designed to be sweat-friendly and durable. You can count on OffCourt for quality self-care products that work with your sweat, not against it.
• Minimize how long sweat sits on your skin. Change out of sweaty clothes as soon as possible. If you can’t change, try your best to let your clothes dry. Choosing breathable fabrics is a great way to minimize contact between sweat and skin.
• Exfoliate more often. All that sweat and grime has to go somewhere. If you do nothing, that somewhere will be your skin. Exfoliation helps you gently remove buildup to reveal smoother, newer skin.

Sound like a lot? It doesn’t have to be. OffCourt makes it simple to stay on top of your hygiene with our All the Way Bundle, which features everything you need to stay fresh and clean. In it, you’ll find our Deep Cleansing Body Wash, Exfoliating Soap, Body Spray, and Fragrance in matching scents. As a bonus, we’ve also included our Lightweight Facial Hydrator, perfect for locking soothing moisture deep into your skin. We design skincare products for athletes that work so you don’t have to stress over keeping your skin happy. 

All the Way Bundle

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More Tips for Keeping Your Skin Healthy

Everyone’s skin reacts differently to the elements. Some people’s skin dries out relatively quickly, for example. Others are simply more prone to acne. That being said, a handful of tips can help keep your skin moisturized, acne-free (or near-acne-free), and positively glowing. With the advice below, you can likely cobble together a skincare routine for the athletes in your life—especially you!

Hit the Showers

Most people need to shower at least every other day. Bathing with exfoliating soap and a body wash you like will help wash away the dirt and grime your skin collects throughout the day. It’s especially important to scrub the areas of your body that collect the most crud, such as your armpits, ears, forehead, chest, upper back, and groin. Your feet deserve a lot of love, as well. 

A few tips for optimizing your showers include:

• Keeping the water temperature from reaching extremely hot temperatures, which can dry out your skin. 
• Concentrating on the critical areas of your body we mentioned above; scrubbing every inch can remove healthy skin and oils.
• Taking one that is no longer than 10 minutes. Instead of moisturizing your skin, longer showers can actually dry you out.

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Hydrate

What does your doctor tell you to do at every checkup, your grandma advises at the end of every phone call, and your best friend prescribe whenever you mention you’re tired or have a headache? That’s right—drink some water. Some people don’t need the standard eight glasses of water per day, but most do.

Skincare for athletes starts from the inside, and your skin definitely needs enough liquid to avoid becoming dry or chaffed. Dry or chaffed skin is particularly vulnerable to acne or rashes. Your immune system counts on your being properly hydrated, too.

A quick note: hydrating underscores the importance of moisturizing your skin. The best time to apply moisturizer is immediately after bathing or washing your face. Keeping your skin clean is the best way to ensure it absorbs the moisturizer. Applying moisturizer can help protect your skin against the elements and keep it from becoming irritated.

Protect Yourself from the Sun

Using sunscreen may not make your skin glow as much as other products, but it is still one of the most important things to put on your skin if you anticipate being outside for more than a few minutes. Sunscreen helps protect against the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. 

Over time, sun damage can cause rapid skin aging and even increase skin cancer risk. Seek out a product with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30. Those with fairer skin might need sunscreen with at least 50 SPF.

Eat and Sleep Well

Just as hydrating is important for inside-out skin protection, eating nutritious foods is equally important. Vitamins A, C, D, and E are beneficial for skin health, as are collagen, CoQ10, and zinc. 

Foods that contribute to healthy skin include:

• Tomatoes
• Bell peppers (preferably red or yellow)
• Avocados
• Fatty fish like mackerel, salmon, or tuna
• Broccoli
• Citrus fruits such as oranges or grapefruits
• Chocolate (in moderation)

Sleep and skin are connected in more ways than the classic bags under the eyes. Good, healthy sleep is correlated with proper skin elasticity and hydration. Getting a good night’s sleep is important for a functioning immune system, which is essential for healthy skin.

Final Thoughts

Athletes sweat, sweat, and sweat some more. Excess perspiration can lead to a cascade of challenges for your skin, such as acne, irritation, and certain infections. Skincare products for athletes, of which OffCourt offers many, can help you maintain a healthy exterior.

An important part of keeping your skin healthy is allowing your body to sweat normally, which often prevents pores from getting clogged with dirt or dead skin cells. OffCourt believes in and offers products that work alongside your sweat to maintain naturally healthy skin. Feel free to visit our shop so we can help elevate your skin while making sure you smell great.

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