Exercising is an excellent choice for your body, but as happens with many other things that make us good, it also has some negative consequences that we have to be aware of. Your skin can dehydrate during a workout. It is important to know what happens to your body when you exercise, what you can do to prevent dehydration, and what products for dehydrated skin you can use.
When you exercise, your body temperature rises, and to cool down, your body produces sweat. Sweat evaporates from the surface of your skin, helping to regulate your temperature. However, this process also leads to the loss of water and electrolytes from your body, including from your skin.
What Contributes to Skin Dehydration During A Workout
Among the things that make our body dehydrate, we have to consider the following:
- Sweating: As mentioned before, sweating is the primary cause of dehydration during exercise. The more intense the workout, the more you sweat, and the more water your body loses.
- Environmental conditions: Working out in hot, dry, or windy conditions can accelerate the rate at which your skin loses moisture. Air conditioning in the gyms can also contribute to skin dehydration.
- Duration and intensity of your workouts: Longer and more intense workouts lead to greater fluid loss. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) or endurance exercises like long-distance running can cause significant water loss.
- Hydration levels: If you start your workout already slightly dehydrated, your skin and body will dehydrate faster. It is highly important to be well-hydrated before, during, and after your workout. There are different types of drinks that can help you hydrate quickly and properly, however, water is always the best alternative.
- Clothes: Wearing clothing that does not breathe well can trap sweat against your skin, increasing the rate of moisture loss from the skin’s surface.
How to Prevent Skin Dehydration During Workouts
When we talk about dehydration it is important to take action before and after exercising. As regards prevention, there are many things we can do to avoid extreme dehydration.
- Stay Hydrated: The first thing to bear in mind is to stay hydrated. Drink water before, during, and after your workout. For longer workouts, consider drinks with electrolytes to replenish lost minerals.
- Use A Humidifier: If you like exercising indoors, use a humidifier. If you are working out in a dry environment, a humidifier can help maintain moisture in the air and on your skin.
- Moisturizer Before and After Workout: Moreover, applying a good moisturizer before and after your workout can help lock in moisture. Try to make sure it is not too heavy since it will block your pores and you may sweat even more.
- Right Clothes: Although it may sound irrelevant, try to wear the right clothes. Choose breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics to help regulate sweat and keep your skin from drying out.
- Avoid Hot Showers: Finally, avoid hot showers. After a workout, a hot shower can strip even more moisture from your skin. Opt for a lukewarm shower instead and moisturize immediately afterward.
The Importance of Adapting Your Skincare Routine
Adapting your skincare routine for post-workout can help manage and prevent skin dehydration and other issues. In order to have the best post-workout skincare routine you can follow some of these recommendations:
- Cleanse: After working out, cleanse your face with a gentle, hydrating cleanser to remove sweat, oil, and dirt. Avoid harsh cleansers that can strip your skin of its natural oils. If you wear makeup or sunscreen, a double cleanse can ensure all residues are removed. Start with an oil-based cleanser followed by a gentle water-based one.
- Hydrating Toner: After cleansing, apply a hydrating toner. Use alcohol-free toner to replenish moisture and balance your skin’s pH levels. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, or glycerin.
- Hydrating Serum: Apply a hydrating serum that contains hyaluronic acid or other hydrating ingredients to deeply moisturize your skin. This helps restore the moisture lost during your workout. If your skin tends to get red or irritated after a workout, consider using products with calming ingredients like niacinamide or chamomile extract.
- Moisturizer: Use a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer to lock in hydration without clogging your pores. Gel-based moisturizers are a good option for post-workout as they are light and refreshing. However, if you have dry skin, choose a richer moisturizer that provides more hydration.
- Broad-spectrum Sunscreen: If you are heading outside after your workout, on a sunny or even cloudy day, make sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Sweat can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so this step is crucial.
AS extra tips, consider using products that are non-comedogenic and look for ingredients like salicylic acid to prevent breakouts. If you have sensitive skin, choose fragrance-free and hypoallergenic products to avoid irritation. However, if you have oily skin, try to apply oil-free and mattifying products to control excess oil.
Follow these steps and you will help maintain your skin’s health and hydration after workouts, keeping it looking fresh and radiant.
Beth is Cloudmineinc’s senior health editor and a certified personal trainer. She has over 10 years experience as a science journalist and is the author of two books. She deadlifts over 315 lbs.