Some post-workout sweat can have surprising skin benefits.
Perspiration is often linked to acne, breakouts, and clogged pores. After a workout, it’s easy to think all the sweat sitting on your face isn't doing your skin any favors, but that’s not exactly the case. A little perspiration can actually benefit your skin in a handful of ways.
So, how exactly does sweat benefit your skin? Ai Takahashi, an esthetician at Equinox 85th St. and Equinox Greenwich Ave, and Integrative Aesthetics Specialist Dr.Rahi Sarbaziha, explain why you shouldn't be fearful of sweat.
What is sweat, really?
Perspiration is a natural reaction ruled by your sweat glands, which are responsible for clearing excess micronutrients, metabolic waste, and toxins from the body. We all have millions of sweat glands all over our bodies, about two to four million, but there are three main types of sweat glands: Eccrine, apocrine, and apoeccrine.
How can sweat benefit your skin?
“As I have seen among my clients, people who sweat constantly – like serious runners, they actually have great skin,” says Takahashi. She believes that the sweat actually helps clear out the pores. When we sweat, our blood circulation improves. When this happens, we get oxygen into our system, which causes a nice glow. “Sometimes, I have clients that have just gotten out of the steam room and they look great,” she shares.
When your pores are open, they also react better to your cleanser and other skincare products you’re applying. It’s an effective skincare step that will produce glowing and hydrated skin.
Sweating can also help with the moisture of your skin in a natural way. Eccrine sweat is thought to deliver water to your skin’s barrier as well as natural moisturizing factors, and antimicrobial peptides. Natural moisturizing factors include lactate, urea, sodium and potassium which all originate from eccrine sweat, while amino acids on the skin's surface come from the stratum corneum. When your body is sweating out toxins, they travel through the pores and then to the surface of the skin. Sweat can also hydrate the skin by lubricating it with lipids. For this reason, sweating can be a great healer or soother for those with dry skin conditions. It’ll also give you a lasting natural glow without a single beauty product required.
Can all skin types benefit from sweating?
“Frankly, I think everyone can benefit from sweating, unless they have some medical conditions where complications can arise,” says Takahashi. A crucial part in maintaining your skin health is to cleanse it well with the right products so you can prevent bacteria from forming in your pores, leading to breakouts and even infection.
If you have a diagnosed skin condition that requires you to not sweat as much, you should consult with your doctor and follow their guidance. Sweat is usually dysregulated in conditions such as atopic dermatitis or any condition that causes trauma to the skin, which can have dysfunctional sweat glands, and the sweat itself can cause irritation to the compromised skin.
If you have more oily skin, you’ll want to focus on cleansing your skin with AHA/BHA or even a foaming cleanser after they sweat. If you’re more acne-prone, making sure you use an appropriate cleanser to help prevent future breakouts.
How soon after a workout should you wash your face?
“It’s recommended to remove any of the debris built up in the sweat right after a workout,” Dr. Sarbaziha explains. “Post-workout, the skin’s pores are open, so washing your face as soon as possible is important to prevent debris from getting into the pores,” she adds.
It’s also important to wash your face before you work out because your pores will open during a workout, which leaves your skin in a more compromised position. “Given that the face and neck are at higher risk of contamination due to their exposure to the outside environment, it is best that all makeup is removed from your skin before a workout,” says Dr. Sarbaziha. So while sweat is pretty beneficial to your skin, it’s important to not let it sit on your skin for too long. For example, if you work out in the morning, don’t wait until the end of the day to cleanse your skin.
If you’re wearing a hat or glasses while working out, Takahashi expresses the importance of washing the hat and using alcohol spray or wipes to clean where the glasses touch the skin. This is to ensure no bacteria gets back into the skin from those objects the next time you wear them.
Bottom line
Most people may believe that sweat will automatically clog your pores and lead to breakouts. But, Dr. Sarbaziha wants you to know that it’s not always bad for your skin, it’s an essential part of maintaining a healthy skin flora.
“We shouldn't be afraid of sweating,” Takahashi adds, “there are tons of skincare products that can help to keep your skin clear and under control when it comes to oil balance.” As long as you don’t allow your skin to sit in sweat after a rigorous workout, and cleanse it properly, your skin will reap the benefits of sweating rather than suffer from it.