Skincare for Athletes

Training is good for your skin overall — better circulation, lower baseline stress — but the conditions around it (trapped sweat, friction, sun, shared gear) create specific challenges worth managing deliberately.

Sweat and breakouts

Sweat itself does not clog pores, but when it mixes with oil, bacteria, and friction from hats, straps, or padding, it can trigger breakouts — sometimes called "acne mechanica." The fix is to reduce how long that mixture sits on the skin.

• Cleanse within an hour of finishing, or at least rinse with water if a full wash is not possible.
• Use clean, breathable fabrics and wipe down shared equipment before contact.
• Avoid heavy, occlusive products right before training — they trap sweat under friction points.

Barrier protection

Repeated washing, chlorinated pools, wind, and cold all raise water loss. A simple moisturiser after cleansing is the main defence; for swimmers, rinse and moisturise straight after the pool.