Athletic Skin Care
A game of beach volleyball, anyone? How about jumping in the water for a nice swim? Now that summer is here many of us are heading out doors for all kinds of athletic activities. While athletes, by definition, are usually extremely careful about their bodies, they can be quite careless when it comes to simple athletic skin care.
Athletes face some unique skin care challenges. Extremely hot temperatures and excessive exposure to wind and water dry out the skin. Constant contact with fungi and bacteria that flourish in gyms can result in painful itching and cracking of the feet and other sensitive areas. And carelessness with choices of everyday soaps and shower gels contribute to dehydration of the epidermis. So if you’re a competitive athlete, let’s talk about some elements that are competing against your skin.
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Many runners would never bake themselves on the beach for 30 minutes or more attempting to get a tan. As athletes who are conscientious about their health, most understand the dangerous effects of sun damage. But how many rub on a good layer of sun screen before going out for that 30 minute run?
In just a short 15 minutes, the skin can suffer a significant amount of damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. And because the damaging effects of the sun are cumulative, an essential part of athletic skin care is to apply sunscreen daily, whether you plan to run that day or not.
When you dedicate yourself to the gym you except to leave with an increase in muscle, not an increase in infections. But most gyms provide the ideal atmosphere for fungi like tinea pedis, or athlete's foot, to flourish. And there are other infectious diseases that cling to shower stalls and on locker room floors. Most gym bacteria will cause painful, chronic itching and burning of the skin, but some, like staph, can even be deadly. So when showering off, it’s important to choose soap or body wash that’s imbued with some anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. There are many products designed specifically to eliminate those creepy fungi found in gyms, but be sure to purchase one that is FDA approved.
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And not only should athletes clean their bodies thoroughly, but they should take care to dry their skin completely. Bacteria and fungi love damp skin.
Finally, a hallmark of athletic skin care is moisturizer. Your skin must be washed and dried before applying any lotions or moisturizer. You can use moisturizer under your sun screen or you can choose a sun screen with moisturizer. A lightweight lotion is best – one made with botanicals that will control oil. There are also many moisturizers that include the same antiviral properties as soap and shower gels.
If you’re an athlete who pays attention to what goes into your body, you should also care about what you put on the outside of your body. Athletic skin care deserves more than just an afterthought. Increased activity places increased demands on your skin. So make applying sun screen a part of your routine and invest in the appropriate body washes and moisturizers. Your skin will reward you!
