How Good (Or Bad) Is Exercise For Your Skin?

For every girl extolling the skin-clearing, face-toning, stress-busting joys of a jog, there’s a cynic citing pore-clogging sweat. So how good – or bad – is exercise for your skin? We get to the (perky) bottom of the issue…

- Ingeborg van Lotringen

Sporty Skin Scourges

Five things that threaten your fit-girl skin – and how to sort them.

1. Heat

Getting seriously hot and bothered in pursuit of fitness has its drawbacks for your face. “If you’re prone to rosacea or broken blood vessels, working yourself into a sweat can exacerbate the problem and lead to persistent redness,” says clinical facialist Kate Kerr. And even if you’re not predisposed, plastic surgeon Mr Alex Karidis warns, “Increased blood flow pumping hard through your veins always carries a risk of permanent dilation.” And, he says, “People prone to large pigmented areas may see symptoms worsening, as high heat plays a part in triggering melasma.”

How to cool it “To avoid overheating, work out in a cool environment (there are fans on most cardio equipment – or position yourself as near to them as possible in a studio),” says Kate. Using a cooling face mist such as Elizabeth Arden Pro Hydrating Antioxidant Spray, £25 (1), as you go will help as well. Every day, Kate advises, “Using an antioxidant serum with vitamin C will help strengthen capillaries to prevent damage.” We rate Zelens Power C Treatment Drops, £125 (2). The melasma-prone should avoid UV rays, so an SPF50 is imperative if you must exercise outdoors.

2. Sweat

Believe it or not, sweating can be good for your skin (more on that later) as long as you don’t leave it to dry there for hours. “If left, sweat gets sucked back into the pores mixed with the cell debris it just helped flush out, bacteria from wiping your face, and any sebum or makeup on your skin,” says Kate. Hello