You don’t have to give up your favorite sport or stop working out. With just a bit more care, you can get those breakouts under control and keep flare-ups to a minimum.
Use facial cleansers and body washes that contain either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. You can get these at your local drug store or big box stores like Walmart or Target. Check the active ingredients.
Facial cleansing cloths are great for the face and neck. They’re a bit small for wiping down larger areas like the chest and back, but if you use a couple you can get the job done. There are also larger wipes meant specifically for cleansing the body sans soap and water. If you can’t find them locally you can order them online.
Both types of cleansing cloths come in small, thin packages that are easy to stick into your athletic bag.
Another option, especially if your skin is super oily, are medicated astringent pads like Oxy or Clearasil. Again, the small size of these pads makes them a bit impractical for using over the entire body, but if your breakouts tend to be concentrated on the face these might work for you. You could also use them in targeted body areas that are prone to breakouts, like the shoulders, chest, or butt.
Either way, these products aren’t a perfect substitute for a shower. But until you have the opportunity to soap up, premoistened wipes are a good option.
For all of you football players, wrestlers, or any athlete who uses helmets, pads, hats, etc.: While you obviously can’t stop wearing your helmet, pads, and such, you can at least make sure those items are as clean as possible. Wipe down any piece of equipment that comes in contact with your skin, every time after they’re worn.
For things like chinstraps and the inside of helmets, you may want to use alcohol pads each time to get them extra super clean.
To be clear, dirt doesn’t cause acne. But the sweat, grime, coupled with the pressure from your gear against your skin, can definitely irritate the follicles and trigger a breakout.
This can actually be harder than it sounds. Life gets busy. You may be so tired at night you’d rather just fall into bed!
But consistency is key in getting acne under control, so it’s super important that you not skip your treatments, whether they are over-the-counter acne products or prescription acne treatments.
Already under a doctor’s care? Tell him if your regular treatment routine isn’t working. You may need additional treatment or a switch to a different medication.
A Word from Verywell
Working out can trigger a breakout and make acne worse, especially back and body acne.
Surprisingly, those pimples may not be true acne vulgaris, but rather acne mechanica, or even folliculitis. Luckily, all of these can be controlled with the tips above. But if your breakouts are severe, painful, widespread, or you just need help getting them cleared, give your physician a call.
