Before and after exercise: how to take care of your skin?

After engaging in intense physical activity, it is essential to care for your skin to fully reap the skin benefits that exercise provides, and to prevent counteracting them with harmful effects.

Step No. 1: Take a shower.

It is important to wash after exercise for several reasons, including the removal of sweat which can harbor pathogens and cause irritations in some individuals, the odor that bacteria can produce, and the unpleasant sensation of sweat on the skin.

Therefore, in order not to disrupt the skin's pH, it is recommended to use gentle soaps with a physiological pH, free of fragrance and sulfate, and to rinse with lukewarm to cold water for the benefits it provides to the entire body. You can then proceed to your usual routine (toning lotion, serums, moisturizing cream, sunscreen).

Furthermore, it is also recommended to wait at least one hour before showering, because due to the time it takes for heat to dissipate, perspiration continues even during the recovery phase.

Step #2: Taking care of your feet after sports.

An active lifestyle often leads to the formation of hyperkeratotic lesions, such as corns and calluses. The formation of corns and calluses is a natural attempt by the skin to compensate for pressure, friction, and other forms of local irritation by increasing its thickness in areas subjected to excessive mechanical stress. Initially, this thickening of the skin is beneficial, but over time, it accumulates and becomes a source of morbidity, leading to increased pressure and discomfort.

If you notice them on your feet, it is possible to reduce them by carefully using an abrasive, such as a pumice stone, to remove or lessen the lesion after first soaking the foot in warm soapy water. This quick and gentle treatment, performed daily after bathing, can prevent a callus from becoming uncomfortably large. Applying lotions and creams afterwards is beneficial for maintenance. Moreover, studies have shown that the topical application of vitamin A and tea tree oil can cause the softening and peeling of the cornified epithelium.

Step No. 3: Use a deodorant.

A study found that certain microorganisms may prefer environments rich in sweat, such as Staphylococcus epidermis, which has been found to be one of the culprits behind the smell of sweat. To rebalance the skin microbiota, you can use a deodorant. Indeed, deodorants contain anti-microbials like essential oils, which will then reduce the quantity of less appreciated bacteria.