Exercise induced spots!

[curlyginge]

I have never had a problem with spots apart from the occasional growth guaranteed to coincide with a special occasion requiring photographs. After Christmas I started exercising regularly and quite hard. i.e. 90 mins in the gym with lots of sweating every day as opposed to the twice a week swim i had been doing before. After about a week of this new routine i noticed i had a considerable amount of spots on my face and this has continued over the last two months. Not really getting worse but not improving either. I put it down to the toxins escaping my exercise deprived body but there seems no slow in their escape. Is there anything i can do to help clear up my skin or is my face just in shock and this will clear up by itself . . soon . . . The spots tend to be on my cheeks (bizarre because i have NEVER had spots there before) and chin and a couple on my forehead. They are also quite painful and tend to leave a mark when they leave. I am getting married in July and whilst I would like to lose weight by then i would equally like a face that doesn't require an inch of make-up!

[freddyboy42]

Hi

I notice this is an old post but if this still helps. I'm very sympathetic, I'm a 42 year old male and I have found my problem is very similar, but after all these years I've found some solutions too.

Basically whenever I put my body through physical stress I get a break out of acne. A one off physical effort is not a problem, but as soon as I try to get into a rountine the spots appear very quickly and I have to back off my exercise. It doesn't matter if I try and build mucle by doing weights, or if I try something else like swimming the effect is the same.  

The following I have found to be helpful:
1) more sleep
2) a chance to relax and unwind
3) drinking lots of water
4) avoiding caffine, alcohol and sugar (avoid any stimulant)
5) small amounts of DHEA suppliment (I took this to help with tiredness but the effect on my spots was dramatic).

Good luck.

[Normsky]

I have the same problem, I have tried showering straight after, drinking plenty of water, using antibacterial face wipes, taking supplements to aid digestive system such as Milk Thistle, HR Clear etc, herbal remedied, nothing works, and I don't have to do that much exercise to get it, any form of exercise which causes sweating... and I also never used to get this either, it started after I turned 26, I am now 30, so I've been having the same problem but quite for some time.

[loiloi]

Shower straight after excerise as bacteria from sweat can lead to acne.
There are lots of things you can do to help your acne clear up. Clarins, Clinique and Estee Lauder all make good ranges for blemish prone skin, as spots are affecting more and more women in their 20s and 30s. Estee Lauder's Maximum coverage foundation is great for covering all imperfections for special occasions.
Your doctor can prescribe you an anti-androgen contraceptive pill such as Yasmin or Dianette (Diane35 in the USA) which will provide birth control and clear up acne. Oral antibiotics may also be helpful but use a condom if you take tetracycline antibiotics and the pill concurrently as there's a risk that tetracyclines may lessen the contraceptive properties of the pill. Useful prescription topical lotions for acne include Duac gel, Differin and Dalacin-T. For more information check out my advice on The Acne Forum. Loiloi xx

[ohnojustmyluck]

I get red spots after exercising, eating spicy foods and drinking.  In my case, it's due to Rosacea.  If that's what you have, don't freak out.  There are meds and shots that are available that can help clear it up.  It's a manageable diagnosis, but thus far there isn't a cure.