Lifting = Acne?
 

I have had relatively clear skin since I was 18 or so (I'm 21 now). In the past ~3 months of lifting, my skin really started to break out as badly as it did when I was a ~16 year old. I have taken the last eight days off to see if lifting was the problem, and my skin has cleared up almost completely. One thing to note maybe is that a lot of the acne was on my neck.

Has anyone else encountered this problem, and if so, what solutions beyond basic facewash do you use?

I lift mostly for looks, so this sucks.

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

I just splash some water on my face during after workouts to help clean up sweat. Make sure you wash your hands before doing so.

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

I've noticed an increase in zits on my back with lifting. I'm 21 so it sucks, but really not that big of a deal.

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

Wearing a headband seemed to help me, especially for my face.

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I've noticed an increase in zits on my back with lifting.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

it's all that extra testosterone.
no really i have no clue

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

I read somewhere that it's caused by sweating out extra toxins than normal. But I have no idea where I read it or how true it is so don't put much faith in it.

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

I've also found this...Yet I thought it was also possible due to steam room/sauna use?

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

you think steam room and sauna would be good because it would clear out all your pours no?

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

Yeah they do but maybe I don't close them properly by taking a cold shower for long enough.

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

GKA was a middle distance runner up until about a year and a half ago so I'm sure he's sweating less now than he did back then. I guess it is possible that his body is producing more testosterone than it used to because of the anabolic nature of his exercises, or even because of improvements in his diet.

I too get more back acne when lifting, but not really any more face acne.

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

A related problem is pimples. When your skin is damp for a long period of time you can get pimples. I've been able to deal with this by showering after working out and making sure I dry my whole body. It's easy to forget to adequately dry your behind/back of thighs after showing which seems, in my experience, to cause pimples.

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

Weirdly, I used to have quite bad back acne, but since I have been lifting (since Feb this year), it has almost completely gone. Odd

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

[ QUOTE ]
it's all that extra testosterone.
no really i have no clue

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
A related problem is pimples. When your skin is damp for a long period of time you can get pimples. I've been able to deal with this by showering after working out and making sure I dry my whole body. It's easy to forget to adequately dry your behind/back of thighs after showing which seems, in my experience, to cause pimples.

[/ QUOTE ]


My experience leads me to believe its a combo of the above two...increase in testosterone levels (as negligible as it may seem) and hygiene.

Re: Lifting = Acne?
 

I never dry my back off because I'm lazy and I like to airdry, but I've been doing it lately and my bacne has decreased. Also getting some sun and going swimming in chlorinated water has always helped too.