Hitting the Gym This January? Here's How to Protect Your Skin

The new year has officially begun, and along with it, so have all of our New Years resolutions. For so many of us, at least one of those resolutions involves working out more, so every January, gyms everywhere are flooded with newcomers ready to make this the year that they get their dream bod. 

Gyms are great places to level up your fitness, but it turns out that your skin doesn’t love them as much as your muscles do. If you’re new to the gym this January or if you’re getting newly consistent after dabbling in the past, use these tips to make sure your skin stays healthy and glowing along the way. 

Wipe Machines Before and After

Gyms are great for having all the equipment that most of us don’t have the funds or space to have at our home. But the trade-off is that you’re sharing that equipment with hundreds of other people, and while it’s common courtesy for everyone to clean off the machines when they’re done using them, you’ll probably see pretty quickly that not everyone does that. 

Simply put, every time you go to a machine, you should assume that the person before you didn’t wipe it down. So to minimize the bacteria that you’re picking up from others, always wipe the machine before you use it…and wipe it down afterward too, because you’re better than leaving equipment gross and sweaty. 

Hit the Showers

I know the feeling of just finishing a workout that you put all your energy into – you’re exhausted and all you want to do is plop down on the couch for a while. But you’ll thank yourself later if you can get yourself to shower as soon as possible after the gym, even if it’s just a quick rinse. Make sure you wash your face with cleanser too. 

No matter what you do, when you go to the gym, you’re coming into contact with germs, and lots of them, not to mention your sweat and other particles. The less time you have those particles on your skin, the less likely they are to clog your pores or contribute to infections or skin irritation. 

A side note – if possible, stick to your home shower. Showers at the gym are great if you have to head to work or somewhere else after your workout, but public showers are breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses and fungi, so it’s better to have your post-gym shower at home if you can. 

Don’t Forget the Moisturizer

Speaking of that shower or rinse after the gym, make sure you apply moisturizer afterward, particularly if this isn’t your only shower of the day. This is especially essential for your face after cleansing, but it’s wise to do for your body as well. While washing multiple times a day can be great for your skin’s health and cleanliness, it can also dry out your skin, so a little moisturizer will go a long way. 

Cover Any Open Injuries

Simple things like paper cuts might not seem like they need a bandage if they’re not bleeding. But when you’re in a high-contact environment like the gym where (forgive the visual) you’re inevitably touching other people’s sweat and bacteria, even a small open injury can create an opportunity for potentially serious bacteria and viruses to get in. So when you’re heading to the gym, make sure to cover any cuts and scrapes. 

Avoid Rewearing Gym Clothes

One of the annoyances that comes with working out more often than no one warns you about is the extra laundry. Yes, it’s a pain, and yes, sometimes it’s tempting to hang up your workout clothes and rewear them tomorrow if they didn’t get super sweaty. But it’s not a great idea. 

Those gym clothes don’t just get dirty from sweat. They also come into contact with all those other particles we talked about that roam around the gym – bacteria, viruses, fungi, you name it. That’s not something you want to put back onto your skin. 

Consider a Body Wash for Acne

You might be hitting the gym to look good, but there’s a very common side effect that comes with it that might take away from your glow a bit…body acne. Even if you don’t normally struggle with pimples, they have a tendency to pop up when you’re in the gym daily. 

If you start to notice this issue, you can usually resolve the problem by showering promptly after your workouts and by using a body wash that’s designed for acne. 

Go Makeup-Free

We all want to look our best as often as possible, it’s only natural. But the gym isn’t the place for full glam. In fact, wearing makeup to the gym might make your skin worse in the long run. 

Mixed with your sweat, makeup can clog your pores and lead to blemishes, and it can also contribute to skin irritation and inflammation. If you already have your makeup on for the day, you can just take a few seconds to wipe it off with micellar water, since you don’t have to rinse off micellar water like you do with most makeup removers. 

With New Year’s resolution season in full swing, now is a great time to become a regular gym-goer, but you don’t have to sacrifice your skin in the process. With the tips above, you can enjoy that healthy post-workout glow while also letting your skin shine.