Skin health tips for fitness fanatics: how to have a glowing complexion while working out
Your exercise and eating habits – plus the make-up you use – can all have an effect on your skin health. We spoke to dermatologists and trainers to find out their regimen for maintaining a good complexion while keeping fit
Our skin is the largest organ of our bodies, yet it is often neglected when we exercise. Throw in the combination of heat, humidity and pollution in Hong Kong, and taking care of your skin in between work and working out becomes quite a challenge.
Is it truly bad for your skin to exercise with make-up on? Can you forgo sunscreen when hitting the gym? Hong Kong dermatologists, personal trainers, and fitness business owners share their essential tips for maintaining skin health while keeping fit.
Skincare
“The single most important product that everyone should use is sunscreen,” says Dr Nicola Chan, a specialist in dermatology. Personal trainer Stephanie Cuvelier, who often trains outside, always works out with sunscreen on, unless shading her face with the help of a cap or visor. Vanessa Valenzuela, co-founder of fitness studio H-Kore, “never leaves the house without sunblock”.
Sunscreen is not only recommended when exercising outdoors, though. Dr Joyce Tang, a specialist in dermatology, cautions that “SPF 30 or above is needed when you exercise indoors or outdoors”. The sun’s ultraviolet rays, particularly the UVA rays, can penetrate through windows, and certain indoor light sources can cause hyperpigmentation or skin damage through long-term exposure.
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Make sure to always have some sunscreen nearby when exercising. Dr Chan advises reapplying sunscreen regularly, as it will come off your skin when you sweat.
