How exercise naturally clears your skin

The key to clear skin naturally may not be found in a bottle or in a dermatologist’s office, it just might be at the gym. When I was on my skin journey, I dreamed of the day when I would feel comfortable leaving the house without makeup. I craved the natural beauty of healthy skin and was so over the 100-step routines and chemicals that were making things worse. There were so many things I tried and changed about my lifestyle: one of which was working out consistently. After a few months I definitely noticed my skin was improving! This led to me down a rabbit hole to understand how exercising helps so here’s 4 reasons in a nutshell that I really think worked for me!

• Sweating

• Stress Reduction

• Improved Circulation

• Hormonal Balance

All of this was honestly a side effect since my main objective was to be more fit. And there were even more side effects besides my skin getting better! I felt more confident and strong and proud of myself for making a healthy lifestyle change. Now let’s get into how and why exercise can help naturally clear your skin!

1. Sweating it out

One of the most immediate benefits I noticed from working out was the cleansing effect of sweat on my skin. Workouts I started doing were HIIT workouts, running stairs, hot yoga, and mostly just free youtube workouts. I found that sweating helps to unclog pores and remove impurities, leaving my skin feeling refreshed and revitalized. I will note that taking showers after any workout is key here. If you leave sweat on your skin and stay in dirty workout clothes you are especially prone to more skin irritation.

2. Stress Reduction

Stress is a well-known trigger for acne flare-ups, as it can lead to hormonal imbalances and increased oil production in the skin. Through exercise, I found an effective outlet for managing stress and anxiety, which in turn had a positive impact on my skin. Whether it was through high-intensity workouts that allowed me to release pent-up tension or more meditative practices like yoga that helped calm my mind, incorporating regular exercise into my routine provided me with a sense of balance and emotional well-being that reflected in my complexion. If you are looking for motivation to work-out or want to try going to some classes I highly recommend using classpass. I would always use links like this one from different influences to get a bunch of free classes and it got me out of the house and more comfortable with working out anyway!

3. Improved Circulation

Exercise promotes better blood circulation throughout the body, including the skin. By increasing blood flow, exercise helps deliver essential nutrients and oxygen to the skin cells, promoting cell regeneration and repair. Improved circulation also aids in the removal of waste products and toxins from the skin, resulting in a clearer, more radiant complexion. Don’t be alarmed by a beet red face after your workout, this is what we want!

4. Hormonal Balance

Hormonal fluctuations play a significant role in the development of acne, particularly for women. Regular exercise has been shown to help regulate hormone levels, including cortisol and insulin, which can contribute to acne formation. By maintaining a consistent workout routine, I was able to stabilize my hormone levels and reduce the frequency and severity of hormonal breakouts. I also think another aspect of this is that my sleep improved. Getting your heartrate up makes you more tired by the end of the day and get a deeper sleep which is also so important for regulating hormones. This is another area I started to get very interested in. A book that changed everything for me was Woman Code by Alisa Vitti which taught me what kind of workouts I should do for each part of my cycle to balance hormones.

My journey of how working out cleared my acne serves as a testament to the transformative power of fitness on both physical and emotional well-being. By incorporating regular exercise into my routine, I was able to sweat out impurities, manage stress, improve circulation, and regulate hormone levels – all of which contributed to clearer, healthier skin. Whether you're struggling with acne or simply looking to enhance your overall health, start exercising more as a natural and effective way to achieve radiant skin from the inside out.