Some sports equipment and clothing provide an ideal environment for acne to thrive. This is so common that there’s a medical term for this type of acne. It’s called acne mechanica.

You get this type of acne when sports equipment or clothing traps heat and sweat on your skin. As the equipment or clothing rubs against your heated skin, your skin becomes irritated. If you have acne or acne-prone skin, this irritation can cause new acne breakouts.

Many types of athletes get acne mechanica. Football and hockey players may have it on their chin, shoulders, or forehead. Shot-putters tend to develop acne where they cradle the shot against their necks. Anywhere that equipment rubs, acne can appear.

The first sign that you may have acne mechanica is small, rough-feeling bumps that you can feel more easily than see. These may appear where a chin strap, helmet, or other piece of equipment rubs. If you continue to use your equipment without taking precautions, these small, rough bumps can turn into pimples and sometimes deep acne cysts.

Examples of sporting equipment that can lead to acne mechanica

If you feel that your sports equipment or clothing is causing acne breakouts, it’s possible to continue your sport(s) and see clearer skin.

To clear your skin and prevent more acne, dermatologists recommend the following:

• Place clean, soft padding between the equipment and your skin. This can eliminate rubbing, which can prevent your skin from becoming irritated.

• Wear moisture-wicking clothes next to your skin. This fabric pulls sweat away from your body, reducing the friction on your skin so that you have less skin irritation.

• Trade tight-fitting workout clothes for loose-fitting ones. This helps prevent heat and sweat from getting trapped on your skin.

• Treat the acne mechanica with acne medication. Using an acne medication with salicylic acid often works well to clear this type of acne. Salicylic acid helps unclog pores. You’ll find acne treatment that contains salicylic acid in stores and online. No prescription needed.

Acne mechanica tends to clear more quickly than regular acne. If you still have acne mechanica after treating it for 6 to 8 weeks, a dermatologist can help. A prescription acne medicine may be necessary. For some patients, microdermabrasion or laser therapy can help.

You may also want to make sure that certain habits aren’t causing you to breakout when you exercise. You’ll find simple things you can do to prevent acne caused by working out at:

Image: ​Getty Images

References

Botros PA Tsai G, et al. “Evaluation and Management of Acne.” Prim Care. 2015; 42(4):465-71.

Fulton JE, Acne Rx: What acne really is and how to eliminate its devastating effects! Self-published; 2001.

Harper JC. “Acne: The Basics.” Paper written by dermatologist Julie C. Harper, MD to help her patients get the best results from their acne treatment. May 2003.

Knable AL Jr, Hanke CW, et al. “Prevalence of acne keloidalis nuchae in football players.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997 Oct;37(4):570-4.

Smith ML. “Environmental and sports-related skin disease.” In: Bolognia JL, et al. Dermatology. (second edition). Mosby Elsevier, Spain, 2008:1469-76.

Zaenglein AL, Graber EM, et al. “Acne vulgaris and acneiform eruptions.” In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine (seventh edition). McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008:701.

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Do you suspect that your workout is causing (or worsening) your acne? You could be right.

If your workout is the culprit, you don’t have to stop exercising. You can continue to play sports, take your favorite exercise class, or hit the gym and still see clearer skin. Here’s what dermatologists recommend.

Before your workout

1. Remove your makeup. No need to wash your face. A oil-free makeup remover towelette works fine.

1. Put on clean workout clothes (washed since you last wore them). Dead skin cells, bacteria, and oils on unwashed clothes can clog your pores, leading to acne.

1. Apply oil-free sunscreen before you head outside. If you’re going to exercise outdoors during the day, you can prevent breakouts by protecting your skin from the sun.
   
   
   
   Yes, the sun can cause breakouts because it dries your skin. When this happens, your body produces more oil, which can clog pores and cause acne.
   
   
   
   To get the protection you need, you’ll want to apply a sunscreen that offers:

• SPF 30 or higher
• Broad spectrum (protects you from UVA and UVB rays)
• Water resistance
• Oil-free formulation (Label may say “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores.”)

During your workout

4. Use a clean towel to wipe off sweat. You want a towel that has been washed since you (or someone else) last used it.
   
   
   
   When you remove sweat from your skin, gently pat it off. Rubbing your skin can cause acne to flare.

4. Avoid sharing protective equipment like helmets and shoulder pads whenever possible. These can be full of acne-causing bacteria and oil, which may cause you to breakout.

4. Wipe off shared equipment before you use it. Shared equipment can be full of acne-causing bacteria and oil. If you use the equipment and then wipe your forehead or other acne-prone skin, you can spread acne-causing bacteria and oil from the equipment to your skin.

After your workout

7. Consider showering immediately after your work out. This may rinse away bacteria that can cause acne.
   
   
   
   When you wash your face and other skin with acne, you’ll want to use a cleanser that’s:

• Mild
• Oil free (label may say “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores” instead)

A mild, oil-free cleanser can remove bacteria that can lead to acne and prevent clogged pores without irritating your skin.

When washing skin with acne, be very gentle. Apply the cleanser with your fingertips and gently rinse it off with warm water. Rubbing, hot water, or anything else that irritates your skin can cause acne to flare.

If you aren’t able to shower, consider changing out of your workout clothes and wiping skin that tends to break out with pads that contain salicylic acid. This can prevent clogged pores.

If you have acne or acne-prone skin, following these recommendations from dermatologists can allow you to work out and see clearer skin. You’ll also want to continue treating your acne.

If you still have breakouts after trying these tips, your sports equipment or clothing might be to blame. Everything from football helmets to synthetic dance clothes can cause acne.

You’ll find out what dermatologists recommend for clearing acne caused by sports equipment or clothing at:

Image: Getty Images

Reference

Fulton JE, Acne Rx: What acne really is and how to eliminate its devastating effects! Self-published; 2001.

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