Bodybuilding and acne

[Rick123]

Has anyone experienced acne from natural bodybuilding?

 

I have taken dairy out as there seems to be a link with acne, for months. No I don't take whey.

Also apparently high GI foods

 

I wash my face and take care of it religiously yet I noticed when coming back from an injury and training like there's no tomorrow I broke out with clogged pores/little bumps on my forehead. 

 

I notice when I sweat hardout the skin on my face looks great after I wash besides from the areas of bumps.

 

I mean it does seem plausible as hormones are changing when lifting. I don't get pimples just stuffed up pores.

 

At the end of the day, physique > manageable acute skin problems.

[Pseudonym]

How old are you Rick?

 

I don't know of any link between bodybuilding and acne - except when the athlete is on steroids. If you're natural, I wouldn't have thought lifting would have caused enough of a hormone fluctuation to trigger acne.

 

My gut feeling is that any acne's more likely to come from the extra sweating you'll be doing while training.

[Inaccuraccy]

I used to have issues with it as well man when I was younger. Try face/body washes with benzoyl peroxide (5%, people usually have reactions to anything harsher) or with salicylic acid. Benzoyl is an active ingredient that 'attacks' the acne causing bacteria whereas salicylic prevents the bacteria forming in the first place (pharmacists feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). 

 

You can get benzac bodywash (contains benzoyl peroxide) from most countdowns for like $20 a bottle, it'll last you about a month and it did the trick for me (it isn't a miracle cure but it will significantly help, still suggest having a shower straight after a workout and all that). 

[Pseudonym]

Benzoyl is an active ingredient that 'attacks' the acne causing bacteria whereas salicylic prevents the bacteria forming in the first place (pharmacists feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

Yeah, I think that's correct. If I remember right, the salicylic acid dries up the pores, so they produce less sebum for the bacteria to feed on. Less food = less bacteria = less acne. But possibly not as effective as killing the bacteria directly with benzoyl.

[jimmybro1]

 

Benzoyl is an active ingredient that 'attacks' the acne causing bacteria whereas salicylic prevents the bacteria forming in the first place (pharmacists feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

Yeah, I think that's correct. If I remember right, the salicylic acid dries up the pores, so they produce less sebum for the bacteria to feed on. Less food = less bacteria = less acne. But possibly not as effective as killing the bacteria directly with benzoyl.

 

Makes you face light up like a fire truck though

[Optimass]

 

My gut feeling is that any acne's more likely to come from the extra sweating you'll be doing while training.

 

Correct: I had it bad for the first 6 months and then it went away - I remember starting to swim regular around this time so Im not sure if that assisted with it.  But drinking lots water and using soap sparingly in the shower works for me - very rarely have a zit these days.

[Dinahlady]

I'd go to GP and ask their advice. They can give you a run down of the options