There is no denying the health benefits of a good sweat session. Time at the gym or outside getting in some exercise has benefits across the board. Not only are you activating reward centers in your brain but you are fighting off anxiety and depression as well. Your body is shaped and molded by the work you put into it. By the end of your workout you could be sweating buckets. Have you ever wondered if there are benefits to all that sweat; could there be some magical skin benefits from pounding the pavement or pumping iron?
Sweat is a natural feature your body uses to keep you cool and comfortable. When you are working out, your body needs a way to release heat and does so by opening up your pores and letting the sweat flow. Consisting primarily of water, sweat also contains sodium, potassium, and chloride. There are two glands responsible for your body’s ability to sweat. The eccrine glands cause you to break a sweat in order to keep your temperature regulated. Apocrine glands release sweat when stimulated to do so. These glands the allow you to break a sweat whilst under duress like the jitters or exercise. They release not only water, sodium, potassium, and chloride, but may allow for the release of proteins and fatty acids as well.
With all the complexities of sweat, many wonder if it is doing their skin any favors. The answer in short is, yes. According to How Stuff Works, the opening of the pores allows for the release to toxins held within the skin and body so sweating is most definitely a good thing. Did you know that your skin actually releases an antibiotic known as dermcidin when you sweat? This powerful natural substance can help fight off bacteria and other germs and it is released when you sweat. But what about the actual condition of your skin? Sweating also allows for built up toxins to be released and leaves you glowing. So, you see, your post workout “glow” is providing you will all sorts of health benefits.
One of the reasons sweating gets a bad rap is because if it is not washed off quickly after your training session, it can do harm to your skin. When you allow sweat to remain on your skin, all the gunk it brought forth settles back onto your skin and with it comes breakouts, rashes, and more. The best way to fight off the after effects of sweat on your skin is to be sure and clean up as soon as you can. Shower up as soon as possible and if you can’t try using a cleansing towel on your face immediately following your workout.
Our skin experiences so much on a daily basis and while we all do what we can to keep our skin looking its best, sometimes it takes a professional. Fountain of You is Brevard County’s premiere anti-aging and aesthetic clinic. We can create a skin rejuvenation experience that will leave you feeling refreshed and confident.
