Can weight lifting cause or irritate ACNE?

JosephFW · 06-Nov-04, 02:48 PM

My face use to never have problems when I was younger. It only started when I started lifting at age 12, and there is no family genes for Acne in my family. And I don't take steroids or anything, and I've seen alot of weight lifters at my school have acne break-outs aswell. I don't get why this is happening, its annoying as hell, and all the medicine people buy doesn't even work most of the time. I keep blaming weight lifting because I clean my face only in the shower and thats the only time I touch my face, and other websites say acne isn't cause by dirt. So what is it cause by, its annoying me. How can I have a perfect body, when I have acne all over it, not just my face but its all over my body...... I know this is a weird topic, but it just gets me mad.

Oh, I'm 18 now, so this has been going on for about 6 years, so you can see why I am kind of pissed. It goes on and off, one second its there than its gone than its not there. Quite, depressing if I may say.

CrazyRussi · 06-Nov-04, 09:03 PM

Are you sure the acne is because of weightlifting? It might be coming from a thing called puberty....

There's NO STUDY linking weightlifting to acne that I'm aware of.

One thing I can suggest is that you shower or wash up after hard lifting. The oils and dirt and sweat on your skin definately aren't helping you. The site might say that dirt doesn't cause acne, but I'm kind of skeptical about that. Are they saying that grabbing a bunch of mud and rubbing it all over your face won't affect your face at all?

Monkey · 06-Nov-04, 09:32 PM

i have the same problem with acne and weightlifting. over the summer i didnt lift that much, but now i lift a lot more and i have noticed more acne. its gotta be something with your hormones spiking and producing more oil in our pores.

chris.s · 06-Nov-04, 10:51 PM

ooo fair enough, i got the opposite effect from weight lifting and cardio. only thing i can say is never attack your face cause you'll make skin infections (acne) worse. Try getting some acne cream, or going to your doctor about it if it as serious as you say. A friend of mine was on some medication that cleared his acne up in a few weeks, i cant remember the name of it sorry.

Only13 · 06-Nov-04, 10:59 PM

Its the opposite for me If I dont go to the gym i break out Its damn good encouragment!

IONOR · 07-Nov-04, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Only13

Its the opposite for me If I dont go to the gym i break out Its damn good encouragment!

This is probably due to the fact that your sweating a lot in the gym which means it stops your pours from getting cloged up with dirt and grease

Grey Ghost · 07-Nov-04, 06:05 PM

Maybe it's your diet. Maybe stress?

ryan · 07-Nov-04, 10:58 PM

acne is blood related, not dirt oil etc (unless of course you have really bad hygene), your doing the right thing by only touching your face when washing it in the shower. The more you wash, the more your body thinks you need excess oils= more acne. Maybe your could try a mild soap, or just warm water.
Most of that cream, washes etc are a waste of time (only good for mild acne) and will only use up your money.
There are a few drugs on the market, roaccutane, minomycin etc.
roaccutane is the heavy duty and as far as 5 years ago was concerned was the only medication known to treat extreme acne....there are many side affects to this medication though son check that out.
I wouldnt be surprised if the weight lifting is prompting chemical releases and changes in levels. see your doctor.

Vas85 · 08-Nov-04, 03:15 AM

I think like Ryan said, it is not a result of bodybuilding / weight training, ive been training for over 1.5years and dont notice any acne popping up out of nowhere because of training, genetically my parents dont have it, so ive been lucky in that department, but i dont think it a result of training, has to be something predisposed is what i think.