Your skin is the largest of your organs, and being full of nerve endings, it is the conduit for your sense of touch. It performs an essential function, maintaining a barrier against infection and helping to regulate your body temperature. However, it can get damaged and sometimes infected. Skin is made up of around 65% water and can dry out very easily too. It means your skin can become rough and flaky, or if left untreated could crack into raw, painful fissures. Prevention is preferable, but if you do get skin problems make sure you take care of them.
Sore skin and blisters ![]()
Many forms of exercise require you to wear sports clothing or use special equipment. All this kit is designed to make exercise easier to do and as comfortable as possible, and it does a great job – imagine trying to do your sit-ups wearing tight jeans! Sometimes though, even the best fitting sportswear can rub or chafe, especially if your chosen activity makes parts of your body rub together, like running. If you find your legs chafe and get sore after exercise, or you are getting blisters on your feet, the first question to ask is whether you have the best clothing – good quality materials with no seams in close contact areas, and well-fitting athletic shoes that are designed for the activity you are doing. You could try some of the clothing that features inbuilt cushioning to help alleviate friction, or you might need to alter your exercise plan to avoid repetitive movements. Once your skin is sore, it can take a few days to heal and can be very uncomfortable, which can affect your enjoyment and motivation. Use soothing, healing skin creams and wear loose clothing while your sore areas heal.
Rashes
There are many rashes that can affect the skin, usually caused by allergic reactions or infections. To treat your rash effectively, you need to know what is causing it. There are some very good websites on the Internet that can help you identify the cause of your rash, such as remedypharmacist.com. If you’re having trouble identifying the rash, pay a visit to your doctor. They will be able to diagnose and treat most rashes or refer you to a dermatologist if you need expert advice.
Keeping hydrated is essential for the functioning of all your organs, so drink plenty of water. If you exercise regularly, you will probably be taking regular showers, and rightly so if you want to stay clean and sweet-smelling! Bear in mind though that however much your shower gel might claim to be moisturizing your skin as you shower, washing does remove essential oils from the skin, and they need to be replaced. There is a mind-boggling array of creams on the market, so find one you like and that works for you and use it regularly. If you can, give the shower a miss on days off from the gym. Your skin keeps you safe and presents an image of you to the world, so look after it and give it a bit of TLC.
The post Keeping Your Skin Fit for Exercise appeared first on Health & Fitness Blog.