15 Ways to AVOID Acne From Working Out!

Summary

In this video, Brian Turner shares 15 essential tips for preventing acne while working out at the gym. As an experienced bodybuilder who has overcome severe cystic acne, Brian discusses practical strategies such as wiping down equipment, washing immediately after workouts, drinking more water, avoiding dairy-based protein powders, balancing electrolytes, and taking rest days. He also highlights the importance of sleep, proper skincare, and dietary awareness to maintain clear skin. Brian offers personalized recommendations for skincare products and emphasizes the need for consistent, mindful habits to avoid breakouts.

Takeaways

• 💪 Avoid direct skin contact with gym equipment to prevent bacteria and acne; always use a towel or shirt as a barrier.
• 🧼 Wipe down gym equipment before use to prevent sweat from transferring bacteria to your skin.
• 🚿 Wash your face immediately after a workout with water to remove sweat and bacteria before it dries.
• 🛁 Shower as soon as possible after working out to cleanse your skin and prevent body acne.
• 🧴 Use a body cleanser with exfoliants like glycolic acid to help remove dead skin cells and prevent acne.
• 💧 Hydrate more, especially when working out, as dehydration can lead to more breakouts.
• 🍌 Balance your sodium and potassium intake to help with hydration, which is crucial for preventing acne during intense workouts.
• 🛌 Take rest days to lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone), which can cause breakouts if elevated.
• 🚫 Avoid dairy protein supplements like whey, as they can trigger acne, especially in those sensitive to dairy.
• ⏰ Prioritize quality sleep to aid recovery and reduce breakouts, as lack of sleep can compromise your skin's health.

Q & A

What is the main concern discussed in the video?

The main concern discussed in the video is how to avoid acne breakouts while working out at the gym, especially for those who engage in intense bodybuilding.

Why do people tend to break out more when they start going to the gym?

People tend to break out more when they start going to the gym because of factors like increased calorie intake, higher hormone levels from lifting, exposure to bacteria on gym equipment, and sweating. These factors can aggravate acne.

What is the first tip provided to avoid gym-related acne?

The first tip is to never lay your skin directly against gym equipment like benches. Always use a shirt or towel to protect your skin from bacteria on the equipment.

Why is it important to wipe down gym equipment before using it?

Wiping down gym equipment is important because it removes germs and bacteria that can transfer to your skin through sweat, potentially causing breakouts.

How does sweat contribute to acne after a workout?

Sweat contributes to acne because, if left on the skin, it can trap bacteria and clog pores. It's advised to wash your face and body immediately after working out to prevent this.

What kind of body cleanser is recommended for those prone to body acne?

A body cleanser with exfoliating properties is recommended for those prone to body acne. The video mentions using a product called 'backne blaster,' which combines mechanical exfoliation with alpha hydroxy acids to remove dead skin cells and cleanse the skin.

How does hydration affect acne, especially for gym-goers?

Proper hydration is crucial for gym-goers because working out increases water loss through sweat, and dehydration can lead to more breakouts. Drinking enough water helps maintain skin health and recovery.

What dietary advice is given to help reduce acne while working out?

The advice includes balancing sodium and potassium intake to maintain hydration, avoiding dairy protein supplements like whey, and opting for plant-based protein powders to reduce acne caused by high levels of leucine and dairy allergies.

Why should gym-goers avoid whey protein supplements if they are prone to acne?

Whey protein supplements are derived from dairy, which can trigger acne in many individuals. Dairy contains hormones and amino acids like leucine that can increase the likelihood of breakouts, especially for those allergic to dairy.

How does cortisol affect acne, and what can be done to manage it?

Cortisol, the stress hormone, increases when the body is physically taxed, such as during intense workouts. Elevated cortisol levels can lead to more breakouts. Taking rest days and managing stress can help lower cortisol levels and reduce acne.

What is the role of cardio in preventing gym-related acne?

Cardio helps improve circulation, hormone balance, and overall health, which can reduce acne. It is recommended to include at least 10-20 minutes of cardio daily to maintain healthy skin while working out.

Why is it important to take rest weeks for long-term skin and body health?

Taking rest weeks allows the body to fully recover, including the central nervous and immune systems. Overtraining without rest can compromise these systems and lead to acne and other health issues.

Outlines

00:00

💪 Tackling Gym-Related Acne Concerns

The speaker introduces the common concern of gym-goers developing acne due to increased physical activity and hormones. They share their personal experience of battling severe cystic acne while maintaining a rigorous bodybuilding routine for over 15 years. This video will cover 15 tips to avoid acne when working out, even though a slight increase in acne is expected with elevated hormones and calorie intake.

05:01

🧴 Gym Hygiene: Preventing Skin Contact with Equipment

Tip 1 emphasizes never laying bare skin on gym equipment, as gym surfaces are breeding grounds for bacteria that can cause body acne. To avoid this, the speaker recommends always using a shirt or towel to create a barrier between the skin and gym equipment.

10:01

🧼 Cleaning Gym Equipment and Personal Hygiene

Tip 2 advises wiping down gym equipment before using it, as germs can transfer through clothing and cause acne. Tip 3 highlights the importance of washing your face immediately after working out to prevent sweat from drying and clogging pores, with a personal preference of using only water post-gym. Tip 4 extends this to the entire body, urging people to shower as soon as possible to prevent acne from sweat.

🧴 Exfoliating and Hydrating for Clearer Skin

Tip 5 suggests using a body cleanser, especially one that exfoliates dead skin cells and removes bacteria, to prevent body acne. The speaker recommends a specific product, Banish’s ‘Backne Blaster.’ Tip 6 stresses the importance of staying hydrated to combat acne, especially during intense workouts that increase water loss and sodium intake.

🍽 Balancing Sodium and Potassium for Skin Health

Tip 7 advises maintaining a balance of sodium and potassium to stay hydrated and avoid breakouts. Many people tend to either overconsume salt or avoid it entirely, but a balance is necessary for proper hydration, especially when working out intensely.

🛌 Rest Days to Lower Cortisol and Prevent Acne

Tips 8 and 9 stress the importance of taking rest days and avoiding dairy protein supplements. Rest days help reduce cortisol, a stress hormone that can exacerbate acne. The speaker also advises avoiding whey protein, which is dairy-based and linked to breakouts, especially in those sensitive to dairy, and recommends plant-based alternatives.

🤲 Avoiding Face Contact and Maintaining Sleep Hygiene

Tip 10 warns against touching your face during workouts due to bacteria transfer from gym equipment. Tip 11 underscores the importance of getting high-quality sleep, as it aids recovery, supports the immune system, and helps keep acne at bay. The speaker recommends creating a bedtime routine for better sleep quality.

🍽 Analyzing Diet for Potential Acne Triggers

Tip 12 highlights how diet changes during muscle-building phases can cause breakouts. The speaker shares personal experience with consuming large quantities of foods like chicken, milk, and eggs and encourages viewers to evaluate their diet for acne triggers.

💊 Hormones and Supplements: Acne Risks

Tip 13 warns against using prohormones or steroids, which can increase testosterone and other hormones, leading to severe breakouts. The speaker explains that these supplements can cause long-term acne issues that are difficult to resolve.

🏃‍♂️ The Importance of Cardio for Acne Prevention

Tip 14 encourages incorporating cardio into workouts. While bodybuilders may focus primarily on lifting, cardio helps with hormone regulation and circulation, which can reduce acne. The speaker notes that bodybuilders often experience clearer skin when they add regular cardio.

🛑 Taking Rest Weeks for Full Recovery

Tip 15 emphasizes the importance of taking a rest week every few months to allow the central nervous system and body to fully recover. The speaker explains that constant training without rest can compromise the immune system and trigger acne, recommending a rest week every 4-5 months.

🛍 Acne Program and Skincare Recommendations

The speaker wraps up by promoting their acne program, which offers a comprehensive guide to acne prevention and management. They also recommend Banish skincare products for treating acne scars and preventing future breakouts, emphasizing their use of fresh, cruelty-free, natural ingredients.

Keywords

💡Acne

Acne refers to a skin condition that causes pimples, blackheads, and cysts, often on the face and body. In the video, the speaker focuses on how working out in the gym can exacerbate acne, especially if proper hygiene isn't followed. The video offers advice on how to prevent acne while maintaining a workout routine.

💡Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding is the process of using strength training and diet to increase muscle mass and strength. The speaker, Brian Turner, highlights his personal experience as a bodybuilder and how bodybuilding can impact skin health, especially in relation to acne. His years of bodybuilding have led him to discover ways to manage gym-related breakouts.

💡Bacteria

Bacteria are microorganisms that can cause infections and acne, especially when they come into contact with the skin. In the gym, equipment can carry bacteria, which is why the speaker emphasizes wiping down machines and using towels to prevent acne. Germs from shared equipment are identified as a major cause of skin breakouts.

💡Cleansing

Cleansing is the act of washing the skin to remove dirt, oil, and bacteria. In the video, the speaker stresses the importance of washing your face and body immediately after workouts to prevent acne. He notes that using a cleanser or simply rinsing with water can help remove sweat and bacteria that contribute to breakouts.

💡Rest Days

Rest days are periods during which an individual refrains from intense physical activity to allow the body to recover. The speaker advises taking regular rest days to reduce cortisol levels, which can prevent acne. Overtraining without rest increases stress hormones, potentially worsening skin conditions.

💡Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone released during times of stress, and high levels of it can trigger acne breakouts. The video discusses how intense workouts without sufficient recovery can increase cortisol levels. To minimize this, the speaker suggests taking rest days and managing stress to improve skin health.

💡Hydration

Hydration refers to maintaining sufficient water levels in the body, which is essential for overall health and skin condition. In the video, the speaker advises staying hydrated, especially when working out, as dehydration can lead to more acne. He also emphasizes balancing electrolytes like sodium and potassium to aid in hydration.

💡Plant-based Protein

Plant-based protein is a protein source derived from plants, rather than animals. The speaker recommends using plant-based protein powders instead of whey or dairy-based proteins, as dairy can trigger acne. He suggests this as a solution for gym-goers who want to avoid breakouts while maintaining their protein intake.

💡Steroids

Steroids are synthetic drugs that mimic testosterone and are often used to enhance muscle growth, but they can lead to severe acne. The speaker warns against using steroids or prohormones because they increase hormone levels, which can exacerbate acne. This is a common issue for individuals in bodybuilding.

💡Exfoliation

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin to prevent clogged pores. The speaker highlights the use of exfoliating products, like the 'back acne blaster,' to prevent body acne. Regular exfoliation can help keep the skin clear by removing dead cells and bacteria.

Highlights

Brian Turner introduces himself and shares his experience with severe cystic acne and bodybuilding since he was 15.

Tip 1: Never lay your skin directly against gym equipment like benches to avoid body acne from bacteria.

Tip 2: Wipe down every piece of equipment before using it to prevent bacteria from transferring to your skin.

Tip 3: Wash your face immediately after lifting weights to prevent sweat from drying on your skin and causing breakouts.

Tip 4: Shower as soon as possible after your workout to remove sweat and bacteria from your body.

Tip 5: Use a body cleanser with exfoliants, such as Banish’s Backne Blaster, to remove dead skin and bacteria.

Tip 6: Stay hydrated to help prevent acne, especially when working out intensively and consuming more calories.

Tip 7: Balance sodium and potassium intake to maintain proper electrolyte levels and hydration.

Tip 8: Take regular rest days to avoid elevated cortisol levels, which can lead to breakouts.

Tip 9: Avoid dairy protein supplements like whey protein, which can trigger acne, and switch to plant-based alternatives.

Tip 10: Avoid touching your face while working out to prevent transferring gym bacteria to your skin.

Tip 11: Ensure you get enough high-quality sleep to allow your body to recover and prevent breakouts.

Tip 12: Track your diet and adjust if certain foods cause increased acne, especially when eating more to gain muscle.

Tip 13: Avoid steroids or pro-hormones, which can increase acne due to hormone imbalances.

Tip 14: Incorporate cardio into your routine to help with circulation and hormone control, reducing acne.

Tip 15: Take a rest week every few months to allow your body, including your skin, to fully recover.

Transcripts

so you want to start going to the gym

you want to start taking care of your

body but you're afraid you're going to

break out because we've all seen those

people who get hyper obsessed with the

gym and then start breaking out

everywhere on their face and on their

body well in this video I'm going to be

telling you 15 ways that you can

completely avoid that acne

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my name is Brian Turner and I have

struggled with extremely severe cystic

acne in the past and was able to

completely clear it up but something

that a lot of people don't know is that

I have been lifting since I was 15 years

old about 30 years old now so over half

of my life I've been doing hardcore

intense bodybuilding workouts and I had

a period of time where I broke out like

crazy and then I figured it out so that

I no longer break out while working out

at the gym I know this video is going to

be super useful because I wish I had

seen something like this when I started

working out at the gym before we get

into number one I want to be super clear

that when you work out you eat more

calories because you're growing your

hormones go up because you're lifting

and you are probably going to get some

level of acne a little bit more than

usual but you can avoid the other 95 of

acne that comes with going to the gym if

you don't do these 15 things so without

further Ado let's jump into number one

all right number one has to do with

actually being in the gym and number one

is never lay your skin directly against

a piece of equipment like a bench you do

not want to do this because there are so

many disgusting germs and I mean Beyond

things like ringworm and infections like

that there's a lot of bacteria and if

you're prone to body acne that can make

you break out so always lay a shirt or a

towel down if you're wearing some sort

of a top where your skin is exposed okay

number two is piggybacking off a number

one and that's wipe down every piece of

equipment before you lay down on it even

if you're wearing a shirt or a hoodie

where your Skin's not going to touch

that piece of equipment when you get

sweaty it will pick up those germs and

that bacteria on that bench and then as

you get more and more sweaty all that

bacteria will make its way through your

shirt and onto your skin so wipe it down

number three immediately wash your face

as soon as you're done lifting before

the sweat dries on your face now just

run straight over to the locker room and

wash your face with just some water now

you can use a cleanser or you cannot

it's up to you you kind of have to test

it out some people will break out more

if they're cleansing too often that's me

personally so I will only cleanse once

in the day and for me that's at the end

of the day to get all the products like

sunblock off of my face so after the gym

I will just use water okay number four

it's again piggybacking off of number

three but try and wash your body as

quick as possible so if you can take a

shower while at the gym and if you can't

do that then just try to get home as

soon as possible and wash your skin now

number five if you are prone to getting

body acne then you are definitely going

to want to use some sort of a body

cleanser I think a lot of people forget

about this they'll just use General soap

but it can really help to use something

that exfoliates so the one that I use is

banishes came out with a new product

called the back knee blasters this is a

body scrub that is both a mechanical

exfoliant so it has a scrub in there so

you're literally scrubbing dead skin

cells off but it also has a blend of

different Alpha hydroxy acids in there

like glycolic and Mal like and tartaric

acid and all of these acids are really

great at also sloughing off those dead

skin cells cleansing your skin getting

that bacteria off of it number six is to

drink more water I know you're probably

rolling your eyes have heard to hydrate

a bazillion times when it comes to acne

but if you are working out it's

especially true when you're working out

you're losing water right you're getting

hot you're sweating but then also your

muscles and your recovery require more

water and then on top of that when

you're eating more food which is going

to have more sodium you're going to need

more water when you are refilling the

glycogen stores in your muscles you're

gonna need more water I could keep

listing reasons why when you're lifting

intensely and exercising intensely

you're going to need more water than

when you aren't but if you are

dehydrated I guarantee you are going to

break out more so up your water number

seven consume more sodium and more

potassium now this again kind of

piggybacks on the last one but to become

more hydrated you need to get your elect

light levels correct and I think a lot

of people will either try to avoid salt

completely or they just over consume

salt but don't have any potassium you do

need to have these balanced otherwise

you're going to have a really hard time

staying hydrated so don't be afraid of

sodium in your diet but also have a

couple fruits here and there because

you're going to get a lot of potassium

for fruits number eight make sure you

are taking enough rest days per week I

suggest at least one but up to four and

the reason why is because as you are

taxing your body physically you are

going to release more of a hormone

called cortisol cortisol is the stress

hormone and when you don't do anything

to get that cortisol down when you just

continue to over exert and really go

crazy at the gym this is especially for

people who you know become very

obsessive and almost never take any rest

that cortisol is going to be extremely

elevated and you're going to have more

breakouts by just implementing a little

more rest especially if you're someone

who's all days 7 days a week no days off

implementing a rest day here and there I

guarantee you're gonna see a bit less

acne number nine avoid Dairy protein

supplements at all costs so when people

start lifting and they start trying to

build their muscles they oftentimes will

use a protein powder because it just

makes it easier to get more protein and

what's the one that everyone gets well

usually whey protein whey protein is a

derivative of milk and dairy and this

absolutely causes more acne in everybody

across the board but if you're someone

like me who is especially allergic to

Dairy this can cause extreme breakouts

this is one of the biggest reasons I had

cystic acne all over my face and as soon

as I took out all dairy products

immediately I saw an improvement and I

stopped getting cystic acne now every

time I share this people are immediately

asking well what can I use for a protein

powder then and the answer is super

simple just use a plant-based protein

powder I'm not telling you have to go

vegan or anything like that but by

having a plant-based protein powder

you're going to avoid quite a few

different things that are causing

breakouts but specifically an amino acid

called leucine which is extremely high

in dairy-based protein powders and is in

a more reasonable level with plant-based

protein it's still there but it's a lot

less and that's going to cause you to

break out a lot less the one that I

personally use is a company called veg

and the reason I really like them is

they have no artificial colors

sweeteners or preservatives and those

things are all things that cause

breakouts that you really should be

looking out for so if you want to use my

code it is brian10 gives you 10 off you

can go to vegbrien.com number 10 this is

going to seem so stupid obvious but

never touch your face now this is even

more important than the usual advice of

not touching your face and not popping

your pimples when you are at the gym and

you're in the middle of your workout and

you've been touching handles and

dumbbells and all sorts of different

equipment machines you your hands are

covered in everyone else's hands germs

people who have just used the bathroom

people who pick their nose grab their

butts people with much less hygiene than

you and your hands are now covered in

those same germs am I grossing you out

yet I hope so because I really want this

to come and sink into your brain because

I see people all the time scratching

their face touching their face if you

get an itch on your face itch it with

the back of your hand itch it with

anything but your fingertips and when

you are finished working out immediately

hand sanitize and wash those bad boys

with soap get all that bacteria off do

not touch your face with it number 11

focus on getting more and higher quality

sleep again another one I know sounds

really obvious but when you are over

exerting yourself and physically taxing

your body again you are going to need

more recovery and if you aren't allowing

your body enough time to recover well

not only are you not going to to grow as

well but it's also going to take away

from your body's ability to take care of

itself your immune system will be

compromised by you sleeping less but

working out more so go to bed a little

bit earlier have a schedule have a

routine like turning off the TV and your

cell phone 30 minutes 60 minutes before

you go to sleep having better quality

sleep will absolutely 100 improve your

gains and your skin number 12 take note

when you notice more breakouts of what

you've been eating lately so when we

start really training to gain muscle

obviously we're going to be eating more

food but oftentimes we're also going to

probably change the way that we've been

eating before we started lifting and a

lot of times we will put something in

our diet that we've never really had

before and we'll start breaking out but

for some reason I was the same way I

never really looked at my diet but then

if I was to actually analyze it man I'm

having 12 chicken thighs a day I'm

having a gallon of milk every I'm having

protein bars every day tons of protein

powder every day I'm having steak every

single day I'm having 12 to 15 eggs

every day that's what my diet used to be

back when my acne was at its worst and

I'm not saying that any one particular

food is going to cause everyone acne but

when you notice you start breaking out

more and you say oh man I wasn't having

a gallon of milk before let me take that

out you might see that that acne goes

away number 13. okay this one maybe is

the most obvious one but I still have to

say it avoid taking pro hormones or

steroids I don't even know if I really

need to expound on this one but I will

when you mess with your hormones you

definitely have a bigger chance of

breaking out and if you're taking

something like for hormones and steroids

which is going to increase your

testosterone and also a whole bunch of

other hormones in your body you are

going to break out period so a lot of

people are impatient and just want a

quick leg up but that can sometimes be

the spark that starts your acne that you

can not get rid of I've seen this

countless of times with dudes in the

industry they'll get covered in acne and

they never had it before number 14 do

cardio as well now I know not everybody

who's watching this video is is

bodybuilding or trying to gain muscle

but I do think a good majority of people

are lifting when we're talking about

going to the gym so if you're somebody

who is only lifting when you go to the

gym start implementing a little bit of

cardio at least 10 minutes you know 15

20 minutes daily because this is going

to help with your circulation it's going

to help with your hormone control it's

going to help with a bunch of stuff it's

also going to be really healthy for you

but this is definitely something that

I've seen a lot of really big

bodybuilders who are breaking out

Implement start doing daily cardio and

then their acne goes away so keep that

in mind okay I've got a few more things

to say but let me round up with number

15 which is make sure to take a rest

week every few months a lot of people

will get obsessed with the gym this guy

and then never want to take a week off

because it's so fun to lift it's so fun

to see progress and so they'll go months

months months years without taking rest

and it really adds up and a lot of times

your body isn't really fully able to

completely recover its central nervous

system and when that happens it can

compromise all sorts of other systems in

your body like your immune system and it

can cause you to have acne so if you

haven't taken a rest week in forever

just take a week off every four or five

months and see how much it improves your

skin I know a lot of you guys on this

channel don't actually really see my

body that much but I am absolutely in

love and obsessed with bodybuilding I've

lifted literally since I was 15 like

half my life and I have seen my acne

come and go based on different things

that I'm doing so that's why I really

wanted to share this video because I

feel like it could be really really

helpful if you found these tips useful I

highly recommend you check out my acne

program because this really is just the

tip of the iceberg there are so many

more things to keep track of and to you

take account for when it comes to

keeping your acne at Bay and my acne

program

www.theacnymethod.com seriously spells

it all out for you makes it super easy

and makes it so that you aren't spinning

your wheels confused instead you can

pinpoint what the causes of your acne so

that you can get rid of it and then of

course like I mentioned a few times in

this video if you are looking for the

skincare products that I use the ones

that I highly recommend definitely check

out banish banish is all small batch

made so everything has only been made

one week ago at the oldest so all the

active ingredients are still active

versus a lot of other products which

have been made years ago and have been

sitting on the shelf it's all also

cruelty free they also use only natural

ingredients it is really really great

for not only improving your acne scars

once you've gotten rid of your acne but

also for keeping mild to moderate acne

at Bay it has personally helped me so

much I highly recommend the body Blaster

the back knee Blaster that I talked

about as well as the all clear mint

cleanser for your face and then of

course the whole line in general is

super fire I literally used the entire

line so check it out you can use my code

Brian five or five dollars off on

banishbrind.com okay that's it a lot of

you guys have been asking me for this

video I finally made it I could

definitely make a part two if you guys

want so let me know in the comments

below but go Get Swole keep the acne at

Bay and hopefully this video can help

you do that give it a thumbs up if you

enjoyed it let me know what you do to

keep acne away while working out of the

gym in the comments below and subscribe

if you're not subscribed ready and I'll

see you beautiful people in the very

next video

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thank you

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