Workouts can do wonders for the skin. The sweat can clear pores (“Sweat is the best cleanser,” board-certified dermatologist Ellen Marmur, M.D., once quipped to us). Moving your body can improve circulation, thereby delivering more nutrients to the skin cells. And being in touch with your body can improve your mental well-being, which in turn can do wonders for skin health. Often we speak of the post-workout glow (it’s real!), but not everyone gets that dewy vibrancy. Some, especially those with light to medium skin tones, appear red—really red. “When you exercise, your body temperature increases. One of the homeostasis mechanisms used by the body when body temperature increases to maintain a healthy body temperature is to carry more blood to the surface of the skin so that heat loss from the skin increases,” she says. “This entails peripheral vasodilation—or widening of the small blood vessels found in the skin so that more blood is carried through them. This can cause a red, flushed face, particularly noticeable in fairer skin types." Essentially: Working out causes improved circulation no matter who you are—a good thing that has a laundry list of benefits for the skin and body—but for those with skin that’s more transparent or even thin, the color comes through more visibly. If it really bothers you, however, “you may be able to minimize it by exercising in a cooler environment and wearing breathable fabrics,” she says.
