Are Your Hobbies Harming Your Skin?

Hobbies and interests serve to cheer you up and heighten your spirits. They are pleasurable indulgences that wither offer your physical health benefits or enhance your creativity and expression. However, the hobbies that you may enjoy may also be putting your skin at risk to certain damage.

Here are some potentially risky hobbies for the skin and tips to keep your skin safe:

Hobby: Gym & Exercising

While going to the gym and exercising can provide you with a great deal of skin care benefits like increased blood circulation and a radiant glow, it can also put your skin at risk to damage.

Bacterial Infections
Gyms are generally hot and sweaty. And this is what makes them the perfect place for bacteria and fungus to survive and transfer from one person to the other. There can be germs everywhere be it on the mats, weights and other equipments, machines and so on. They can get transferred to your skin and give rise to acne and blemishes. Therefore, make sure your clean the equipment and machines with a clean towel before suing them. Also, take a shower as soon as you are done. Damp clothes can cause itchiness or rashes.

Dehydration
Since gyms usually have air conditioners that make the air dry, your skin loses moisture. Moreover, exercising speeds up the rate at which body loses water that may often lead to dehydration of the skin. Dehydration causes a reduction in the blood flow to your skin which may further diminish the necessary nutrients that is required for skin repair and renewal. As a result, your complexion may become dull and your skin, dry and flaky. In order to prevent this, drink a lot of water before your start exercising and take small sips every 15 minutes during your workout.

Hobby: Outdoor Sports

Be it football or be it baseball... anything that makes you spend time under the sun puts your skin at risk of severe sun damage.

Damage by UV Rays
The harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun are responsible for causing painful sunburns and premature aging of the skin. This leads to the development of wrinkles, fine lines and brown spots. Also, the skin becomes dry and saggy. UV exposure also increases the risk of skin cancer.

Heat Rashes
High temperatures and humidity can cause heat rashes. When the skin pores become clogged, they are unable to release sweat to cool the skin and this traps the sweat within the skin. Heat rashes appear as clusters of red spots that are itchy and prickly. Therefore, make sure you wear protective clothing when out in the sun.

Acne
The profuse sweating from outdoor sports when combined with oil, bacteria and dead skin cells attracts dirt and debris. This leads to the clogging of skin pores that further cause acne. Therefore, make sure you protect your skin by applying a broad spectrum sunscreen with minimum SPF 30. Look for a sunscreen that delivers anti-aging nutrients to your skin but doesn't sting the skin. Instead of rich creamy formulations, use lighter oil-free sunscreens.

Hobby: Swimming

Swimming pools are generally loaded with chlorine in order to kill germs and keep the water clean. However, chlorine does not go well with the skin.

Skin Dryness
Chlorine has a major drying affect on the skin and also leaves behind a mild odor. Therefore, make sure you take a shower immediately in order to wash off the chlorine deposits on your body. Also, moisturize your skin with a rich moisturizer that hydrates intensively and does not irritate the skin.

Hobby: Hiking & Camping

Hiking and camping can be great fun but if you are not careful; your skin can pay a heavy toll for all the fun.

Poison Ivy & Poison Oak
These plants contain sticky oil called urushiol that sticks to almost anything and irritates your skin when it comes in contact. It may further result in the development of blisters, soars and rashes.

UV damage
Because of the outdoor traveling, your skin becomes prone to damage by the UV rays. Therefore make sure your wear protective clothing and slather on dollops of sunscreen all over your body.