Does pre workout cause acne! Acne is a skin condition that occurs when hair follicles plug with oil and dead skin cells. However, it is uncertain that pre-workout do cause acne. If you are looking to know if pre-workout can cause acne, it is either because you want to start using it and you are being careful about your acne-prone skin, or you are experiencing some differences haven used a pre-workout.
A lot of people recently use a pre-workout supplement to help them boost their workout sessions.
To answer your question, especially if you are yet to use a pre-workout supplement, here is all you need to know.
WHAT IS ACNE?
Acne is a common skin problem, more prevalent among teenagers, characterized by blemishes and pimples. It may be caused as a result of hormonal change, excess sebum production, inflammation, and bacteria overgrowth. Although there is no scientific evidence, it is believed that what we eat can also cause acne. That is why this article “does pre workout cause acne” if for you.
WHAT IS A PRE-WORKOUT?
Pre-workout is the general name for various fitness supplements. Pre-workout supplement is a great health and fitness product that focuses on helping you boost your workout performance in the gym.
Pre-workout supplements usually come in pills or powder form to be mixed into a drink and taken about half an hour before beginning your workout session.
DOES PRE WORKOUT CAUSE ACNE
We can’t come to a conclusive answer on the matter. Sugary and greasy foods have been linked to acne, but besides the anecdotal evidence that some foods and ingredients can cause acne or worsen it, as earlier stated, there is no scientific evidence that what we eat can cause acne.
The same applies to pre-workout supplements. While they may contain ingredients that are believed to worsen or cause acne, it remains uncertain if pre-workout truly causes you to have acne.
WHY PRE WORKOUT MAY CAUSE ACNE
The belief that pre-workout supplements can cause your skin to break out, causing acne is associated with what it is made of. Here are some possible reasons why pre-workout may cause or worsen acne breakouts:
1. THEY ARE HIGH IN CAFFEINE
Many pre-workout supplements are high in caffeine, giving you the energy boost you need to get through your workout routine. A typical caffeine level in a pre-workout supplement ranges from 150-300mg per serving.
Lets look at the relationship between caffeine and acne. Research has shown that caffeine has a diuretic effect on your kidney, which is why it is advised to drink a lot of water when you consume any caffeine. The effect of caffeine on your kidney causes you to pee more than usual, which affects your skin in some ways.
When you take caffeine and pee more than usual, you should replace the water lost by drinking more water, else you will be dehydrated. Dehydration makes your skin dry. Your skin responds to this dryness by producing oil and recall that excess sebum production can cause acne. The oil produced by your skin when it is dry can clog your pores and cause acne.
2. FULL OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
Some pre-workout supplements use sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose in their formulas to help enhance the taste of the product, which may potentially cause acne. Studies have shown that consuming both aspartame and sucralose can produce an increase in insulin levels, which could boost acne levels.
Unfortunately for acne sufferers and people prone to having acne, insulin resistance may play a vital role in acne development. Insulin can stimulate the production of androgens, which then overstimulates sebum oil production.
3. THEY CONTAIN INGREDIENTS THAT MAY CAUSE ACNE
Besides caffeine and artificial sweeteners, pre-workouts are usually filled with protein, creatine, mass gainers, and branched amino acids. These ingredients may be linked to acne breakout.
HOW TO REDUCE ACNE WHILE TAKING PRE-WORKOUTS
While researching on ” does pre workout cause acne ” , we discover that there are steps you could take to reduce your acne while taking your pre-workout supplements:
1. TAKING COLD BATHS
Hot showers reduce oiliness from your skin, which then causes your body to produce more oil to compensate for lost ones, which may result in clogged pores and worsened symptoms.
Cold baths on the other hand increase white blood cell count which can boost your immune system, giving you better strength to fight off acne-causing bacteria. In addition, cold baths limit oiliness without overly drying out your skin.
2. USE SUNSCREEN
Apply sunscreen whenever you are going out because direct sunlight exposure can cause you to have acne or even worsen acne if it’s there already.
3. TAKE FISH OIL
Fish oils are rich in omega-3, which offers some important benefits such as improved skin health and reduced inflammation. Fish oils can suppress hormone production which can be beneficial for those with acne. So, while taking your pre-workout supplements, you should consider adding some fish oil.
4. TAKE A MILK THISTLE SUPPLEMENT
A study compared the use of milk thistle and antibiotics for fighting acne, and the results showed that both were effective. If your pre-workout supplements are causing you to break out, it is advised that you add milk thistle to your routine.
CONCLUSION
In this article “does pre workout cause acne” we realised that whether or not pre-workouts cause acne cannot be said for sure, even though it contains ingredients like caffeine and aspartame that have been said to boost acne breakouts, no scientific evidence has been brought forth to justify this claim.