Keep The Fungus Out Of Fitness

Your diet and workout may be on point, but the filthy habits you haven’t changed since high school may be sabotaging other areas of your health. We’re here to fix and eliminate some disgusting traits.

- Amy Schlinger

You spend time warming up, stretching, and strengthening your muscles during a workout, but what are you doing to take care of your skin?

How often have you raced out of the house without enough layers? Or thought, “Who needs sunscreen in the dead of winter?” And how many times were you “too tired” to even bother showering? Chances are your fitness hygiene may be, well, gross. Worse yet, you may be putting yourself—sometimes others—at risk with anything from cracked skin to acne to even ringworm.

Here are some tips for putting more care into yourself before, during, and after your workout.

MINDING THE SUNNY, OUTDOOR ELEMENTS

IF YOU LIKE to take your cardio outdoors, there are certain precautions you need to be taking, no matter the temps. When it’s warm and sunny out, wearing sunscreen is of utmost importance. “All those runs add up, and exposing the same areas over and over can add up,” explains Hadley King, M.D., a New York City–based dermatologist. “You’re not only at risk for aging, but skin cancer is quite proportional to cumulative lifelong sun exposure.”

Wearing a hat can help, but always apply an SPF 30 or higher. “Because you’re going to be sweating, you don’t want a thick cream that will clog your pores. Instead, look for an alcohol-based, sports-gel sunscreen that’s lighter,” says Debora Heslin, a dermatology physician assistant in New York City.

In addition to applying SPF on any exposed skin, slather on a moisturizer to keep areas like your cheeks and fingers from getting chapped and cracked.