Hot Yoga and Your Skin
Does hot yoga cause facial skin irritation?
Hot yoga effects on the skin will vary according to the individual’s skin type, age, and other health related factors.
Under-stimulated skin types such as dry or mature will benefit from the stimulation brought on by the steam. Heat helps increase circulation which can in turn aid in stimulating the oil production and absorption levels of the skin.
Natural processes have slowed down in aging skin in particular. The stimulation caused by the heat will help increase the cell turnover rate, and hydration and moisture levels that decrease with age.
There are certain skin conditions or medications that can cause the skin to become sensitive or sensitized to heat application. This includes the hot yoga. The two main skin care concerns we see as technicians resulting from heat sensitivity are Rosacea and Acne.
Rosacea & Acne prone skin
Rosacea is aggravated by the application of heat. A person with this condition may cause potential harm to their skin.
Acne prone skin types will see an increase in oil production. As a result, they end up making their skin more susceptible to bacterial infections. This is because they are sweating profusely while the pores are open by the added heat and humidity.
Exposure frequency
If you are exposing your skin to that level of heat and activity on a daily basis, regarding of your skin type, hot yoga is going to have damaging effects on your skin. Overheating the skin can have a drying effect and cause inflammation and vascular lesions on the skin.
Tips to heal heat damage
If you love hot yoga and are regularly participating, there are things you can do to counteract the effects of the heat exposure.
One thing you can do is ensure that you always do a cold wash after your workout. In other words, don’t wait to wash your face until you get home. It’s not so much about cleaning it, it’s about calming it. Once you get home you can do a deep cleanse and care using nourishing products such as masks or serums that contain hyaluronic acid or aloe vera.
If you are a dryer skin type, make sure that you use the appropriate moisturizer for your skin to lock in the hydration. If you have acne-prone skin, you may benefit from a cleanser that contains salicylic acid which will help counterbalance the increased oil production caused by the heat exposure.
Peace, Love, and Great Skin!
Dérmica MedEsthetics
(780) 885 7108
dermica.ca