Caring for Athletic Skin

Athletic-minded skin takes a beating. Sweaty workouts, chlorinated pools, chafing winds, and the sun's UV rays, all contribute to the de-moisturizing and wrinkling of our epidermis; the skin's top layer.

Now, I'm no skin care nut/expert; until a year or so ago, I didn't even know there was a difference between body and facial soap. But, after learning about the damage that we athletes can do to our skin and the resulting problems (e.g., deadly melanoma for one), I now wish I would have started a skin maintenance program earlier in my life.

Okay, did I just write that? That statement might hurt my "manly-man" image. But, I must admit that I like not feeling as if the skin on my back and face is going to crack into tiny pieces after a swim. And, I'm happy that I no longer awake at night to find myself uncontrollably scratching a dry patch on my legs. And, I'm thrilled that the spots and marks on my back are not skin cancer.

It's not difficult to properly care for your skin. Here are a few skin care recommendations that will keep you looking younger, feeling healthier, and staying alive (btw, we are not receiving any perks or fees from the following companies or products):

1. Use a facial cleanser, not body soap on the face ; Huh? Don't use the bar of Dial or Ivory on my face? Why not? It does the job on the rest of my body, why not on my mug?

Soap is a terrible product to put on your face because it does its job too well. You don't need all of those heavy cleansers for your face. Facial cleansers use other solutions to clean the dirt and grime off of your face while simultaneously not stripping most of the healthy oils. I have found Cetaphil to be a great facial cleansing product, but I'm sure others are just as good.

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2. Find a good body moisturizer and use it daily ; Yes, a hot "Hollywood shower" (10 to 15 minutes or longer) is relaxing and feels great on your back. But, that hot water will make your skin as dry as the Mojave Desert if you don't apply moisturizer after toweling off. Find a good body moisturizer and use it liberally at least once a day and after each time you get out of a hot shower; and especially after you come out of a pool or hot tub. I find that Aveeno works well. And, if you have difficulty moisturizing those hard to reach places on your back, have someone apply it for you if possible.

3. Just like cleansing, use a separate facial moisturizer ; Again, treat your face like your favorite offspring (kidding, but you get my point). The skin on your face requires different care than the rest of your body. Facial moisturizers consist of a specialized formula to more effectively combat your dry cheeks, nose, and forehead. Lately, I'm using DHC for Men (a Japanese product that my wife ordered online) and I like the results. Its small container is also easy to pack for travel.

4. Apply high SPF sunscreen ; You're no longer a teenager on Spring Break, so give up those ignorant baby oil beach baking moments. You can no longer afford to be so dumb because your life may depend on it. Melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the United States. Read that sentence again-it's the fastest growing of ALL cancers. And one reason for its proliferation is our lack of sunscreen use. If you're lucky, your failure to use 30+ SPF will only cause pre-mature wrinkling/aging and ugly sun spots on your skin. But, more people are unfortunately learning that the failure to use protection can kill. Any high SPF sunscreen will do, but the folks at Kinesys are focused on the needs and wants of the athletic-minded. Their spray-on application is more convenient and easier to apply than a cream.

5. Regular skin screening ; find a local dermatologist that specializes in skin cancer and sign up for a visit. He/she should spend a significant amount of time examining all of your moles and documenting them. Then, when you return in another 2 to 3 years, a map of your skin will be available for reference. Any dermatologist is better than none, but if you can find one that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer, all the better.

6. Buy a humidifier for your bedroom ; For those really dry winter nights, purchase a $25, cold water humidifier for your bedroom and keep the door closed. Especially when the house heater is blowing dry air, a humidifier will keep your room feeling like the Amazon; you're skin will appreciate it.