Air-Conditioned Gyms: Bad For Your Skin?
Air-conditioned gyms offer many benefits, such as keeping us cool and refreshed when we work out and helping to eliminate the build up of body odours and sweat. Unfortunately, these conditions may not be quite as good for our skin.
If you have ever noticed that you suffer from dry skin, or dry cracked hands, when working out then air-conditioners could be partly responsible.
Essentially, air conditioners mimic the cooler, frostier weather conditions of the winter, which is a time when our skin is really put under pressure by cold temperatures and icy winds.
It’s certainly not unusual for regular gym goers to experience ‘weather-beaten’ skin in air-conditioned buildings and there’s even a name for it: ‘sick building syndrome’.
Research suggests that people who spend large amounts of time in air-conditioned environments – such as office workers or those who like to work out regularly – tend to display a range of similar symptoms including tiredness, headaches, and even dry skin.
See Also: How To Care and Cure Your Dry Skin
It is also implied that air conditioning could trigger allergy symptoms such as irritation and itchiness which could lead to dry, cracked hands.
Dry Skin At The Gym
If you visit the gym regularly, you may notice that your skin is drier in areas that are directly exposed to the cold breeze. One of the main problem areas for gym goers is therefore the hands.
Dry, cracked hands are a very common complaint at the gym because the skin on the hands is typically put under so much more pressure than the skin on other parts of the body.
Air conditioner works by removing some of the moisture from the air but in doing so it also draws moisture out of the skin. Your hands are already beginning to dry out when you begin your workout, and as the delicate skin is then pulled and stretched when using pull up bars or clutching weights, it’s more likely to crack or flake.
Healing Hands
It’s important to maintain a good skincare routine to protect your hands from the drying effects of the air con unit at the gym, and help dry, cracked hands to heal properly.
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First, make sure to wash your hands regularly and – most importantly – dry them properly. When we lead busy lives and are rushing from one place to the next, it’s very tempting to just give the hands a quick pat and leave the remainder to dry naturally. However, if your hands are damp and exposed to air conditioning then they’re only likely to become chapped.
You should also remember to moisturize regularly. You’ll want to find a fast absorbing, non-greasy formula so that those weights don’t slip out of your hands. Moisturize morning and night to help your dry skin repair and protect itself.
Protecting Your Skin At The Gym
It’s not just dry, cracked hands that are problem. Any other parts of your skin that are exposed to the cold blasts of the AC at the gym can also start to become dry. They may become painful and irritated if not cared for properly.
A good tip is to take a little extra care when you’re taking your post-workout shower. While you may want to cover your whole body in a strong-smelling soap to get you feeling fresh, heavily fragranced soaps and soaps containing harsh chemicals can actually dry your skin out even more as they strip it of its natural oils. Opt for gentle soaps instead and moisturize well afterwards to replace lost moisture.
While air conditioning may not always be great for your skin, it’s relatively easy to tackle these potential problems. Air-conditioned gyms are a modern convenience that we’d probably struggle to live without.
Instead of abandoning your workout, make sure you know how to care for your skin properly and keep it hydrated and moisturized so that air conditioners are no longer a worry.
