LOSING FACE

HOW different types of exercise affect the face. this week: Combat sports and circuit training ANY kind of activity that involves pushing your heart rate up can cause heavy sweating — and this can be damaging to your skin, says cosmetic dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting.

‘ Prolonged sweating can damage thin, sensitive skin and contribute to the formation of broken capillaries,’ she says.

If you then have a vigorous shower this will wash away the sweat and the skin’s lipids (natural fats), says Dr Erich Shulte, a former cosmetic trauma surgeon and founder of QMS Medicosmetics.

‘If lipids are lost then the skin begins to dry out. In the long term, this will affect the skin’s elasticity and may cause premature aging.’ He suggests taking short showers (not baths) after a workout, avoiding harsh soaps and then applying a nonalcohol based moisturiser to skin.