MDacne
Hot yoga acne is actually a kind of body acne (folliculitis) that is caused by a yeast (fungus) called Pityrosporum (or Malassezia). This type of body acne is generally seen in people who often wear tight-fitting clothes that cause friction on the skin. It is particularly frequent for those who workout and sweat a lot while wearing tight clothes (just like a hot yoga class!) and don't shower immediately after.
How to treat hot yoga acne?
Step 1: The first step is—as always–to manage the root cause of the problem. Try wearing workout clothes that are less tight-fitting and don't rub against your skin.
Step 2: Next, try to shower immediately after the yoga class—as well as any other exercise, sport, or activity where you sweat using a medicated body acne cleanser. If you don't have access to a shower right away, you can wipe down with an oil-free wet wipe or makeup remover towelette and change into clean, dry, loose-fitting clothes until you can hit the showers.
Step 3: If these steps alone aren't enough to get rid of your folliculitis, buy yourself an anti-dandruff shampoo such as Selsun Blue or Nizoral (both available over the counter). Use them to wash your back and chest and all other areas with folliculitis. Gently massage the wash into your skin (do not use a loofah or other exfoliating tool as they can over-irritate the skin!) for 2-3 minutes and rinse it off.
Step 4: After showering, apply a thin layer of a medicated anti-acne treatment cream, formulated specifically for body acne that includes benzyol peroxide or salicylic acid.
To find the right acne treatments for your unique skin, take the free skin assessment by clicking here.
