Why is my sports bra causing acne breakouts and how to cure it?

This is a frequently asked question that can't be answered in 2 or 3 sentences.

Your sports bra is not the only blame of your acne.

It's actually a type of acne called Acne Mechanica. It's a a form of acne caused by aggravated heat from exercise by covered skin from a sports bra (less air circulation).

Constant repetitive "friction" and pressure causes Acne Mechanica. Tight clothing, such as sports bras that are made with synthetic fibers as opposed to breathable cotton, don't allow the skin to breathe, thus causing Acne Mechanica to form.


Fitness lovers wearing tight headbands, sports bras, bikers'shorts, helmets and backpacks are most likely to get Acne Mechanica.

The best way to avoid this acne is to get a better fitting sports bra. Your sports bra is not suppose to move or "bite into" the skin. You may need to switch from your current brand. A better fitting sports bra will stop the "friction" caused by constant movement of the bra thus causing this acne.


The most popular class of athletes who become victim to Acne Mechanica are runners, triathletes, sports players who wear shoulder pads and/or helmets, hats and (cyclists) have this acne on buttock area from the bike seat.

When you have Acne Mechanica, you should use a liquid cleanser that is not formulated for masses of people, but one that is formulated for a post workout and will return skin to it's proper PH after exercise. Use dermatologist recommended the Stellar Performance Post Workout Cleanser by Motion Medica. This cleanser has a complex formula to kill bacteria causing acne from sweat. Over time, if Acne Mechanica is left untreated it can cause permanent skin scars.

By Sandy Alcide. Sandy is a Biochemist and President of the American Athletic Skin Care Association. Athlete Skin Consultant Founder of Motion Medica skin care. Pioneer of fitness beauty products. Sandy is an esthetician specializing in skin disorders.Copyright 2010 All rights reserved. You may use this article for your blog, website or newsletter or portions of it but you must include this paragraph and a link to www.MotionMedica.com

What is the best vitamin for your skin?

Vitamin A.


New dermatological studies researched by the American Academy of Dermatology, Duke University about the power of vitamin A for your skin.

Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins for skin. Not only does it work as an anti-oxidant it also helps to fight free radicals. Vitamin A plays a strong role in strengthening the protective tissue of your skin and repairing skin tissue. Skin tissue protects the body from water loss and dehydrated skin. The skin tissue also uses specialized pigment cells called melanocytes to protect the body from ultra-violet radiation and helps regulate body temperature and metabolism.

Vitamin A is also known to help fight off damaging effects from physical stress on the body and sun exposure that is common with an athletic lifestyle.


If your skin is dry or rough with a combination of acne, white/blackheads you are probably lacking sufficient vitamin A. For persons 18 years and older the daily recommended dosage of vitamin A is 10,000 IUs.

The best sources of vitamin A include animal products such as oily fish, eggs, cheese and non fat milk.

Vegetables, provide carotenoids which the body can transform into retinol (a vitamin A acid). The best sources of carotenoids include yellow, red and dark green plants such as carrots, spinach, bell peppers, kale and turnip greens.

Botanical extracts that are toxic to skin!

New skin care companies are marketing products without safety testing of exotic plant extracts which have high incidences of skin irritation and with long term use can be toxic.

Some natural plant extracts fall outside the definitions of "cosmetic" ingredients and have never been tested for safety by the FDA.

Many of these new skin care companies advertise the value of various combinations of these exotic plant extracts in their products but provide no clinical studies that actually support their claim.

The following is a list of plants and tree extracts to avoid in skin care products:

Dieffenbachia
Castor bean
Daffodil (keep it as pretty flower in the garden)
Buttercup (in Daffodil family)
Foxglove (another pretty flower only to look at)
Tulip "Bulb"
Narcissus Bulb
Cow slip
Milkweed
Broomweed
Rubber Tree extract
Fig Tree Sap

Any botanical skin care product that costs very little can be appealing to those who are unaware of these very "nice sounding" ingredients. Remember, you always get what you pay for.

Acne and Exercise

Working out at the gym may tone your muscles and cause the ladies and gents to swoon over your chiseled physique. But when they get a closer look and realize you're covered with acne, your six-pack abs can't save you.

Skin, the body's most visible and largest organ, can be riddles with acne problems after a workout. During exercise, your oil producing sebacious glands are also hard a t work thanks to a raised heart rate. Oils and water that is lost from sweat can cause extra oil and dehydrated skin. The perfect breading ground for acne.

Cleanse, don't damage your skin after a workout.



Product that exfoliate dead skin cells and contain alpha hydroxy acids, derived from willow bark, should only be used after a workout, not before.

Using this product can cause skin to be irritated, more so if you have sensitive skin.

Sweating is good for you! Besides a natural cooling system for the body, it also rids your body of toxins. But you don't want these staying on your skin. Always cleanse within thirty minutes of post workout.

While at the gym, give your showroom physique a break and show off your clear, healthy skin. You might get more attention than you think.

For additional information log on to: http://www.motionmedica.com/main/acnekit.aspx