Skincare is essential to maintaining healthy skin, but it can be challenging for sensitive skin, so finding the right products that work well without causing irritation or discomfort is vital. Balmy Fox looks at how sensitive skin is impacted by environmental factors when doing outdoor sports and activities and how you can help protect yourself from annoying skin conditions.
Sensitive skin is a term used to describe skin easily irritated by various factors such as harsh ingredients, fragrances, temperature changes and environmental aggressors. Those with sensitive skin may experience dry skin, itching, redness, and burning, so those affected must be cautious about their skincare products to avoid triggering skin reactions.
Sensitive skin requires special care and attention; certain ingredients can help soothe and calm the skin without irritating it. And it’s this reason why Balmy Fox only uses natural and organic ingredients in their skincare, all suitable for sensitive skin. Similarly, that’s why we advocate for plant-based skincare that includes luscious natural essential oils such as the following:
Whether you’re an avid sporty creature of habit or simply like to keep active outdoors on leisurely hikes or yoga in the garden, the environment can significantly impact your skin. It is, therefore, essential to protect your skin from sun exposure, wind, heat, sweat, chlorine, and pollution. So, to ensure that skin can remain healthy and protected, it’s crucial to follow a proper skincare routine and take precautions during sports. For example:
Sun exposure is one of the most significant environmental factors affecting the skin during sports outdoors. Exposure to UV radiation can cause sunburn, premature ageing, and, at the very worse, increase your risk of skin cancer. It’s, therefore, essential to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and reapply every two hours or after sweating or water contact.
Wind exposure can cause dryness and chapping of the skin, particularly on exposed parts such as the face, lips and hands, leading to irritation and discomfort during sports and activities. Applying our emollient moisturiser for hands and hydrating lip balm for chapped lips, both for sensitive skin, protects your delicate skin from windburn.
The body produces heat and sweat during sports to regulate body temperature. Combine this with repetitive motion, and you’re on course for chafing through friction, leading to irritation, rashes and sore skin. Applying an anti-chafe cream for sensitive skin before running, cycling, swimming, or other activity will help avoid friction-related skin conditions on the inner thighs, underarms and groin area.
Chlorine and salt exposure when swimming in chlorinated pools and the sea, respectively, can cause skin irritation and dryness, particularly for sensitive skin. Therefore, it’s vital to rinse the skin with fresh water as soon as you can after swimming and apply a super hydrating moisturiser for sensitive skin to prevent skin drying out for all you watersports enthusiasts.
Pollution exposure, such as smog and exhaust fumes, can cause oxidative stress and premature skin ageing. Ideally, you should avoid exercising and sporting activities in heavily polluted areas or, at the very least, cover up to protect the skin from pollution.
Here are Balmy Fox’s top tips for active souls and sports lovers with sensitive skin:
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