How to avoid over-cleansing of the skin?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am in my late teens, and I have been doing skin care for a bit now. I cleanse in the morning, add my first active, moisturize, and then apply sunscreen. Later in the afternoon, I go to the gym with the same sunscreen layer from the morning.

Anyway, after I head home from my workout, I first take a shower, and then I double cleanse my face (first cleanse with an oil cleanser and a second cleanse with a water-based one). After that, I do my usual routine, I moisturize and add my second active. I never cleansed my face before my workout to remove sunscreen or just in general.

I did not know that it was an issue, but apparently it is, and it can lead to acne. I have been quite nervous because I do not want to over-cleanse my face. As a result, I have not worked out in a minute since I am trying to figure this out. I am not sure what to do, and I was just wondering if I should actually cleanse before or after? If I do have to cleanse before a workout, what should I do to avoid over-cleansing and damaging my skin?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Thank you for explaining your routine so clearly.

Firstly, I would like to put your mind at ease that there is nothing that you have done to harm your skin, and there is no reason for you to stop working out on account of this problem. The confusion that you are facing is one that is shared by many teenagers who use actives such as Adapalene and Azelaic acid.

From a dermatology perspective, it is completely acceptable to cleanse your face after your workout rather than before, especially since you are already cleansing properly at night. Having sunscreen on your face during a workout does not automatically cause acne.

Acne occurs as a result of the buildup of sweat, oil, sunblock, and other impurities within the pores of the skin. As you take a shower and use two cleansing products after your workout, you do everything right. Cleansing before the workout is optional, not mandatory, and skipping it does not mean you are doing skincare wrong.

The bigger risk for someone your age, especially while using Adapalene, is over-cleansing, which can damage the skin barrier, increase irritation, and paradoxically worsen acne. Cleansing three or more times daily or using harsh cleansers strips natural oils and makes the skin more reactive. Because you have experienced over-cleansing problems in the past, you should avoid adding an extra full cleanse before the gym.

If you want a balanced, skin-safe approach, the best option for you is to keep your morning cleanse as usual, apply moisturizer and sunscreen, go to the gym without worrying about removing sunscreen first, and then cleanse thoroughly after your workout, which you are already doing. If you sweat heavily and feel uncomfortable, you may simply rinse your face with plain water or gently blot with a clean towel before exercise, without using a cleanser. This avoids pore congestion while protecting your skin barrier.

Your use of Azelaic acid 10 % and Adapalene is appropriate, but these products already increase skin sensitivity. Because of this, it is essential to keep cleansing gently and minimally, use a non-foaming, fragrance-free cleanser, and always moisturize well.

You can skip Azelaic acid and Adapalene for a few days to repair the damaged skin barrier, and this will also settle the acne. After four to five days, you can start using Adapalene and Azelaic acid. Try to do it on alternate nights to avoid any skin sensitivity damage to the barrier and acne in future.

You do not need to double cleanse unless you are wearing heavy sunscreen or makeup, and even then, it should only be done once daily, after the workout, not multiple times.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.