A dancer’s face and body are constantly on display under bright lights on the dance floor and stage.
Dancers normally wear costumes that show off their body and skin and there are always lots of people looking at them and observing their skills and exposed skin.
Dancers normally have good skin due to regular dancing, but even good skin has its breakout days, and this can be a real bummer. In the dance world, our skin is most visible. No matter how much we wash, sometimes breakouts are unavoidable and can become very embarrassing. Covering it up all the time can be tiresome and annoying.
Certain factors that are avoidable can contribute to breakouts that we aren’t aware of.
Sweat, sweat and more sweat! Boy, do dancers sweat! Sometimes one’s skin gets irritated when it’s moist all the time with sweat. It’s good to dry off with a towel during a short break.
Think of how your skin reacts when you take a long bath; it starts to react to the moisture. Your skin needs to be dried off or aired out; so whenever possible, towel off.
Flush out those toxins We accumulate toxins everyday and one of the main ways toxins get released is through our skin when we sweat. If we only drink water when we’re thirsty, then we are not getting enough. Water is essential to flushing out toxins. The more water you drink, the more pure your sweat will be and toxins will be flushed out.
Keep your skin clean An obvious reason for breakouts is lack of cleanliness. Bring an oil-free astringent in your dance bag, and wash your face, back and chest with it in between classes. It’s amazing how much grime our skin can pick up during a short time.
Someone mop that dirty floor! As sweat often drips on the dance floor, dust and dirt make it even dirtier. Many dance movements and exercise demand dancers to lie on the floor, wearing short, back-baring dance gear, which can easily cause bad breakouts. So make sure you bring a towel to lie on during floor exercises or stretching time. Or just wear a shrug or a cover-up that covers your back.
Stop picking. When a breakout happens, the first thing we do most of the time is pick, thinking it will speed up the healing process. Actually, it does quite the opposite. We carry the most germs under our nails, and when we pick, we infect the breakout further and it can also cause scarring or permanent skin damage. So leave your skin alone!
If need be there are quite a few products such as Pro-Active Solution and acne medications, which a good dermatologist can prescribe. So visit one at the earliest.
Skip the makeup Clogged pores due to makeup can cause breakouts too. Be wary of make up with talcum powder in it. Use mineral makeup as far as possible. Sweat and makeup don’t mix for a lot of us and a clean face is better than a made-up face. Try to skip the make up while practising in class, and use it only for dance gatherings and shows.
Diet Your diet can be a huge contributor! Certain foods can trigger a breakout so try to avoid them just to safeguard your skin: chocolate, fast food, anything fried or greasy, too much cheese etc. Just pay attention to your diet and be aware of diet triggers.
Hormones This is another unavoidable one: hormones. As we get older, our bodies start to change and hormones are what bring this change about — especially when it is that time of the month for a woman dancer. Hormone breakouts usually show up in the same places each month. A lot of the time they will show up on the jaw line, chin and under the ears. Just be patient and wait it out; do not over-wash especially with skin products, as use of too many products will irritate the skin even more. Try an alcohol-free toner, a daily face wash and a light oil free moisturiser with SPF protection in it. Wash once in the morning, once after dancing and once at night.
Every dancer — male or female — wants clean, fresh, blemish-free skin. It’s so hard to go through the embarrassment of having breakouts and people staring at bad skin instead of your graceful dancing. With the right knowledge of what is going on with your particular situation you have better chances of beating it! So pay close attention to your skin and don’t ignore it.
Taking the proper measures will lead you to a blemish-free complexion that will give you the confidence to dance your best.
