As you work out and try to improve your muscle mass, body strength and most of all, your overall physique, the last thing you’d want to worry about is your blemish-free skin ending up being covered with those nasty acne spots.
However, it can be difficult to look for which vitamins and supplements that you should use without going through acne outbreak. For instance, the popular choice of most fitness lovers all over the world is none other than creatine due to its ability to boost the body’s performance.Unfortunately, creatine has earned a bad reputation since users are reporting that it has given them skin breakouts.
I know you’re wondering by now how does creatine cause acne? Is there any truth to these reports? If you want to know the answer, then please keep on reading below.
How Can Use of Creatine Result to Acne Breakout?
Creatine is widely used by bodybuilders and even athletes as supplement helping them boost their performance to maximum during workouts as well as to gain muscle mass. However, a larger number of creatine users reported that they noticed their skin condition has gotten worse after using creatine as a supplement.
Though there are already studies that connect creatine and acne, I still believe that it is just an indirect cause since. Here are some reasons why creatine is causing your acne break out.
1. You will get dehydrated.
Though using of creatine will not directly result to dehydration, but it might lead you to dehydration. Wondering how? Simply by overworking!
As you supplement with creatine, you will mostly be working out harder than you used to since you are trying to build a definite type of mass. Obviously, you’d be working so hard to bulk up. If you keep doing this without drinking plenty of water or your required daily water intake, you will eventually get dehydrated for sure. Take note that dehydration can give you acne!
2. You are drinking sports drink.
If you are someone who constantly works out, I’m sure sports drinks are one of your must-haves. What’s great about sports drink is that it can give you energy as well as nourishment while you are sweating out in the gym.
However, these kinds of drinks are packed with sugar which likely triggers the increase of your blood glucose level. When the blood sugar in your system increases, your skin will become vulnerable to breakouts.
3. You are working out too much.
Working out excessively will increase the stress level of your body. This is because your body will be engaged in a “fight or flight response”. When your body is experiencing this reaction, your sugar levels, as well as insulin levels, will increase. Your body will then be releasing cortisol or stress hormone.
When these internal processes of your body are combined, your skin will be greatly affected and acne will start showing up.
How Can You Avoid Acne When You Are Using Creatine?
So now that we have learned how does creatine cause acne, you’re probably having some doubts in your mind now. You are probably thinking of giving out your dream achieving that buffed body in exchange for a clearer skin.
Well, I have some good news for you: you can actually do both. Here are some incredible tips to keep your amazing looking skin while at the same time working on your goal.
1. Drink plenty of water.
Think of creatine as a water thief, it will sneak all over your body just to steal away water and quickly transfer it to your muscles. It is important that you fight this! You need to get enough fluid to keep going and this does not include any sports drink at all.
It is recommended to drink about eight to ten glasses of water every day; but when you’re taking creatine, I suggest you increase your daily intake. This will make sure that the amount of water creatine is transporting to your muscles will not be leaving your skin dehydrated for moisture.
2. Decrease caffeine and alcohol intake
Both caffeine and alcohol can greatly dehydrate your body. So when you’re using creatine and the first thing you grab in the morning is your favourite cappuccino, then I suggest you stop and reconsider your diet. Try out low caffeinated teas rather than indulging yourself with dehydrating drinks like coffee.
Another thing you should check is your drinking habits. Reduce the amount of alcohol you are drinking with the timeframe of your workouts.
3. Cut back your sugar intake.
I know you quickly grab some cookies and donuts on your cheat day. Well, they could be a wonderful treat for your hard work all afternoon in the gym but the sugar will not help your skin problems.
Creatine generates insulin and sugar will make your insulin levels skyrocket. This only means one thing – yes you guessed it right, oily skin!
4. Eat the right foods
You don’t have to solely rely on creatine supplements; there are also some foods that can give you an alternative source of energy.
Check out these foods below that I highly recommend you include in your diet:
- Honey. This is a great substitute for sugar since it does not comes with the risk of glucose increase. Honey comes with natural glucose as well as fructose and antioxidants for our body.
- Bananas. They are a good source of carbohydrates to keep up your energy so I recommend you eat them before you even begin your workout.
- Yogurt. It does not only have carbohydrates but as well as a much-needed protein, making it great for recovery after working out.
Final Thought
So does creatine cause acne? Maybe yes, maybe no! The only thing we are sure of is that it is possible to look fit and be flawless at the same time. Just make sure you pay close attention to how does the supplement affects you, especially if you are prone to acne.
Anyway, I also answered different questions when it comes to acne like does peanut butter cause acne, does fish oil cause acne, etc. You can also check them out to make sure you keep that clear skin. If you still have any questions about acne that you want me to answer, don’t hesitate to leave it in the comment section below. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
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