Exercising with Herpes Outbreaks: How to Stay Active Without Making It Worse

Exercising with Herpes Outbreaks: How to Stay Active Without Making It Worse

Should You Work Out During an Outbreak?

The short answer: Yes, but smarter.
While herpes outbreaks might make you want to curl up on the couch, gentle movement can actually help by:
✔️ Reducing stress (a major outbreak trigger)
✔️ Boosting circulation (brings healing nutrients to skin)
✔️ Releasing endorphins (natural pain relievers)

But there’s a catch—wrong workouts can prolong healing. Here’s your guide to staying active safely.

The Do’s & Don’ts of Outbreak Exercise

✅ DO These Workouts

1. Walking/Yoga
  • Low-impact, reduces cortisol (stress hormone)
  • Try: Restorative yoga with Fix It Salve applied pre-class to prevent friction
2. Swimming
  • Cool water soothes irritated skin
  • Protect with: Everyday Soothing Oil (tea tree + lavender) before/after to prevent chlorine irritation
3. Light Strength Training
  • Avoid heavy weights (sweat + friction = irritation)
  • Opt for: Resistance bands at home

❌ DON’T Do These

  • Hot yoga/spin classes (heat + sweat = outbreak fuel)
  • Long-distance running (chafing risk)
  • Team sports (shared equipment = bacteria risk)

The Pre-Workout Prep That Makes All the Difference

1. Protect the Area

  • Apply Rescue Balm (peppermint + eucalyptus) to outbreak zones
    • Creates a protective barrier
    • Cooling effect reduces discomfort

2. Dress Smart

  • Fabric: 100% cotton or moisture-wicking. We know this are usually not colorful and shiny, but we cannot stress enough how important it is to let the skin breath.
  • Fit: Loose around outbreak areas

3. Post-Workout Care

  1. Shower immediately (sweat = irritation)
  2. Pat dry (never rub)
  3. Apply Everyday Soothing Oil to rehydrate

When to Skip the Gym Entirely

Press pause if you have:
⚠️ Open sores (risk of infection)
⚠️ Flu-like symptoms (fatigue, fever)
⚠️ Severe pain (let your body rest!)

The Comeback Plan

Day 1-3 (Active Outbreak):
  • Light walks + stretching
  • Focus on sleep/recovery
Day 4+ (Healing Phase):
  • Gradually add:
    • Pilates
    • Light cycling
    • Swimming
Fully Healed?
  • Return to normal routine

Invest a little something into your daily routine to stay ahead of the outbreak game

It's not a secret that outbreaks don't occur if there is not a chance for them to do so. What keep herpes dormant, you ask?
  • A strong immune system. Eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, avoid stress (yeah yeah, we know it's hard sometimes), take supplements. Something as simple Immune Support Supplements can go a long way when we want to keep our immune system strong. Try it out and take it daily. Your body will help you

  • Your skin is a living organism. And when we put products on it, our skin absorbs it. So, all the good stuff we put on it makes our bodies better equipped to fight outbreaks. Apply Everyday Wellness Oil or Everyday Soothing Oil to the area of outbreaks. The essential oils will help your skin fight the virus.


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