As you probably already know, just like numerous other health situations, adult acne is largely genetic. The myth that you can’t have any control over it though, is completely untrue. There are several other factors that determine whether or not a person gets acne as an adult, and there are things that people can do to treat the condition.

Here, we’ll discuss some of the ways that physical exertion can help in the fight against adult acne. If you’re not much of a gym rat, you can do all of these things without ever setting foot inside the gym.

After all, we all know that exercise is a wonderful tonic for general health, so why wouldn’t it also help to tone down acne, too?

Exercise can do a lot of wonderful things, some of which are:

• Exercise reduces stress by releasing the feel-good chemicals, endorphins.

• It can also regulate hormones, some of which can overstimulate the sebaceous glands.

• Vigorous activity increases circulation so that oxygen better reaches your skin and other parts of your body.

• When you exercise, you sweat, and that sweat cleanses your pores as it leaves your body. If you don’t sweat enough, all that dirt, oil, germs, and gunk will build up in your pores, leading to inflammation and acne.

• Exercise will improve the strength and function of your internal organs so that they can flush toxins from your body.

• It can also bolster your immune system, better equipping your body to fight the germs that can cause acne.

You may have heard that exercise and the sweat that comes with it can make adult acne worse. Yes, the sweat can encourage growth of bacteria, but with proper post-workout hygiene, that shouldn’t be an issue. After each workout, shower off to get rid of that toxin-filled sweat. If you don’t have time for a full shower, at least wipe off the sweat as best you can.

When you exercise, wear light, comfortable clothing. Steer clear of clothing made of spandex or nylon because it can trap moisture, triggering bacterial growth. This can result in acne breakouts on the back and chest, normally referred to as body acne. Don’t towel off excessively during exercise, because it can irritate the skin and possibly worsen your acne. A light dabbing motion is best.

Make sure that you drink plenty of water during exercise. Dehydration can aggravate acne because it dries your skin. Proper hydration is a key step toward helping prevent acne.

Don’t wear makeup while exercising, as it can clog the pores. Sweat needs to leave the pores to carry the toxins with it, and cosmetics will keep that from happening in most cases.

If you pick an activity you enjoy, you’re that much more likely to do it consistently. Try strength training, because it boosts the metabolism long after you’ve finished exercising. Aerobic exercise improves circulation and endurance, and gentle exercises like yoga and Pilates are great stress relievers, since you already know that stress can trigger many things, including acne breakouts.

A proper exercise routine, along with hydration and good diet, is a great way to get adult and teen acne under control.