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ll of us Americans seem to have at least one favorite sports activity – jogging, cycling, tennis, swimming, skiing, backpacking, mountain climbing – you name it. With so many active people, it’s not surprising that there are frequent injuries and illnesses related to sports.
As healthy as exercise is, certain hazards go along with it, including the increased possibility of direct injury to your skin. You also expose yourself to many contagious skin diseases in the locker room, on gym mats, and from direct contact with infected people. And, finally, from the sweating, friction and stress you may put yourself through, you create the ideal environment for new skin conditions to develop or for existing ones to get worse.
From acne to sun poisoning, from herpes to “jogger’s nipples,” from “turf toe” to “bikini bottom,” the competitive and weekend athlete alike risk a line-up of skin problems. But you can prevent or lessen these with proper care.
Let’s look at some of these sports-related skin troubles. You’ll find many of these conditions described in other chapters of this book.
Boxing, Wrestling and Other Close Contact Sports
Anytime you have close contact with another person, you expose yourself to possible bacterial and viral infections. One common hazard of close contact sports is impetigo, a highly contagious bacterial infection you can get from infected opponents as well as from dirty gym mats. Impetigo gets a foothold on damaged skin, a common result of the friction and scraping from wrestling and other contact sports.
Boils are bacterial infections of the hair follicle. These painful, shiny, bright-red swellings of the skin usually develop over the elbows, forearms and knees after a bruise or break in the skin. You should see a physician if you think you have boils.
Herpes simplex infections and dimple warts are viral infections frequently associated with contact sports. Herpes simplex infections are so common in wrestlers that they’re sometimes called “herpes gladiatorum.” The highly contagious dimple warts (molluscum contagiosum) also plague wrestlers, spreading easily in the warm, moist areas caused by heavy sweat.
And, if infections aren’t enough, close contact sports also increase the risk of scabies, a very contagious and terribly itchy infestation. Scabies mites can live on dirty gym mats and on the bodies of your opponents.
Finally, close contact sports encourage a variety of other attacks on your skin including cuts, bruises, lacerations, abrasions and mat burns.
Football, Baseball, Hockey and Other Team Sports
Some team sports create special problems because of the combination of rough activity and tight-fitting and bulky padding and uniforms.
“Acne mechanica,” an infection of hair follicles where the concentration of oil glands is high, results from the rubbing, pressure, heat and sweating caused by bulky sports equipment, football helmets, catcher’s masks, and heavy protective padding. Also by performing bench presses.
Boils are another common problem of team players because of frequent skin injuries and the warm, moist conditions these infections love to grow in.
Turf toe and turf burns are unique skin problems caused by playing on artificial turf. Turf toe appears as red, swollen and painful big toes that result from playing alternately on natural and artificial surfaces. Turf burns are abrasions that scrape off part of the skin, usually over the elbows, forearms and knees.
Swimming and Other Water Sports
Long distance swimmers often suffer from a bacterial infection called swimmer’s ear. Exposure to water for a long time dissolves the normal oils in the ear canals, softening and weakening the tissues. Unfriendly bacteria can multiply and cause itching, swelling, pain, tenderness and a yellowish discharge from the ear. Dimple warts are also a common problem in swimmers.
Seabather’s eruption, also known as “sea lice,” is a distinctive itchy rash that is caused by the “thimble jellyfish,” an organism that thrives in marine waters off Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. The characteristic symptom of this hypersensitivity reaction is that the rash and itching occur underneath swimsuits and T-shirts – on the non-exposed portions of the body as opposed to swimmer’s itch, that attacks the exposed areas of the body. Swimmer’s itch is caused by the larvae of a parasite (a Schistosome) that enters the pores of the skin when the swimmer leaves the water. As the water droplets evaporate from the skin, and the swimmer dries off, these worm-like larvae burrow under the skin causing an unpleasant, itchy rash.
“Bikini bottom” is a mild infection of the skin that results from wearing a wet bathing suit. This annoying infection frequently shows up when the sweat pores become clogged, trapping the bacteria that usually live on the skin in friendly and harmless numbers. Unable to escape, the trapped germs begin to proliferate, spread and cause trouble.
Green hair: Blonds who swim a lot in pools may find that their hair has turned green! This startling color change is due to copper additives used in swimming pools. Peroxide bleaching solutions will return the hair to its normal color.
Running and Jogging
A common problem for runners and joggers are plantar warts, warts on the soles of the feet. The warm, moist condition of running shoes encourages the growth of the virus that causes these warts. Corns are another problem of joggers. These are often caused by improperly fitting shoes, especially those that are too narrow.
“Jogger’s toe,” also known as “tennis toe,” is another complaint of joggers, runners, tennis players and mountain climbers. Appearing as a bruise beneath the toenails, usually on the big toes, this harmless discoloration is caused by ill-fitting shoes and sudden stops which force the toes into the front of the shoe, bending the nails and breaking the blood vessels. Soft, comfortable shoes with plenty of room and trimming the toenail straight across, can prevent this problem of “short stops.”
“Jogger’s nipples” is an uncomfortable problem that can affect both sexes. It’s an injury caused by friction in women who run without wearing bras and in men who jog in cotton T- shirts. The nipples become sore and red and may even bleed. To prevent this annoying condition, coat your nipples with Vaseline and wear a bra or shirt with a smooth, hard finish, such as those made of silk or semi-synthetic fabrics.
Gymnastics, Aerobics and Dancing
Gymnasts, dancers and others who do heavy stretching activity commonly develop stretch marks. These are thin scars that show up when the skin is distended or stretched over a long period of time. They are not a sign of disease.
Gymnasts may also suffer from warts on their palms and fingers. This common viral infection can spread from contact with gym mats, parallel bars and other gymnastics equipment.
Outdoor Sports
Direct exposure to the sun or rays reflected off snow, sand and water can create skin problems for both summer and winter athletes. Sunburn and sun poisoning are common in baseball and tennis players, golfers, mountain climbers, swimmers and skiers. For skiers and mountain climbers, it’s important to remember that the effects of ultraviolet light are stronger at higher altitudes. Taking medications, such as antibiotics or tranquilizers, may increase your risk of sunburn or sun poisoning. To prevent sun-related skin problems year round, always apply protective sunscreens before you go out in the sun.
Warm weather athletes are often pestered by insect bites and stings. Make sure to pack a good, protective insect repellent in your sports bag – and use it!
Winter sports carry the added risk of frostbite from exposure to extreme cold. Wearing several layers of thin clothing, rather than one or two heavier layers, can help prevent frostbite. Also, because natural skin oil offers some protection to the skin, wait to shave and wash your face after you’ve come in from cold weather.
Skiers frequently suffer from dry, chapped skin caused by winter’s low temperatures and low relative humidity.
General Sports Activities
Heavy sweating, heat and tight-fitting clothing go along with many sports activities and play a part in softening and weakening the upper layers of the skin that normally protect us against the invasion and spread of harmful microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, fungi, and the scabies mite.
Athlete’s foot is the infection most clearly associated with sports. Caused by a fungus, this mildly contagious disorder spreads where there is heavy sweating and poor foot hygiene. It’s a frequent visitor in locker rooms, shower stalls and other warm, moist surroundings where bare feet tread.
Jock itch is a common infection of the groin caused by a fungus or yeast. Like athlete’s foot, it’s related to sweating and warm, moist environments.
Allergic rashes are troublesome to all types of athletes and can be caused by many natural or manufactured products: plants (poison ivy), clothing (shoes, gloves), and sports equipment (leather grips of racquets and golf clubs, basketballs, bar bells, wet suits and rubber diving masks, Fiberglas in hockey sticks, gym mats, adhesive tape, etc.). Sweating always makes these allergic rashes worse.
Heat, perspiration, friction, sun exposure and the emotional stress of competitive sports can cause or aggravate many skin problems. Acne, for example, is worsened by the pressure and friction of the facemasks, helmets and the bulky padding of football uniforms. Eczema flares up with heat, perspiration and emotional stress. Hives can be provoked by heavy exercise, quick changes in body temperature, and stress.
In addition, athletic activities expose you to a whole batch of skin injuries. Wearing new or poorly fitting shoes, and subjecting your feet to friction and pressure they’re not used to, can quickly lead to friction blisters on your feet and toes. These can be treated by letting your feet rest, keeping them dry, wearing two pairs of socks - each of a different fabric - and using a foot powder.
Slamming your feet down can cause a pinching type of injury called “black heel.” As its name says, this condition appears as a black patch over the heel caused by small hemorrhages or bleeding in the upper layers of the skin, often causing concern that it might be a malignancy. It occurs almost exclusively in teenagers who play hard surface sports (basketball, tennis, handball and squash) and it disappears without treatment.
Callus formation, particularly on the feet, is the most common mechanical injury in athletes. Calluses, and their close cousins corns, are the skin’s natural reaction to repeated rubbing and friction. These firm, thickened patches develop at points of pressure, especially over bony spots such as your heels. Gymnasts, oarsmen, golfers and tennis players often develop them on their hands. You can treat calluses by reducing the friction or pressure with pads, wraps or orthopedic appliances.
Ingrown toenails are often found on the big toes of many athletes and result from poorly fitting or tight shoes and poor hygiene.
Even though athletes can always expect injuries, including those to the skin, there’s no reason to be fearful about participating in competitive or recreational sports. You can prevent trouble by practicing good hygiene (soap and water!), wearing clothing and sports equipment that fit properly, and protecting yourself from the sun, intense cold and insects. Remember that the best offense is a good defense. Protect yourself – and your skin.
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For further information about sports-related skin problems, log on to: www.aad.org 1-888-462-DERM x22 |
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