|
You may not think of skin infections as potential health problems for athletes. But taking part in sports can expose you to anything from “athlete’s foot” to serious skin conditions that could bench you and, possibly, jeopardize your health.
Athletes are at risk for skin infections because of several factors, including:
- Skin-to-skin contact with other athletes and athletic equipment
- Increased sweating, which can impair the skin
- Likelihood of skin trauma like cuts and scrapes
Sports-related infections can cause serious complications and even epidemics that sideline entire teams.
With proper diagnosis and treatment, skin infections don’t have to bench you or affect your performance.
Skin infections and athletes
You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to develop sports-related skin infections. They can happen to athletes at any level. Skin infections that may affect athletes include:
- Impetigo: This is one of the most common infections in sports. It particularly affects athletes with skin-to-skin contact like wrestlers, and rugby and football players. The symptoms include yellow, crusted, well-defined sores. Impetigo is usually treated with topical medicines or pills to treat bacteria. In many states, a doctor’s note is required before wrestlers who are diagnosed with impetigo can compete again.
- Herpes simplex: This type of herpes is spread through skin-to-skin contact. Studies show that wrestlers and rugby players are particularly prone to this condition, which causes blisters and sores. This infection must be detected and treated quickly to prevent spreading it to others. Many athletes are infected with the virus before sores are visible. Athletes can take pills daily during the season to prevent getting herpes simplex.
- Boils: This infection has caused epidemics among high school, college, and even professional teams. It is commonly seen in football players. It’s more common in certain positions, for example, a lineman is more likely to be affected than a quarterback because linemen tend to have more contact with the turf. Without treatment, the boil will likely heal in 10 to 20 days.
- Ringworm: One of the most common infections in wrestling, ringworm has caused epidemics. Treatment options include the use of both topical and oral medicines to treat the fungus involved. Athletes can take a pill weekly to prevent getting the infection during their sports season.
- Foot infections: Athletes need to pay special attention to keeping their feet healthy. “Athlete’s foot,” a type of ringworm, is a fungal infection. It tends to develop in warm, moist areas like between the toes. It is often seen in soccer and basketball players, and swimmers and runners. Pitted keratolysis, or “sweaty sock syndrome,” can be caused by tight footwear and excessive sweating during exercise. Foot warts are rough, spongy growths on the bottom of the foot. They occur most often in swimmers, rowers, and cross-country runners. Treatment depends on the type of foot infection.
Prevention tips
Practicing good hygiene, including having access to clean locker rooms and ample supplies of soap and towels, is one way to help prevent sports-related skin infections.
Players should avoid sharing towels and other personal items. Any player who thinks he or she may have an infection should inform the coach.
Also of Interest
|
