For All Ages and All Sport Activities
Professional, School and Lifestyle Athletics Every sport is different, and every male and female athlete has unique needs. Millions of people participate in sporting activities every day, from the daily runner to the gym enthusiast to members of sports teams. No matter their sport or age athletes across the board may be prone to five dermatologic conditions listed below based on the closeness of physical contact, the sharing of equipment, the sports environment, and/or repetition of motion.
At Albany Dermatology, we know about the skin conditions common to athletes of all ages and are familiar with the specific activities that place athletes at risk. We work to both diagnose and educate athletes regarding treatment and prevention.
These include:
Skin Injury
- Cuts, scrapes, and friction blisters
- Calluses, irritation, fissures, turf burns and skin breakdown in areas with constant friction or pressure.
- Nodules in areas with chronic trauma, such as over the anklebone or top of the foot in long distance runners.
Skin Infections
- Herpes virus outbreaks such as fever blisters, cold sores, and Herpes gladiatorum, a type of herpes infection seen often in wrestlers and rugby players.
- Bacterial infections such as folliculitis, boils, impetigo, and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to some antibiotics.
- Fungal infections such as ringworm, athlete’s foot and jock itch.
- Viral infections such as warts and molluscum contagiosum.
- Scabies, caused by mites and often found on the hands between fingers and on the wrist.
Exacerbation of Chronic Skin Conditions
- Athletes with long-term skin problems may require special care to prevent making their skin condition to worsen, i.e., rosacea, psoriasis and vitiligo, sun sensitivity problems, inherited blistering disorders, and hives.
- Athletes must protect themselves from infection by immediately showering following training, wearing sandals in the locker room, and only wearing non-cotton moisture-wicking socks.
Environmental Irritants
- Acne mechanica, acne caused by heat, moisture, friction, and clogged pores, generally when equipment, such as a helmet or pads, covers and rubs the skin for an extended period.
- Contact dermatitis to equipment or other substances in the environment after repeated exposure, such as contact with rubber.
- Exposure to allergens like poison ivy/oak.
Exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) light
- Ultraviolet radiation is estimated to be one of the most important risk factors for non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers.
- Athletes are at risk from UV exposure any time they’re outside, any season and even on cloudy days.
- Sports enthusiasts should always be diligent about sun safety, avoid training and competition with considerable sun exposure, choose adequate clothing, and apply water-resistant sunscreen.