At BodyTools we cannot say enough about the importance of physical activity to your well-being. It reduces your risk of getting a whole host of diseases, delays the ageing process and reduces stress and as Dr. Miriam Nelson from the Human Nutrition Research on Ageing Council has said “we have yet to find a disease state where exercise isn't helpful”. It helps you maintain a healthy body and manage your stress levels, but at the same time it can also contribute to some annoying skin problems for men. Whether you play football, tennis, jog, or work out at the gym, the physical activity may itself be contributing to your skin problems. The good news is that all of these physical activity-related skin problems are easy to treat.
If you are an athlete you my be worried about recent reports of outbreaks of anti-biotic (methicillin) resistant strains of staph infection (Staphylococcus Aureus -MRSA). Clusters of MRSA infection among sports team participants were identified during September 2000 in Pennsylvania and during the fall and winter of 2002-2003 in Indiana and Los Angeles County, California. In January 2003, High School Wrestlers in Indiana were diagnosed with MRSA skin infections . And in February 2003 a Colorado fencing club reported a cluster of PRSA infections. So just what are the risks to you.
First, competitive sports participants can easily develop abrasions and other skin trauma, which can facilitate entry of pathogens. Even in sports with less direct contact, protective clothing can be hot and might chafe skin, resulting in abrasions and lacerations. Fencers report developing skin rashes frequently under protective clothing.
Second, some sports for which MRSA infections have been reported involve frequent physical contact among players (e.g., football and wrestling). S. Aureus and other skin flora can be transmitted easily from person to person with direct contact.
Third, sports such as fencing have limited skin-to-skin contact but require multiple pieces of protective clothing and equipment, which often might be shared. The use of shared equipment or other personal items that are not cleaned or laundered between users could be a vehicle for S. Aureus transmission.
Maintaining good hygiene and avoiding contact with drainage from skin lesions of other players are the best methods for preventing spread of staphylococcal skin infections. All persons associated with competitive sports teams, including players, coaches, teachers, parents, and administrators, can help prevent sports-related skin infections and should be aware of prevention measures.
- Cover all wounds. If a wound can not be covered adequately consider excluding athletes with potentially infectious skin lesions from practice until the lesions are healed or an be covered properly.
- Encourage good hygiene, including showering and washing with soap after all practices and competitions.
- Ensure availability of adequate soap and water.
- Discourage sharing of towels and personal items (ie equipment and clothing).
- Establish routine cleaning schedules for shared equipment.
- Train athletes and coaches in first aid for wounds and recognition of wounds that are potentially infectious.
- Encourage athletes to report skin lesions to coaches and encourage coaches to assess athletes regularly for skin lesions.
One of the most damaging effects of participation in outdoor sports is the threat of overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, which can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. As we discussed, UVB radiation has an immediate, harmful impact on skin. Skin burning from UVB rays takes place the very first minute (yes, 60 seconds) of walking outside. UVA rays are the primary cause of skin cancer and wrinkles (UVA rays also penetrate through clear glass windows). Even on a cloudy or hazy day, the sun's rays are present and attacking the skin.
Baseball, golf and tennis players often play during the midday sun when the sun’s damaging rays are the strongest. Sitting in the shade or wearing a hat only protects against a portion of the sun's rays. Altitude is a sun enhancer: for every 1,000-foot increase in altitude, the sun's potency increases by 4%. Skiers and hikers need to be aware that the higher the altitude, the faster they will develop a sunburn.
If your regimen takes you outdoors, always wear sunscreen. While acne may improve slightly after brief periods in the sun, studies show that prolonged exposure actually promotes comedones (clogged pores) and, of course, sun damage. Some kinds of acne medication make skin more sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen is even more important.
For outdoor athletes, frequent exposure to the effects of the sun and wind can evaporate water and leave the skin feeling itchy and dry. Dehydration can also make the problem worse. Swimmers, in addition to the dangers of cancer and premature ageing from sun exposure, can suffer from dry skin as well. Although this sounds odd, the chemical contents of pool water can actually draw moisture out of the skin
as well as irritate the skin, leaving it feeling itchy and dry. Make sure you shower off this harsh chemicals with a moisturizing total body wash and follow using a good combination sunscreen and moisturizing lotion. Cheap and irritating soaps and lotions frequently used by gyms and health clubs can also lead to dry skin.
Most athletic activities cause the skin to develop heat and friction against athletic equipment and clothing. With the addition of perspiration, this friction often results in blisters that can be quite painful and diminish your enjoyment of the sport. To prevent blisters, athletes should keep the skin well lubricated to help reduce friction. Another preventative step to avoid blisters includes wearing acrylic socks rather
than cotton socks because they eliminate friction and whisk perspiration away from the skin, keeping it as dry as possible.
The fungi that cause Athletes Foot and Jock Itch are most commonly found in the warm, moist environments of pools, showers, locker rooms and other sports facilities, where athletes (and other active people) walk with bare feet. Once the fungus contaminates the skin of someone's foot, the warm, moist environment of sweaty socks and closed shoes can contribute to its growth. Jock Itch develops when moisture and heat are trapped by tight garments, which creates an environment in which the fungi can multiply and flourish.
In Athlete's Foot the fungi causes intense itching and cracked, blistered or peeled areas of skin, especially between the toes. Redness and scaling can appear on the soles. In some people, the fungal infection can also spread to the toenails, causing them to appear unusually thick and cloudy yellow. Jock Itch similar to Athlete's Foot, is another common infection experienced by athletes but effects the groin and inner thighs. A flat, red, itchy rash first appears high on the inner aspect of one or both thighs.
It spreads outward in a ring-like circular pattern while the center partially clears. Jock Itch may spread to the pubic and genital regions and, in severe cases, to the buttocks. There are several over the counter topical preparations for the treatment of Athlete’s Foot and Jock Itch they and should clear it up within a few weeks. Ask your pharmacist for help. If that doesn't work, see your doctor for prescription medication. Even after proper medical treatment however, these infections can easily recur if your feet and groin area are exposed again to fungi and sweaty, warm conditions. For this reason, many people have persisting and recurring Athlete’s Foot infection for many years.
Acne Mechanica is a form of acne seen in athletes that is a result of heat, pressure, occlusion, and friction. It usually occurs in areas such as the shoulders, back and head that are covered by protective gear. Tight synthetic clothing or equipment such as helmets and shoulder pads are primary culprits of acne Mechanica in football and hockey players. Acne Mechanica can be an aggravation of an existing acne condition, which can be particularly upsetting with no pre-existing condition.
Athletes can avoid many of the these common skin problems by: practicing basic hygiene, staying dry, wearing clean athletic clothing and shoes as often as possible, making sure that shoes and sports equipment fit properly, and always using sunscreen outdoors.
You should get out of those wet clothes! No matter how or where you get your exercise: on the treadmill, running outdoors, in the swimming pool or on the tennis court, don’t sit around in your sweaty clothes or wet bathing suit when you’re done.
When you exercise, your movement generates heat while clothing and equipment cause friction. Until you shower off, heat and moisture are trapped against your skin, creating an ideal breeding ground for the spread of bacteria. So it’s best to shower immediately after working out and dry yourself well. Wash your feet thoroughly every day and take time to dry your feet, including the webbed area between each toe. If you can’t shower off immediately change into dry clothes and wipe down as well as you can. When toweling sweat off your face, always use a clean towel, and blot gently rather than wipe. A healthy exercise program is an integral part of your overall health; and a healthy body is more likely to have healthy skin.
Since dirt is not causing your acne, excessive scrubbing and washing won't make it go away. Try to limit yourself to two washings per day. Anything more than that can leave your healthy skin dry, and your acne prone areas irritated. Habitual over-washing may also stimulate extra oil production, which could result in more breakouts.
- Avoid garments made exclusively with Lycra or nylon. Why? Some synthetic fabrics can trap the heat and moisture against your skin, creating a fertile breeding ground for the bacteria and fungi that contribute to Acne, Athlete’s Foot and Jock Itch. Wearing a clean T-shirt made of cotton or a material that whisks away moisture against the skin or underneath a uniform. For moderate exercise, your best bet is lightweight, loose-fitting cotton, or a lycra-cotton blend. Natural fabrics allow the skin to breathe, and loose garments are less likely to cause friction. If you’re exercising vigorously and working up a good sweat however, you may want to try some of the new fabrics designed to wick moisture away from your skin.
- Wear cotton socks to absorb sweat while working out or exercising. Wear loose clothing whenever possible.
- Do not share clothing or towels with others, and wash towels frequently. Keep your work out clothes clean.
- If possible, don't wear the same pair of shoes for two days in a row. Give shoes a 24-hour break between wearing to air out and dry out.
- Wear a clean pair of socks after your daily bath or shower. I always see guys at the gym putting back on the same pair of socks they wore working out right after they take a shower. The same can be said for under-garments. You are just begging for Jock Itch and Athlete’s Foot if you do this.
- If you use public pools or showers, wear thongs or sandals to prevent your feet from being exposed to floors contaminated with fungi.
- Clean exercise equipment before use.
- And remember: your general state of health helps determine your susceptibility to fungal infections. Remaining healthy through diet, rest and exercise is the key to keeping your immune system strong.
