Skin Problems In Young Athletes

     Young athletes can have a variety of skin problems caused by covering, rubbing or scraping the skin. The most common problems are infections. We all have bacteria and fungal spores on our skin and our best protection against infection from these agents is healthy, intact skin. Trauma caused by sports equipment rubbing against the skin can create open areas that can get infected. If a student complains that equipment doesn’t fit or hurts, the area involved should be closely inspected and if it is irritated, the parent should clean it gently, put a sterile, dry covering on it and pad the equipment to eliminate the irritation.

     If the area is open, weeping, crusting or red, it may be infected with a bacteria and needs an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment applied on it. If there is not immediate improvement or if there is an abnormal amount of pain, the child should be seen by his caregiver to get an oral antibiotic.

     Sweating under equipment or sports shoes creates a warm, moist environment that is perfect for the growth of a fungal infection. Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that creates moist, red, itchy areas between the toes and can be treated with over-the-counter creams, sprays and powders. Fungal infections elsewhere on the skin can be raised, red, round, scaling lesions that slowly expand. They itch but don’t usually hurt. They can also be treated with the same antifungal creams unless the fungal infection is on the scalp, which needs an oral antifungal medication. Fungal infections take longer to heal than bacterial infections and frequently reoccur. Participants in sports with close physical contact like football and wrestling frequently get both bacterial and fungal infections.

     In close contact sports, herpes infection is also common. Herpes is a virus that causes painful, itching, red areas with blisters and open sores. Herpes needs to be treated with an oral antiviral medication that needs a prescription.

     With bacterial infections, the athlete should not return until the lesions have been cleared for at least two days. Skin fungal infections need to be treated for at least three days and scalp fungal infections for fourteen days. Antiviral treatment is for five days and the athlete should not return until the lesions have been dry without new blisters for three days.