Skin Diseases From Wrestling Mats

Ringworm tinea corporis is a fungal infection that can occur anywhere on the body but most commonly on a wrestler s head neck and arms.

Skin diseases from wrestling mats. It appears as a circular rash that is red scaly and itchy. It is possible to have one wrestler spread a skin disease to the entire team. A person who has molluscum can spread it on their own body by touching or scratching a mollusca then touching another part of their body. Thoroughly sanitize and disinfect all wrestling mats before and after use.

Objects and equipment can be contaminated with the virus. What are ways to prevent spread of skin diseases. This means checking the skin all over for any signs of infection or fungus that could easily be transmitted to other wrestlers and equipment. Mrsa photo courtesy of bruno coignard m d jeff hageman m h s and the cdc.

Any suspicious lesion must be evaluated by a health care professional. Skin checks are meant to detect these skin lesions before a student athlete gets on the mat and potentially exposes others. The sport of wrestling is very tactile. If not treated some of these diseases can lead to potentially dangerous complications and thus more time out of practice and competition.

In most cases otc can be enough to cure the skin disease and time is of essence. Skin infections and wrestling is the role of skin infections in wrestling this is an important topic in wrestling since breaks in the skin are easily invaded by bacteria or fungi and wrestling involves constant physical contact that can cause transmission of viral bacterial and fungal pathogens these infections can also be spread through indirect contact for example from the skin flora of. Treatment and prevention of skin infections in wrestlers tamara spann atc hughston athletic training fellowship. Wrestling rashes that are treatable are keeping athletes off the mat.

Practice good hygiene and encourage everyone to wash clothes after practice. It thrives in moist conditions and can be contracted from wrestling mats clothing towels and even a comb. Examples include clothing headgear mouth pieces knee pads mats towels shoes razors bars of soap etc. As a sports medicine doctor we often get the job of doing skin checks for wrestling meets along with the athletic trainer.

Some of these diseases like herpes stay with you for life. Skin to skin contact. Clothing showers mats wet floors shower and skin to skin contact with another infected individual. The danger of skin infections is a growing concern among wrestlers parents coaches and officials.

Mrsa staph and other skin infections are rampant in high school and college sports due to the amount of skin to skin contact between athletes as well as. Attempt to clean wrestling room and allow for air flow bacteria. Ringworm can also be found on some animals and contracted from them. With every move and every throw comes the risk of obtaining skin infections.

That means the return of high school wrestling season.