Skin infections caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi are majority responsible for causing serious ramifications among the athletes’ community. Some of the infections are so severe that they even have the potential to threaten an athlete’s career for a lifetime.
It is, therefore, imperative to have comprehensive knowledge of such infections, and also stay aware of the preventive measures to ensure that proper care is taken of your skin.
In this article, we will offer guided advices on preventing skin infections in the athletes’ community. Here we go.
1. A Regular Skin Check Is Recommended
Since athletes are more prone to developing skin infections, it is strongly advisable to maintain a regular check on any changes occurring on the skin. An athlete should remain extremely vigilant about any of the changes that occur on the skin. For instance, notice any signs of abnormalities such as redness, swelling, puffiness, irritation or soreness. In order to minimize the risk of transmission of skin infections, a regular check-up of the skin is recommended. Visit a dermatologist in case of any doubts or concerns.
2. Stop Sharing Personal Hygiene Items
Another, key preventing measure is to never share personal hygiene items such as towels, sandals, soaps, razors and other personal care item. Some athletes find it hard to not share their items with fellow athletes; however, one needs to understand the dangers of sharing personal items. Skin infections travel far and wide through personal care items, resulting in epidemic situations. So, stop sharing personal care items for the betterment of your skincare and your fellow mates’.
3. Shower Immediately After Every Training Session
In addition to the aforementioned tips, taking a shower with natural soap bar to treat skin infection is also equally pertinent for preventing development of any type of skin infection. Before purchasing a natural soap bar, you need to look for its ingredients first. There are plenty of soap bars and gels that claim to prevent skin infections. But, very few of these brands actually produce desired results. Therefore, in order to avoid any disappointments, make sure that you buy only those soap bars that contain quality essential oils and are manufactured under the FDA guidelines. For instance, Defense soap bar for skin infection is quite popular in the athletes’ community.
However, do your own research, and settle for only that suits your skin.
4. Practice Good Hygiene
Practising good hygiene is imperative for all, athletes and non-athletes. One should always keep their hands and feet clean as most of the bacteria are caught and spread from these two areas of the body. Wrestlers, in particular, should stay mindful of the cleanliness of their hands. Wash your hands frequently using antifungal soap bars. Avoid touching other’s personal hygiene items such as towels and soaps. Learn to use your own liquid soap before and after every game. Remember to wipe the equipments prior to using them at the gym. For wrestlers, keep your wrestling mat clean and disinfected.
5. Take Good Care Of Your Wounds And Blisters
It is very common to see the athlete’s facing wounds and skin rashes. However, make sure that you cover your wounds with clean and antiseptic bandages till it is healed. You need to stay wary of the pus that gets created from infected wounds, as the pus may lead to MRSA, a common type of bacterial skin infection widely prevalent among athletes who are involved in high physical contact sports such as football and wrestling.
In order to reduce infections, it is important to prevent blisters. It is a good idea to apply a gel or spray to those areas that most commonly develop blisters. Areas such as feet, ankle and hand should be covered by wearing specialized gloves or socks. Another reason for blisters is inappropriate footwear.
Prevention is of course, any time better than cure, and without proper treatment, skin infections only get worse. As an athlete, you should leave no stones unturned to make sure that you employ most of the preventive methods to keep skin infections at bay. Small changes in your lifestyle will create positive results and do well to your skin.
Remember, the health of your skin is in your hands, literally! So, take good care.
