Important Info!! Please read!

If you have any skin concerns at all, please let us know asap.

This information was from Black Hills Wrestling Academy and worth the share.

SKIN INFECTION PREVENTION

Skin care and hygiene are a critical component to wrestling!

DO NOT BE ASHAMED OR HIDE ANY SKIN ISSUES!

IT IS EASIER TO PREVENT A SKIN INFECTION THAN IT IS TO TREAT ONE!

Preventative measures needed to take in order to prevent skin infections!

Please do the following:

Consider using Battleskin before practice and tournaments to help prevent skin infections.
Shower directly after wrestling-waiting no longer than 30 minutes. Don’t let fungus and bacteria have time to take up residence on your skin!
Use an over-the-counter dandruff shampoo that contains selenium sulfide, such as Selsun Blue or Head and shoulders, this may be a great prevention to Ringworm (and helps a little with acne too!) You can use this as you would a body wash. The shampoo will help prevent the spread of ringworm, but it will not cure it so you need “THE CREAM” 😊
Some Dermatologists recommend taking a “bleach bath” as preventative and treating measures. 1 cup bleach to one full tub of bath water – soak for 15 minutes – can do 2-3 times per week
WASH YOUR HANDS AND WASH THEM SOME MORE!!!
Use hand sanitizer on a regular basis—it is available in the wrestling room to use prior to and after every practice.
Keep your skin hydrated! When your skin is dry and cracking it has thousands of open cracks that are just waiting for an infection to start brewing! CeraVe and Cetaphil are worth the money spent, Aveeno is also a good choice. If your skin feels “cracky” then it is…avoid this!!
Change workout clothes and socks daily.
Wipe down your headgear and chin strap with a disinfecting wipe regularly.
Keep your nails trimmed—to minimize scratching your teammates. Scratches are an open highway to infections.
You may want to cover any abrasion, cut or scratch as this makes you susceptible for acquiring skin infections.
DO NOT “hide” your skin concerns from your coach…the longer it goes without proper treatment, the more wrestlers you may infect and the longer it will take for you to clear!
WASH YOUR KNEE PADS and wrestling bag weekly. Wash your shoes or spray with them with a disinfectant.
Never wear workout gear twice—wash as soon as possible. Lysol makes an additive you can use as a pre-wash to help kill bacteria in nasty workout gear!
DO NOT reuse razors or towels that have come into contact with an infected lesion.
Look at your skin daily—If you notice a suspicious lesion, keep it clean, cover it and show to the coach immediately!
If you have an area that suddenly burns, tingles or itches even if you do not see a rash or abrasion, show to the coach immediately.

Common wrestling rashes/lesions/infections

Ringworm (Tinea corporis)
Is a fungal infection that can be contracted almost anywhere on the body. It is called “athlete’s foot” when contracted on the feet and “jock itch” when in the groin area, It is the most common type of skin infection and appears on the skin as a raised circle or ring. It is typically red or brown around the edges with scaly, peeling skin throughout. Ringworm thrives in moist and warm areas and can be contracted from many sources such as: clothing, showers, mats, wet floors (shower) and skin-to-skin contact with another infected individual. Ringworm can also be found on some animals and contracted from them. Lesions should be covered during practice and competition and all equipment and towels should be washed daily. If caught early, typical treatment is OTC Lamisil using two to three times per day for approximately 2-3 weeks and should be used one week after clearing.

Impetigo
Is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can be found nearly anywhere on the body, that is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus (strep) and/or staphylococcus (staph). Impetigo is usually caused by a break in the skin that allows the bacteria to enter the body, usually a small cut or animal/insect bite, or an open sore. However, a break in the skin is not always needed to contract an infection. These lesions rapidly evolve to small blisters and then to pustules that finally scab over with a characteristic honey-colored crust. This entire process usually takes about one week. These lesions often start around the nose and on the face, but can also affect the arms and legs. You will need an Rx for treatment; topical Bactroban (Mupirocin) and/or an oral antibiotic.

Herpes Simplex
Is a simplex virus, it is a viral infection that is classified into two separate categories: Type I and II. Type I is the kind that is associated with the sport of wrestling, which is in the same category as cold sores and fever blisters. Type II is associated with genital herpes, and is virtually non-existent in wrestling. Both types of herpes can infect nearly any part of the body and are highly contagious. Once you get herpes it cannot be eliminated from the body. Break outs are usually caused by stress, sun or a factor that alters the immune system and it lays dormant, when there is no breakout. It enters the body through a break in the skin such ad a cut or mat burn. Herpes present itself as a fluid filled blister on top of red skin. Once the blister breaks open it appears with a crusty painful scab. You will need an Rx of an oral anti-viral medication such as Valtrex for treatment. If your wrestler is someone who experiences outbreaks on a monthly basis, it is highly recommended that they be started on a prophylactic treatment regimen.

Folliculitis (infected hair)
Is an infected hair. It is usually not contracted by skin to skin contact, but it is important to rule out that it is not one of the above infections. The most common areas of folliculitis are places on the body that get rubbed by clothing, like the legs or groin. The face and scalp are also common areas, because of irritation caused by shaving, sweating, oils, or makeup. Folliculitis looks like small red or white pimples. However, the difference between folliculitis and regular pimples is that there is a hair in the middle of each “pimple.” The small bumps may itch, burn, or ooze pus. When they burst, pus or blood can come out. These areas are very susceptible and may develop into a more serious infection that will need to be treated.

Staph/MRSA
Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) is a group of bacteria that can cause several different infections, including impetigo. This bacterium has become resistant to many forms of antibiotics and is very difficult to treat as it has built up defenses to get eliminated by drugs. Staph usually enters the body through open wounds and hair follicles, but can sometimes cause infection without a break in the skin. In severe cases, the infection may find its way into the bloodstream, causing other infections and health complications within the body. Staph is almost always transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. However, unclean facilities and equipment are also known causes for an infection.

For pictures of common wrestler skin infections and treatment; this link might be helpful! It is added as an attachment to the original email or copy and paste into your browser

https://www.nchsaa.org/sites/default/files/attachments/skin-disease-powerpoint.pdf

As always, please let us know if you have any concerns or questions.