HYGIENE | SKIN

Skin care and hygiene are a critical component to wrestling! Skin conditions commonly acquired in wrestling are very contagious. Please do not have your wrestler practice if there is a concern until cleared by a medical professional.

DO NOT BE ASHAMED OR HIDE ANY SKIN ISSUES!

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

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” 😊

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. Store your headgear and shoes separately.

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.

As always, don’t hesitate to ask if you have questions.