Athlete Skin Care

Our skin It is our first layer of protection against external aggressions. It is composed of three layers, the epidermis being the outermost where we find cells such as melanocytes, the dermis follows and the last is the hypodermis.

Through the dermis are the sebaceous and sweat glands and the vessels that are responsible for providing nutrients run through it. Finally, the hypodermis, which is a layer of fatty tissue from which energy is obtained for the body.

• The athlete's skin You must take maximum care to prevent and avoid problems.
• Burns are one of the most common injuries in athletes who exercise outdoors, and they would be largely avoided with the use of sunscreen.
• There are also a series of skin lesions that, either by mechanical actions or by viral or fungal involvement, affect athletes of different disciplines.

Protect the athlete's skin

The skin protects us, but we must also put prevention into practice, so there must be an “agreement” of protection in both directions: the skin protects us and we protect it.

The first thing that comes to mind when we think of protection is sunscreen. It seems more than obvious to comment that the athlete's skin who practices their activity outdoors, is exposed to the effects of the sun's rays.

The most common injuries produced by these are those that could largely be avoided if the use of sunscreen were on the minds of all athletes, both amateurs and professionals. Perhaps its use would be more widespread, in the long term skin cancer may appear.

In addition to burns, there are a series of skin lesions that, whether due to mechanical actions or viral or fungal involvement, affect athletes of different disciplines.

There are sports in which equipment is used, such as golf clubs or the same, can cause it. We refer to hyperkeratosis or the known "calluses”. What is observed is a painless accumulation of cells of the epidermis. They usually develop in the metatarsal area or in the metacarpus / carpus due to friction or friction from the use of the same material repeatedly.

For some athletes, calluses offer protection against the possible appearance of blisters, which are nothing more than injuries in which layers of tissue are separated. Above all, the friction of wandering, largely on the feet where moisture accumulates, favors its appearance. But it is not an exclusive injury to the feet since the hands can also suffer them, for example, in those sports in which ropes are used.

It is not always a mechanical factor that favors the existence of the lesion, but it may be due to the presence of some pathogenic element. Pathologies at this level are diverse and their origin is also diverse.

Of viral origin are the plantar warts, caused by the human papillomavirus. Typical of athletes whose “habitat” is water or the tatami, although not exclusive since in spaces where they go barefoot (showers…) they also tend to increase the chances of their appearance. The lesions are small with black “dots” scattered over the surface of the lesions.

Its name seems to be associated with only one type of sport, but any athlete can suffer from it. It is a fungal infection due to skin maceration; the humid environment, the use of socks and the heat favors it. Located in the interdigital areas and the soles of the feet to a greater extent.

So that, the athlete's skin You must take maximum care to prevent and avoid problems, which with small actions remain as mere anecdotes.

MAPFRE WITH THE ATHLETES

MAPFRE Salud offers, without a doubt, the most complete and ideal medical insurance, for any setback that may happen to you while playing sports.