Preventing Skin Infections in Athletes

It isn’t enough that athletes have to worry about their sleep, stress, and nutrition; they now have to worry about skin infections.

Skin infections are on the rise in high contact sports, accounting for up to 10% of missed playing time, especially at the high school level. One team of professionals in Minnesota are seeking to quell the rise of MRSA, herpes, and ringworm in their high school athletic population.

Ways to prevent infection include frequent hand washing and showering, as well as regular medical checkups, and covering open sores or wounds with bandages. In addition, it is recommended that athletic clothing be washed frequently, and that athletes avoid sharing personal items such as razors and towels.

Additionally, regular sleep, stress reduction, and maintaining good skin hydration can all be helpful in boosting immunity and preventing the spread of other opportunistic skin infections.

If you’d like to learn more about safeguarding your teen athlete, you can get more information here: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/athlete/