Skin injuries, athletes

Furuncles, or boils , are most commonly caused by S. aureus. After an outbreak among football and basketball players, skin injury and direct contact with furuncles were identified as the two greatest risk factors (Sosin et al. 1989). Fomites play a minimal role if any in disease transmission (Bartlett et al. 1982 Decker et al. 1986 Sosin et al. 1989). Because virulent staphylococcal strains can cause epidemic furunculosis, infected athletes should avoid swimming and contact sports until lesions are completely resolved. 

Bergfeld WF, Elston DM (1994) Diagnosis and treatment of dermatologic problems in athletes. In Fu FH, Stone DA (eds) Sports injuries - mechanism, prevention, treatment. Williams Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 781-795 Bergfeld WF, Taylor JS (1985) Trauma, sports, and the skin. Am J Ind Med 8 403-413... 

Friction. Surface characteristics of balls, fields, and other sports equipment will affect sports performance. The interactions between the athlete s skin and grip mnst be considered in these circumstances in addition to environmental conditions such as moisture. The effects of sports surfaces on human skin is also studied to reduce injuries. 

Recorded use in China dates back at least 2000 years. Traditionally considered slightly bitter and cold used to treat arthritic pain, jaundice shi re huang dan), amenorrhea, abdominal mass (zheng jia), cough with excessive phlegm, traumatic injuries, skin sores and boils, and bums and scalds (chp) also used in Japan to treat suppurative dermatitis, gonorrhea, favus, athlete s foot, and hyperlipemia. ... 

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