Cutaneous manifestations of sports participation

Abstract

As interest and participation in sports and recreational activities continue to increase, so do problems of the skin associated with sports participation. Primary care physicians and dermatologists may find the diagnosis of these sometimes unusual skin lesions difficult without knowledge of their association with sporting activities. Likewise, treatment of these skin lesions may be unsatisfactory without an understanding of the unique factors that contributed to the problem. This article reviews the cutaneous manifestations of sports participation. Traumatic and environmental skin injuries, skin infections, and exacerbation of preexisting dermatoses, as well as descriptions, predisposing conditions or causative agents, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are discussed.