SKIN CONDITIONS IN SPORTS

INTRODUCTION… The skin, , is often involved in sports injuries,

which range from simple wounds to a variety of

This chapter discusses the and describes the categories of wounds and their care

Obviously, whenever a potential exposure to blood exists

This chapter presents the latest guidelines available for the prevention of accidental exposure to human blood

INTRODUCTION… Next, the chapter covers skin conditions

related to excessive exposure to Any number of microorganisms, ranging from

Information in this chapter introduces the reader to the common types of , with helpful descriptions of signs and symptoms as well as recommended treatment and prevention protocols

INTRODUCTIONS… The National Collegiate Athletic Association

(NCCA) guidelines on

This section also covers a related group of skin conditions resulting from allergic reactions to plant toxins and other materials

INTRODUCTION… The skin, or ,

represents the largest organ of the human body

Two major layers of tissues, , combine to form this complex organ, which has a total surface area of 3,000 square inches on the average adult (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons [AAOS], 1991)

INTRODUCTION…

Located immediately beneath the skin is a that helps to

insulate the body from the external environment

INTRODUCTION… Skin regionally on the body:

Thicker skin Such as the soles of the feet and palms of the hands

Thinner

The skin serves a variety of purposes, not the least of which is protecting the body from the environment

It is also essential for controlling

, and regulating body temperature

INTRODUCTION… Furthermore,

In addition, specialized cells within the

(AAOS, 1991)

INTRODUCTION… The skin can be damaged in a variety of

ways during participation in sports. External trauma can cause wounds, and

Skin infections can arise from a variety of

. In addition, ; these

may be related to contact with plants or clothing and equipment that contain chemicals to which the athlete is sensitive

WOUNDS…

Sports injuries can cause many types of wounds, ranging from abrasions ( ) to lacerations ( ), all of which may result in infection as well as cosmetic complications (American Medical Association [AMA], 1968).

WOUNDS…

The primary goals of initial wound care are

through cleaning and bandaging

WOUNDS… A primary concern when rendering first aid

care for any wound is to . The majority of wounds seen in sports are

abrasions

WOUNDS… A special type of

abrasion,,

has been associated with playing surfaces in

Turf burns are the result of falls sustained on artificial turf that produce friction and heat

TREATMENT… Treatment of wounds in

sports can be considered as a

Initial first aid care is designed to control bleeding and guard the area from further injury

This is followed later with

TREATMENT… An important aspect of wound care is

protection of fellow

, which can result in the transmission of HIV and HBV organisms.

Risk of exposure involves not only the wound itself,

TREATMENT… Initial treatment of wounds follows first aid

protocol described by the National Safety Council (1993). These are its guidelines: Before rendering first aid, precautions should be

taken against the possible transmission of HIV and HBV. .

Remove Control bleeding with direct pressure over the

wound site by applying some type of sterile dressing.

If dressing becomes soaked with blood, add more dressings on top. Do not remove blood soaked dressings.

TREATMENT… although rare in sports, severe bleeding may not

respond to direct pressure. Increased hemorrhage control can be achieved via

the application of a pressure bandage to a point over either the brachial or femoral arteries, depending on location of the wound.

Tourniquets should be applied only as a last resort; they are rarely needed in first aid for sports-related wounds.

All materials used to treat the wound– gauze pads, towels, and paper towels—should be stored for later disposal identified as containing biohazardous materials.

TREATMENT… At the time of initial first aid, a decision must

be made about whether the athlete will be allowed to return to participation.

Obviously, ; however, the majority of sports-related wounds are not life-threatening occurrences.

Another consideration is protection of other participants, coaches,

In sports such as wrestling, tackle football, and basketball, wounds must be dealt with in such a way to protect other athletes and the coaching staff from incidental exposure

TREATMENT… Although research indicates the risk of

transmission of HIV and exist (Calabrese, Haupt, & Hartman, 1993)

Once the initial bleeding is arrested, a Small wounds are usually treatable by simply

applying a bandage; . Such bandages should be rechecked periodically

during participation to ensure that they remain in proper position and bleeding has not resumed.

TREATMENT…

Lacerations , merit special attention because of their potential cosmetic impact.

Such wounds should be referred to a physician for further evaluation and possible stitches.

As a general rule, any wound going below the dermal layer that is more than a

TREATMENT… The National Safety Council (1993) provides

the following guidelines for cleaning wounds:

Personnel rendering first aid should protect themselves from

Wash the wound with a sterile gauze pad saturated with soap and water.

. This is especially helpful when treating abrasions containing significant amounts of dirt and other foreign material.

TREATMENT… Flush the wound with large amounts of water;

Use isopropyl rubbing alcohol to clean the skin adjacent to the wound site;

. Do not apply chemicals such as

Mercurochrome, Merthiolate, or

. Apply a sterile, dry dressing and hold it in place

with some type of bandage.

TREATMENT… By definition, ,

usually gauze, used to cover a wound to control bleeding and prevent contamination.

A bandage is used to hold the dressings in place.

made elastic adhesive tape that can be directly applied to the skin and holds well even near a moving joint

Severe wounds

.

HIV/HBV AND THE ATHLETE Although the majority of national focus

regarding these two viral infections has focused primarily on HIV, .

It is estimated that 300,000 new HBV infections occur each year.

In 1981, . In 1986 there were approximately 2,000

people infected with HIV in the US; recent data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate an estimated 1,106,400 diagnosed cases of HIV in the US through 2006 (CDC, 2008).

HIV/HBV AND THE ATHLETE Athletes who (Calabrese, 1989). The virus is spread primarily through blood-to-blood

exposure, which can easily occur when sharing needles during intravenous drug use.

HBV is a . Both HIV and HBV are carried within the blood of

infected persons; . This is especially true if another athlete who also

has an open wound comes into contact with the blood of an infected person.

HIV/HBV AND THE ATHLETE Although