{"id":9706,"date":"2021-04-20T13:41:30","date_gmt":"2021-04-20T11:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/i-disturbi-dermatologici-legati-allattivita-sportiva\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T15:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T13:10:12","slug":"dermatological-disorders-related-to-sports-activity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/dermatological-disorders-related-to-sports-activity\/","title":{"rendered":"Dermatological Disorders Related to Sports Activity"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Sport is undoubtedly a healthy habit, and practicing it regularly brings a long series of benefits for both body and mind. In some cases, however, physical activity<\/strong> can lead to dermatological problems that may become particularly bothersome, especially if neglected. We are referring to conditions that may affect different sports practiced in various environments, whether outdoors, in the gym, or in swimming pools. What these conditions have in common is their origin, often linked to sweating<\/strong>, the use of technical sportswear<\/strong>, and contact with contaminated surfaces<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sweating is an essential physiological process that regulates body temperature and helps eliminate certain toxins. Problems may arise when sweat remains on the skin for prolonged periods, especially in certain areas such as skin folds, where surfaces come into contact \u2014 including the armpits, groin folds, perineal area, the fold between the buttocks, abdominal folds in overweight individuals, and the spaces between the toes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When sweat stays on the skin for too long, it can cause intertrigo<\/strong>, infections caused by the Candida fungus, a microorganism naturally living on the epidermis. Intertrigo develops through skin maceration, causing thinning and redness of the skin that may progress to small areas of scaling accompanied by itching and burning, eventually evolving into infections. In these cases, topical or systemic pharmacological therapy may be required.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Infections Caused by Sweat<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sweat may also cause a number of issues on the trunk, including what is commonly referred to as \u201cback fungus,\u201d known in dermatology as Pityriasis versicolor<\/strong>. It appears as small patches on the back, shoulders, chest, and neck, pinkish or darker in color, which over time become lighter white areas. It is mainly an aesthetic concern, as it generally does not have other health consequences.
It is caused by a microorganism (Malassezia<\/strong>) that normally lives on our skin. In humid conditions, it proliferates and causes this dermatosis. Treatment usually involves topical or systemic therapies, which often need to be repeated cyclically because the condition tends to recur during the summer months.
Sweating is also responsible for another infection affecting the feet, caused by bacteria of the Corynebacterium species. Due to prolonged use of occlusive footwear, which causes excessive sweating, the plantar skin becomes macerated, creating the ideal environment for diphtheroid bacteria. These bacteria release keratolytic enzymes that create small pits in the stratum corneum of the skin, especially in weight-bearing areas of the foot (typically beneath the metatarsals and heel).
This condition, scientifically known as pitted keratolysis<\/strong>, causes lesions that may in some cases evolve into larger patches and are generally asymptomatic; however, they may also become painful and malodorous. If the infection does not resolve after eliminating the conditions causing foot maceration, topical or systemic antibiotic therapy may be necessary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Disorders Caused by the Use of Technical Sportswear<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The use of technical sportswear<\/strong> has become increasingly widespread, even among amateur athletes. These garments possess specific characteristics that support physical activity: they are breathable, lightweight, abrasion-resistant, and in some cases provide sun protection. However, the fabrics used in these garments are not always well tolerated by the body and may sometimes cause discomfort or itching. Disinfectant additives often used during washing may also provoke irritation: if not rinsed properly, they can lead to irritant or allergic dermatitis.
A specific condition related to wearing technical sportswear is known as mechanical acne<\/strong>, directly associated with tight-fitting synthetic garments. Mechanical acne develops in warm and humid environments, particularly in areas exposed to friction and rubbing, such as the buttocks<\/strong>. To prevent this condition, it may be sufficient to wear looser and more breathable clothing. If this is not enough, a dermatologist may prescribe specific topical treatments.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Infections Caused by Contact with Contaminated Surfaces<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Contact with contaminated surfaces is another major source of dermatological infections associated with sports activity. Gyms and swimming pools are ideal environments for contracting viral infections such as warts and molluscum contagiosum.
Molluscum contagiosum<\/a><\/strong> appears as small semi-transparent growths and can affect any area of the body. These are soft papules with a slight central depression, ranging from 1\u20132 mm up to 10 mm in diameter. Their distribution varies depending on age: in adults they are more common on the thighs, buttocks, groin, and lower abdomen, while in children they typically appear on the face, trunk, legs, and arms.
Warts<\/strong> are manifestations of the HPV virus and are generally not particularly harmful to the body. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consult a specialist as soon as the first symptoms appear.
Warm and humid environments such as gyms and pools are also ideal for fungal proliferation. The most common fungal infection is tinea pedis<\/strong>, commonly known as \u201cathlete\u2019s foot,\u201d which develops best in dark, warm, and humid environments such as feet enclosed in sports shoes for prolonged periods. Since fungi like tinea pedis are highly contagious, they can easily spread from foot to foot.
Symptoms of athlete\u2019s foot include itching and burning; in some cases, the skin between the toes may peel, while in others redness or dryness may appear on the soles and sides of the feet. Some individuals who develop athlete\u2019s foot may also be at risk of toenail fungal infections, which can be difficult to treat without dermatological care.
In cases of recurrent outbreaks or when topical treatments are ineffective, consulting a dermatologist for the prescription of specific medications may become necessary.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As with other specialties, Dermacademy pays close attention to these issues. For more information, write to us at info@dermacademy.it<\/a> or call us at 0508068111.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lo sport \u00e8 senz\u2019altro un\u2019abitudine salutare e praticarlo regolarmente porta con s\u00e9 una lunga serie di benefici, per il fisico e per la mente. In…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":9707,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[61],"class_list":["post-9706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dermatology","tag-dermatology"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9706"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9706\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10245,"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9706\/revisions\/10245"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dermacademy.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}