Sports Medicine Newsletter

Skin Infections in Athletics
November 2012

By: Dan Johnson, PT, Director of Rehab Services

Skin infections in the athletic population can be very problematic.  This is particularly true in the sport of wrestlingClose quarters that promote skin-to-skin contact make athletes particularly vulnerable to skin diseasesSkin diseases fall into three basic categories fungal, viral, and bacterial.  Treatment of these will vary depending on the infectious agent involved.

According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in their Fact Sheet entitled “Skin Diseases in Athletics”:

According to the NYS Health Department:


Further information is available at www.NATA.org or www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/athletic-skin-infections/hand-washing.

The information provided in SPORTSCARE is intended as an aid to people dealing with athletic injuries in our community, and is not to be used as a substitution for medical advice for specific individuals or situations.

SPORTSCARE is a newsletter published by the WCA Hospital Sports Medicine Center and is distributed free of charge to coaches within our community.

WCA Healthcare Sports Medicine Center offers diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of all athletic or sports-related injuries

Appointments may be made by calling
(716) 664-8604.