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Olympic athletes are vulnerable to traumatic, environmental and infectious skin manifestations. Although dermatological complaints are frequent among Olympians, there is a scarcity of literature that reviews sports-related dermatoses among Olympic athletes. A comprehensive review of PREMEDLINE and MEDLINE searches of all available literature through to January 2011 was conducted, focusing on sports-related dermatological presentations as well as the key words 'Olympic athletes' and 'skin diseases'. Common skin conditions can be harmful and even prohibitive for competition. Common aetiologies of dermatological conditions related to sports include: skin infections with dermatophytes such as tinea pedis and tinea corporis, bacteria such as pitted keratolysis, and folliculitis and viruses such as herpes gladiatorum. Frictional dermatoses occur commonly and include athlete's nodules, jogger's itch, frictional blisters, callosities and talon noir. Trauma can cause haematomas such as auricular haematomas. Due to long training hours in the sun, many endurance athletes experience high levels of UV radiation and a higher risk for both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Pre-existing dermatoses can also be aggravated with practice and competition; in particular, atopic eczema and physical urticarias. Infrequent dermatoses are susceptible to misdiagnosis, delay in treatment and needless biopsies. This review highlights the diagnosis and management of sports-related dermatoses by the following general categories of Olympic sport: endurance, resistance, team sport, and performing arts.

The first of this three-part series on water-related dermatoses involving the athlete will include sports occurring with the majority of time spent in the water. These sports include swimming, diving, scuba, snorkeling and water polo. Numerous authors have described dermatologic conditions commonly seen in swimmers. This series provides an updated and comprehensive review of these water dermatoses. In order to organize the vast number of skin conditions related to water exposure, we divided the skin conditions into groupings of infectious and organism-related dermatoses, irritant and allergic dermatoses and miscellaneous dermatoses. The vast majority of skin conditions involving the water athlete result from chemicals and microbes inhabiting each environment. When considering the effects of swimming on one's skin, it is also useful to differentiate between exposure to freshwater (lakes, ponds and swimming pools) and exposure to saltwater. This review will serve as a guide for dermatologists, sports medicine physicians and other medical practitioners in recognition and treatment of these conditions., (© 2010 The International Society of Dermatology.)

The third of this three-part series on water-related sports dermatoses discusses skin changes seen in athletes who participate in sporting activities on top of or nearby water. While also susceptible to several of the freshwater and saltwater dermatoses discussed in parts one and two of the series, these athletes may present with skin changes unique to their particular sports. This updated and comprehensive review details those near-water dermatologic conditions commonly seen in sailors, rowers, fishermen, surfers, windsurfers, rafters, and water skiers, and will serve as a guide for dermatologists, sports medicine physicians and other medical practitioners in recognition and treatment of these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second part of this three-part series on water-related dermatoses will discuss dermatologic conditions seen in athletes exposed to saltwater. The vast majority of the following dermatoses result from contact with organisms that inhabit saltwater, including bacteria, cnidarians, and echinoderms. This review also will include other dermatoses affecting saltwater athletes and should serve as a guide for dermatologists, sports medicine physicians, and other medical practitioners in recognition and treatment of these dermatoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article elaborates the survey regarding prevalence of tinea pedis in professional and college soccer players compared to non-athletes in the United States. The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of various risk factors and their association with tinea pedis among these three groups of people. Tinea pedis infected 69 percent professional soccer players compared with 69 percent of male college soccer players and 43 percent of female college players. The non-athletes demonstrated less tinea pedis.

Sports participants of all skill levels may develop sport-specific skin problems. Many skin disorders in athletes can mimic other potentially serious dermatologic entities that can be manifestations of musculoskeletal conditions, infections, inflammatory conditions, or carcinomas. Also, some skin conditions can alert the sports physician to look for possible anabolic steroid abuse. Physicians who are familiar with the relationship between the specific activities of various sports and skin disorders common to athletes will be able to properly diagnose, manage, and treat these conditions and educate players to prevent further injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes commonly encounter skin problems as a result of their exercise endeavours. Many of these dermatoses are related to skin infections. Bacteria, viruses, fungi, atypical mycobacteria, and parasites may all hinder athletes' performances. Regular surveillance by athletes and coaches assists in promptly identifying these skin infections. Prompt therapy helps to thwart team epidemics. Prevention is paramount and includes both pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods. This review article reviews in detail the epidemiology of skin infections, the clinical presentation of skin infections, the management of skin infections, and the prevention of skin infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatologists frequently use anatomic distribution to aid the diagnosis of skin conditions. In runners, it is important to consider infections, trauma, inflammatory conditions, and environmental injuries in combination with running physiology and body site to identify skin lesions. In this article we categorize running dermatoses by anatomic location to assist the clinician in rapid diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]