A bothersome consequence of contact sports is skin infections.

Most infections are caused by bacteria (impetigo, erysipelas) or by fungi (ringworm, athlete's foot). In this blog, you will learn how to prevent becoming a victim.

Additionally, we will teach you to recognize which infections are most common, and give you some tips to get back on the mat as quickly as possible.

PREVENTION

We’ll just mention it, no matter how cliché it is: prevention is better than cure. With the right precautions, you can prevent yourself or your training partners from getting an infection.

1. Short nails
Make sure your nails are clean and trimmed short before each training session. Long nails can lead to cuts that are susceptible to infections.

2. Clean outfit for every training
A house rule at Haven BJJ, but unfortunately not at every BJJ school. Make sure you wear a clean outfit for every training session.

3. Bare feet on the mat, slippers off the mat
Always wear slippers when stepping off the mat. This prevents you from picking up bacteria and fungi from the ground on your feet and then sharing them with your training partners.

4. Cover as much of your body as possible
A long-sleeved rash guard and spats (leggings) under your shorts help reduce skin-to-skin contact.

5. Shower as soon as possible after training
Preferably with a soap that contains tea tree oil. At Haven BJJ, we sell Defense Soap at the front desk
Dry yourself well after showering, including between your toes and behind your ears. Fungi thrive in moisture.

RECOGNITION

There are many different infections you can have on your skin. These are the three that are most common in BJJ and Grappling:

Ringworm
Ringworm starts as a small red circle but can grow larger. Ringworm itches and is very contagious.
The good news is that it can often be resolved with an ointment from the drugstore. For a stubborn infection, you can also get pills against the fungus.

More information:
https://www.thuisarts.nl/huidschimmel/ik-heb-huidschimmel

Impetigo
Impetigo often occurs on your face, head, or neck. They are small blisters filled with fluid that are very contagious. Impetigo is usually caused by the staphylococcus bacteria that enter a wound. An ointment or a course of antibiotics usually resolves impetigo within 10 days.

More information:
https://www.thuisarts.nl/krentenbaard/ik-heb-krentenbaard

Erysipelas (Staph)
While impetigo and ringworm mainly itch, erysipelas can be very painful. It starts as something that looks like a pimple but can quickly become a huge, painful lump. Sometimes an ointment helps, but usually, you need to follow a course of antibiotics. Make sure to address it in time to prevent most of the pain. Erysipelas is also caused by staphylococci.

More information:
https://www.thuisarts.nl/wondroos/ik-heb-wondroos

SOLUTION

Stop as soon as you see something unusual on your skin during training. You can optionally send a photo to one of the coaches for advice. Try to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to get the right medication. Depending on the type of infection and its severity, this will be a cream or a course of pills. Do not return to training until you are no longer contagious. 

During treatment, here are some other tips to prevent reinfection:
Use a clean towel every day, keep yourself clean, and cover the affected areas where possible.

If you are following a course of antibiotics, it is advisable to also take probiotics<think of="" kefir="" or="" buttermilk. <="" span="">. Think of kefir or buttermilk.

What will you do with all this extra free time now that you can't train?
You can read about that in this blog about dealing with injuries!

CONCLUSION
Although skin infections can be very annoying for BJJ practitioners, they can be effectively managed with the right preventive measures and quick action at the first signs. By staying aware of the risks and acting proactively, you can enjoy healthy and productive training sessions without the fear of infections.