Athletic skin injuries: combating pressure and friction.

Because the skin is the athlete's first line of defense, it is exposed to friction and pressure in nearly every athletic setting. Whether applied acutely or chronically, friction and pressure often cause skin trauma, such as abrasions, chafing, calluses, blisters, talon noir (black heel), and acne mechanica. Sports medicine clinicians, who regularly see skin injuries, can speed healing by making a timely diagnosis, recommending effective treatment, and discussing prevention strategies.

Special skin symptoms seen in swimmers.

Inherent in the nature of every form of athletic endeavor are certain characteristics of the sport that can potentially produce pathologic changes in the various organ systems, including the skin. Swimming is no exception. We review some of the more common dermatologic conditions likely to be encountered by swimmers in the aqueous medium of their activity.

Acing common skin problems in tennis players.

The following measures can help prevent skin disorders in tennis players: wearing properly fitted shoes to avoid tennis toe, talon noir, and calluses; applying lubricants to protect against blisters and chafing; washing skin thoroughly to reduce the risk of acne mechanica; and wearing a hat and sunscreen to guard against photoinjury. 'Stringer's fingers' can be prevented by breaking the habit of adjusting the racket strings after each point. Should these disorders become troublesome, conservative treatments are usually effective.