J Korean Med Assoc.  2019 Apr;62(4):202-208. 10.5124/jkma.2019.62.4.202.

Sports-related skin conditions

• Kim KH

• KMID: 2442736
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2019.62.4.202

Abstract

Skin diseases associated with athletic activities can be classified as skin infections, inflammatory reactions, trauma, and abnormal proliferation, depending on the cause of the condition. Athlete's nodule is a generic term for reactive nodules that occur in athletes. It is particularly common in the foot due to tight sneakers, repetitive pressure or friction, and inappropriate choice of shoes or other sports equipment. The diagnosis of black heel (calcaneal petechiae) should be considered when numerous black spots occur on the soles in patients who frequently engage in abrupt movements, such as starts, stops, or leaps. Palmoplantar eccrine hidradenitis may occur in athletes who play baseball, dance, and climb, activities in which repetitive and strong stimuli are applied to the floor of the hands and feet. Painful fat herniation should be suspected in cases of painful skin-colored firm nodules on the feet of athletes who place a large amount of weight on their feet when moving. Itching, urticaria, angioedema, chest tightness, and syncope occurring within 5 minutes after starting exercise should be suspected to be exercise-induced angioedema/anaphylaxis. Excessive force can cause deformation of nails, as in tennis toe and jogger's toenail. For the diagnosis and treatment of sports-related skin diseases, it is essential to pay attention to patients' hobbies and exercise habits, including sports, and to consider the relationship of those habits with the presumed mechanisms of the skin disease. In addition, thorough pre-exercise warm-ups, increasing strength gradually, and wearing proper equipment will help prevent the occurrence of sports-related skin diseases.

Keyword

Athlete's nodule; Black heel; Palmoplantar eccrine hidradenitis; Painful fat herniation; Exercise-induced angioedema

MeSH Terms

Angioedema
Athletes
Baseball
Dancing
Diagnosis
Foot
Friction
Hand
Heel
Hidradenitis
Hobbies
Humans
Nails
Pruritus
Shoes
Skin Diseases
Skin*
Sports
Sports Equipment
Syncope
Tennis
Thorax
Toes
Urticaria

Figure

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  Figure 1 How to tie a shoelace to disperse the pressure of the sole and reduce friction.

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  Figure 2 Type of foot depending on the worn area of the shoe. Reproduced from Run Better. The ultimate guide to choosing the best running shoes [Internet]. [place unknown]: Run Better; 2015, with permission from Guo Huang [3] and Kuncat. How to choose running shoes in 2019 [Internet]. Things Review; San Francisco: 2019 with permission from Deasun Toibin [4].

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  Figure 3 Palmoplantar eccrine hidradenitis. Painful erythematous papules and nodules of abrupt onset. Informed consent was obtained from the patient.

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  Figure 4 Painful fat herniation. Piezogenic pedal papules. Informed consent was obtained from the patient.

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  Figure 5 Tennis toe. Pooling of blood underneath the toenail. Informed consent was obtained from the patient.

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  Figure 6 Reproduced from JSP Textiles Solution. Breathable/waterproof fabrics [Internet]. Devon: JSP Textiles Solution; 2016, with permission from William Morrison [8] and Wright N. Winter survival kits, extreme cold weather gear, and winterizing your home and car [Internet]. [place unknown]: The Prepared; 2018, with permission from Gordon Giesbrecht [9].

Reference

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8. JSP Textiles Solution. Breathable/waterproof fabrics [Internet]. Devon: JSP Textiles Solution;2016. cited 2019 Mar 30. Available from: https://jspbiz.co.uk/2016/11/01/breathablewaterproof-fabrics/.

9. Wright N. Winter survival kits, extreme cold weather gear, and winterizing your home and car [Internet]. [place unknown]: The Prepared;2018. cited 2019 Mar 30. Available from: https://theprepared.com/situations/guides/prepare-severe-cold-winterize-checklist.