Bacteria breeds in warm, moist places and gyms are a potential breeding ground for ringworm. Ringworm is a fungal infection caused by organisms called dermatophytes. Dermatophytes cause athlete's foot and ringworm of the groin and scalp. Patrons of public facilities such as gyms and wellness spas can help prevent ringworm and keep fungus at bay.
How to Prevent Ringworm in Gyms
Step 1
Change into sportswear for physical activities and launder workout clothes after each use. Do not stuff your soiled workout clothes into your gym bag and reuse the clothes for the next workout. Fungus breeds on soiled clothes, and an open wound or cut on the skin give the fungus a chance to enter the body.
Step 2
Wear loose-fitting workout clothes. When shopping for active wear, perform a squat test. In the dressing room, squat in your clothing and raise your hands about your head. If you can perform this test without the fabric rubbing against your skin, the active wear are a good fit.
Step 3
Practice good hygiene and shower after each workout, before dressing into clean clothes. Consider using a calamine powder for the groin area to prevent skin abrasions. Calamine powder also treats areas already infected by drying up ooze, sweat and other fluid secretions such as blisters and boils.
Step 4
Use a medicated shampoo that contains selenium sulfide to prevent ringworm of the scalp, especially if you have had a ringworm infection in the past. Use a medicated shampoo after participating in contact sports such as wrestling or boxing.
Step 5
Treat your feet before and after a workout. Use a foot powder before a workout to dry up perspiration and prevent athlete's foot. Wear flip flops in the locker room to keep your feet clean. Dry feet thoroughly after your shower and apply foot powder again for extra protection.
Step 6
Use the spray bottles provided by the gym to sanitize the workout equipment after each use. If you cannot find the bottle, ask a staff member and use the towel supplied by the sanitizing station for use on the equipment. Carry your own towel for personal use, such as wiping perspiration, and do not use your personal towel for cleaning the equipment.
Step 7
Do not share gym towels and use precautions when reusing towels. Once you lie down your towel on a bench or drop it on the floor, do not reuse it. Always take a towel to sit on in a wet or dry sauna and discard it into the laundry bin, if the gym provides laundry service.
Step 8
Clean your gym bag and other contents regularly. Your gym bag carries bacteria, especially if your bag holds wet, soiled towels and clothes. Use a hand-held steamer to sanitize the bag or wash the bag with your other laundry, depending on the fabric content of your gym bag. Use a disinfectant cleaner on a cloth to wipe down other contents such as deodorant bottles or cosmetic cases. Dry contents before placing items back into a clean gym bag.
Tips and Warnings
- Take extra precautions when participating in contact sports, such as wrestling or boxing. Wash all equipment after each use, including gloves, helmets, mats, eye wear and other gear. Treat injuries with an antibacterial ointment, and keep all open wounds bandaged. According to the Environment and Plastics Industry Council, reusable bags are breeding grounds for bacteria. The study found that first-use, single-use plastic shopping bags had no evidence of yeast, mold or bacteria, but 64 percent of reusable bags had presence of bacterial contamination. Contamination will depend on how you use the bag. Reusable bags are helpful for separating wet towels and soiled clothes for placement inside of a larger gym bag, but regularly clean the reusable bag along with the soiled contents inside.
- If you get an infection, report it to the gym's staff or supervisor. Facilities regularly remove and replace carpet in the locker rooms and schedule sanitizing maintenance. Reports of infection outbreaks may prompt an investigation. Withholding the information of your outbreak could pose a risk to the gym community. A ringworm infection does not necessarily mean you got the infection from the gym. Do not be afraid to use the facilities after an outbreak. You can get ringworm anywhere.
Things You'll Need
- Clean clothes and towels
- Calamine powder
- Medicated shampoo
- Foot powder
- Flip flops
- Antibacterial ointment
- Bandages
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