Wrestling's a combat sport. You might expect the most serious health problems to come from twisted joints or the jarring impact of being thrown to the mat. It's also reasonable to think that cutting weight is a major cause of problems. But one problem scares wrestling coaches more than any other: skin rashes.
Abrasive Rashes
When a section of a wrestler's skin "squeaks" across the mat -- or another wrestler -- the result can be a red abrasion. This painful condition, called "mat rash," can be made worse by poor hygiene or the natural salt from sweat. However, mat rash is not contagious and not a serious problem for a wrestling team's health.
Bacterial and Viral Rashes
If a wrestler doesn't clean a small cut well enough, and that cut is exposed to a bacteria or virus, his skin can break out in a rash because of the resulting infection. Impetago and yeast infections are two examples of this kind of rash. Because small cuts are common in wrestling, as is frequent skin-to-skin contact, a rash of this kind spreads quickly from one wrestler to another.
Fungal Infections
Athlete's foot can grow on any part of the body that's dark, moist and infrequently exposed to air. This and similar fungal infections sometimes show up in wrestlers' groins, armpits and feet. Although easier to control than a bacterial or viral infection, they can be hard to put down on individual wrestlers. Because wrestlers with skin rashes are usually barred from competition until cured, this can pose a serious problem to the infected athlete.
Parasitic Rashes
Ringworm is a common threat to wrestlers. These small parasites enter the body through a cut or abrasion, and grow in the distinctive ring-shaped, bruise-like pattern or rash. Like the viral and bacterial rashes, these rashes can spread easily over the course of normal wrestling -- infecting entire teams if left unchecked for even a few weeks.
References
- All Star Activities: Wrestling Skin Disorders
- "The Sports Injury Handbook"; Christer Rolf; 2010
- "Coaching Wrestling Successfully"; Dan Gable; 1999
