Work out there are some Health benefits like it not only make you look good and feel positive but also keep you healthy, eliminate skin and detox your system but when working out at the gym you can get some kind of skin infection if you don’t maintain proper hygiene during and after your workout so you need to be mindful and careful than during exercise.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Shireen Furtado, Consultant – Medical and Aesthetic Dermatology at Aster CMI Hospital in Bangalore, emphasized that if you are a gym person, then you are more than likely struggled with these skin problems:
1. Ringworm/Skin fungus –
This is a fungal infection that appears as a red, itchy, circular rash on your skin. This infection can occur in any part of your body such as your groin, armpits, and under your breasts and can cause intense itching. Ringworm can also spread from one part of the body to another and thrive in warm and humid environments such as equipment and sweaty benches. The symptoms of ringworm usually appear 4 to 14 days after you have a fungal infection. The advice is that if you spot any itchy red circular patches on your skin then you must take immediate measures to stop its spread as it is highly contagious and spreads among members of the family. family. Please don’t ask pharmacists about medicines as most of them suggest steroid creams which complicate and aggravate fungal infections.
2. Athlete’s foot
This is a common fungal infection that occurs on the feet with itchy, flaky skin between the toes. This is also a form of tinea pedis. Since your feet stay moist from sweating during exercise, it becomes a breeding ground for fungus. Infected surfaces and dirty yoga mats etc are some of the areas where you can easily get this disease. Tinea capitis is a contagious disease and sufferers often experience a burning sensation in the affected area. Therefore, you should wash your feet and keep your toes clean after exercise. Ventilate your toes and change socks often – give preference to super absorbent socks.
3. Folliculitis
This is an itchy, painful skin condition that appears as red bumps that are quite similar to acne and cause a burning sensation on the skin. This condition can occur in the neck, armpits, thighs, etc. and mainly affects the hair follicles. You can get this infection if you are using any dirty equipment or if you sweat too much in the gym. You should avoid wearing tight clothing in the gym as it can cause friction that can worsen the disease.
4. Plantar warts
Plantar warts are rough skin growths that appear on the soles of your feet and feet. It is caused by the human papillomavirus, a virus that specifically attacks the soles of the feet and causes warts. Wet places like locker rooms and swimming pools are common breeding grounds for this type of infection. Warts on the soles of the feet are mainly painful and make walking difficult. It is usually acquired when walking barefoot in an area where a person has also had warts on their feet previously.
5. Staphylococcal skin infections
This is one of the most common types of infection you can get in the gym and comes in the form of a red boil that can drain pus. This infection, if severe, can cause fever, chills, sweating, weakness, and is contagious. Staph is usually transmitted by physical contact and surfaces such as contaminated benches. In case you have an open wound, bacteria can easily enter and multiply which can be life-threatening. If you have any symptoms, then you must consult a doctor. Recent times have seen an increase in MRSA-Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a bacteria that causes particularly nasty and drug-resistant infections.
Dr. Shireen Furtado suggests how you can prevent yourself from infection at the gym –
- Wear loose clothes
- Cover open wounds and wear shoes when exercising
- Device disinfection
- Wash your hands and shower after exercise
