Olympic athletes are usually the picture of health and well-being. But as a recent research paper published in the journal Sports Medicine notes, extensive training and environmental conditions can result in significant skin problems.
'Olympic athletes are vulnerable to traumatic, environmental and infectious skin conditions ... Common skin conditions can be harmful and even prohibitive for competition,' writes the research team, which was led by Dr Jacqueline DeLuca, of the University of Hawaii's school of medicine in Honolulu. DeLuca was a member of the US women's water polo team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The researchers reviewed all available studies on sports-related skin diseases among Olympic athletes up to January last year. They found that common causes of skin problems related to sports include infections, abnormal growths, inflammatory conditions, trauma and those brought on by environmental factors.
Pre-existing skin problems can also be aggravated by practice sessions and competitions. The researchers say this is especially problematic because the prevalence of eczema and atopy (a genetic predisposition to develop allergic diseases) are higher in the elite athlete population.
Skin conditions were most prevalent among the medical (non-injury) complaints at the 2004 Olympics, comprising 16 per cent of consultations.
In the report, the problems are grouped by the categories of Olympic sport. Here's a list taken from their study of the most common problems that would apply to athletes, particularly marathon runners, triathletes and swimmers.