7 Science-Backed Habits of Grapplers Who Rarely Get Skin Infections

Mat Health · The Routine

The athletes who stay on the mats aren't lucky. They follow a routine. Here's the one sports-medicine research points to.

Team Resurge · Sources linked at the bottom of the page

In NCAA wrestling, three out of four skin infections cost the athlete at least a day out, and more than one in five came back again[1]. The good news is that most of what reduces your risk is simple. It just needs to be consistent.

1They shower (or clean up) straight after training

Sitting in sweaty gear on the drive home gives bacteria and fungi time and moisture. The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) position statement recommends athletes shower with soap as soon as possible after practice[2].

Real life: gym showers aren't always an option. Have a post-roll step in your bag so you're never going home without cleaning your skin.

2They never shave their body before training

6.1× higher MRSA risk for players who shaved their body, in a college team outbreak.Begier et al., Clin Infect Dis, 2004

Shaving leaves tiny cuts you can't see. In that outbreak, three of the four players infected on covered areas like the hip and thigh had shaved that exact spot[3]. If you must shave, do it after training, not before.

3They treat mat burn like an injury, not a badge

In the same outbreak, players with friction abrasions had 7.2× the risk of MRSA infection[3]. Broken skin is an open door.

Do this: clean scrapes after every session, look after them until they've healed, and cover them before you roll.

4They wash their gi and rashguard after every session

No "second wear," and no damp gi sitting in a bag overnight. NATA recommends laundering training gear after every use and not sharing clothing or equipment[2]. Dry it fully, too. Fungi love damp fabric.

5They don't share towels, razors or water bottles

NATA advises athletes never to share towels, razors or personal items[2]. Shared water can matter too: in the college MRSA outbreak, sharing the whirlpool two or more times a week was linked to infections on covered skin[3]. Keep your own towel, and keep it clean.

6They check their skin, and they sit out when something shows

Ringworm in combat athletes spreads mainly skin to skin[4]. In the landmark herpes gladiatorum outbreak, researchers concluded that spotting and excluding wrestlers with lesions quickly could reduce transmission[5].

Do this: a 60-second look at your face, neck, arms, knees and feet after training. New spot? See a doctor before your next session.

7They keep their feet (and the mats) clean

Wear footwear off the mat, never walk into the bathroom barefoot and back onto the tatami, and keep your feet dry. Dermatologists have linked long hours barefoot on tatami, plus sweaty feet, to bacterial foot infections[6]. Gyms should clean mats after every session. NATA recommends daily mat cleaning as a minimum[2].

But remember: most transmission is person to person[7], so a clean mat doesn't cancel out what's on your skin.

Make the routine automatic

Habits stick when they're easy. That's why we made Resurge small enough to live in your gym bag:

  • Before and after rolling: GUARD, a fast-drying, non-medicated hygiene spray.
  • For mat burn and scrapes: STRIKE, a cooling gel that looks after beaten-up skin.
  • Then: shower, wash your gear and do your skin check.
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The Combat Kit

GUARD Daily Defence Spray + STRIKE Skin Recovery Gel. Botanical actives including totarol, thymol, nisin and lemon myrtle. No grease, no sting.

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Two products. One routine. More time on the mats.

This article is general education, not medical advice. GUARD and STRIKE are non-medicated personal hygiene products. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and they don't replace medical care. If you have a spreading, painful, hot or pus-filled lesion, a blistering rash, or a fever, stop training and see a doctor.

Sources

  1. Herzog MM, et al. Epidemiology of skin infections in men's wrestling: NCAA surveillance data 2009-10 to 2013-14. J Athl Train. 2017;52(5):457-63. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-52.2.16
  2. Zinder SM, et al. National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement: skin diseases. J Athl Train. 2010;45(4):411-28. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-45.4.411
  3. Begier EM, et al. A high-morbidity outbreak of MRSA among players on a college football team, facilitated by cosmetic body shaving and turf burns. Clin Infect Dis. 2004;39(10):1446-53. https://doi.org/10.1086/425313
  4. Kermani F, et al. Molecular epidemiology of tinea gladiatorum in contact sports in northern Iran. Mycoses. 2020;63(5):509-16. https://doi.org/10.1111/myc.13069
  5. Belongia EA, et al. An outbreak of herpes gladiatorum at a high-school wrestling camp. N Engl J Med. 1991;325(13):906-10. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199109263251302
  6. Balić A, et al. Tatami mats: a source of pitted keratolysis in a martial arts athlete? Acta Dermatovenerol Croat. 2018;26(1):68-70. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29782305/
  7. Turbeville SD, Cowan LD, Greenfield RA. Infectious disease outbreaks in competitive sports: a review of the literature. Am J Sports Med. 2006;34(11):1860-5. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546505285385