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AcneNet
Update
Sports-Induced Acne (Acne Mechanica)
What can football players, hockey players, soccer
players, motorcycle riders, and back-packers have in common?
For one thing, they are all participating in a
sport. In addition, they might all find themselves with an outbreak of
sports-induced acne—the form of acne called acne mechanica.
Acne mechanica is a form of acne caused by heat,
pressure, occlusion of the skin and repetitive frictional rubbing
against the skin. Common sports-related causes of this type of skin
trauma are:
- helmets and helmet straps worn by football and
hockey players and motorcycle riders;
- shoulder pads and straps worn by football
players;
- tight uniforms made of synthetic fabric;
- tight headbands worn by soccer players and
runners; and,
- straps and packs of back-packers.
Other causes of acne mechanica may be:
- weapon and equipment straps used by soldiers;
- "hippie" headbands worn for long periods of
time;
- pressure and friction against the neck and jaw
during long hours of playing a violin;
- tight fur caps worn for long periods of time in
cold climates;
- tight underwear and panties made of synthetic
fabric;
- tight bra straps; and,
- occasionally, adhesive tape that remains on the
skin for several days.
This photo shows of typical case of acne mechanica
caused by friction of tight clothing:
Acne mechanica on the thigh of a
24-year-old man who wore tight jeans. The acne consists of inflamed
papules on his thighs and calves.
( Photo
used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National
Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides and the Sulzberger Institute for
Dermatologic Education)
In young people, especially, acne mechanica may be
due to physical skin trauma causing a flare of pre-existing, nearly
invisible "sandpaper acne." Small, undeveloped "sandpaper acne" lesions—microcomedones—of
the forehead and chin may be visually inapparent but perceptible to the
touch as roughness of the skin. Sandpaper acne of the forehead and chin
is readily traumatized by sports helmets and straps, and by tight
headbands.
Young people with a predisposition for acne of the
shoulders, back and buttocks are especially at risk for acne mechanica
caused by shoulder padding, equipment straps and tight uniforms or
clothing.
Acne mechanica is usually not associated with skin
conditions other than "sandpaper acne". Heat, pressure, occlusion of the
skin and friction may be all that is needed to induce an outbreak of
acne mechanica.
Prevention of acne mechanica includes using
measures such as:
- wearing a clean, cotton T-shirt under a sports
uniform; cotton absorbs sweat and reduces friction of the uniform
against the skin;
- showering immediately after athletic
activities, making certain to wash the chest, back and buttocks and
areas that were under straps, padding or tight uniform—liquid
cleansers containing salicylic acid are useful for removing surface
oils and unclogging pores;
- avoiding prolonged covering of the forehead
with a headband or cap; and,
- applying an anti-acne medication to acne
mechanica lesions as soon as they appear; an often effective
medication is a keratolytic solution containing salicylic acid and
resorcinol.
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