Teacher Master

HYGIENE AND FOOT CARE

Hygiene is an important part of maintaining good health. When involved in sport because of the effects of exercise on the body this makes hygiene an important issue. There are a number of important areas in which to ensure hygiene routines are good.

- Sweat is water plus salts, ammonia and other wastes. Body heat makes the water evaporate, that cools the body down.

- Sweat does not smell at the start. But the bacteria that live on your skin feed on it, producing smelly substances.

- It is important to shower and change your underclothes often to get rid of the smelly substances, and especially after exercise. Wash your PE and sports clothing frequently too.

- Deodorants and anti-perspirants are used to help avoid sweaty smells and are only effective when our body is clean. Deodorants cover up the smell of sweat with a nicer smell but it doesn’t last for long. Anti-perspirants coat the pores of the skin with a film so sweat can’t get out. But, as perspiration is the way the body keeps us cool, it could be said that it is not sensible to use them before intense exercise.

- The head sweats a lot during exercise, 80% of the bodies heat is lost through the head. This means that there is a real need to wash hair regularly, especially after exercise, in order to remove salt, ammonia and other wastes.

- The armpits and crotch area are parts of the body, which due to sweating become moist and smelly. This makes them particularly vulnerable to fungal infections.

Sweat Rash – (or ‘Jock Itch, if You are American)What is it?Sweat rash is extremely common. Unfortunately it can affect anyone at any time but there is no reason why it should cause long-lasting discomfort. This irritating condition is caused by candida, a yeast that occurs naturally on your skin. Trapped perspiration can sometimes upset the natural balance of the skin allowing candida to cause an irritating, itchy smelly and often unsightly red rash. It's difficult to know when it might strike as everyday things such as sweating it out at the gym, wearing tight clothes or just being exposed to the sun could potentially lead to this common fungal skin infection. Common areas

One of the more obvious and immediate effects of exercise is sweating.

Sweating during exercise keeps you cool.

where this tends to appear are where the skin rubs together: under the arms, backs of the knees, groin and under the breasts.Who gets it?Anyone could get sweat rash at anytime. It is often caused by candida (a yeast that lives naturally on your skin). Things such as rushing for the bus, working out at the gym and even wearing tight fitting clothing can all upset the natural balance of candida on the skin. This can result in a red, sore, itchy rash that can drive you to distraction. People who sweat more are more likely to suffer candidal sweat rash is therefore more common in sporty people, the overweight or the immobile but as candida lives naturally on the skin it could be experienced by anyone especially during the summertime

How do I Know I Have Got It?- The common signs and symptoms of sweat rash are:

o a sore red rash o inflamed skin o itching o burning discomfort o the skin could also be broken and may be moist

- Sweat rash is usually found in skin folds or in areas where skin rubs together, therefore you are more likely to experience this condition in areas such as:

o groin o under arms o between and under breasts o back of knees o elbows o If it is left untreated in these areas if can spread

What starts/causes it?Candidal sweat rash is caused by an overgrowth of candida. Candida may overgrow and cause a problem when the condition of the skin changes i.e. the area becomes warmer or more moist than normal.

A key cause of a candidal overgrowth is sweating which is why it is more common in the summer months or amongst sporty people

What should I do?Candidal sweat rash may result in an irritating, itchy rash on the skin and simply reaching for the nearest lotion in your bathroom cabinet won’t always ease the problem. Just treating the symptoms (the inflammation) can result in the underlying infection worsening or spreading. Treat sweat rash as soon as possible as this helps prevent it spreading or getting worse. See your doctor or pharmacist

Do’s and Don’tsOnce you have got rid of the sweat rash there are a number of ways in which you can prevent it returning

DO: DON'T: Keep your skin cool and dry Try to avoid getting sweaty in the areas in which you

experienced sweat rash - if this is not possible be aware that sweat rash could return and treat it early.

Dry your skin carefully using a separate towel to dry the infected area - do not rub it as this can damage the skin and spreads the infection

Use Creams as directed and for no longer than 7 days to help keep the skin dry use a drying powder.

Wash your hands after treating your infection to prevent

Avoid clothes that rub against your skin and may irritate sensitive areas

Try to avoid man-made fibres such as lycra and nylon as they reduce the amount of air which reaches the skin. Try wearing cotton underwear and loose clothing

it spreading. If the rash worsens please ask your pharmacist or doctor

for their advice.

Athletes FootWhat is it?Athlete’s foot is one of those irritating skin problems that just seem to appear and then stubbornly refuse to go away. Treated effectively though it doesn’t have to hang around for longAthlete’s foot is a common fungal infection of the skin, typically appearing between the toes but also on the soles and sides of the feet. Lots of us get it, in fact as many as 1 in 4 people will suffer at some point. Those who are more susceptible are sporty people and those who work in warm, damp environments.

How do I know if I have got it?The most irritating symptom of athlete's foot is itchy feet, but if left untreated the skin may start to flake or become cracked and painful. Occasionally, it may become infected with bacteria, which you notice, by an unpleasant odour.It is important to check your feet regularly because, despite the name, anyone can get athlete's foot and it's actually quite common. Some people leave their athlete's foot alone in the hope that it may vanish, but unfortunately without proper treatment this is not the case.

What should I do next?If you've got athlete's foot, don't panic because it can be easily treated. Ask your pharmacist. It is important to start treatment as soon as possible, applying it once a day, because if you don't treat the rash it may get worse and spread. To make sure the infection is completely gone, it is important to keep using the treatment once daily for as long as recommended on the pack or by your pharmacist.

Do’s and Don’tsOnce you've treated your athlete's foot there's nothing worse than it coming back. So, here are a few tips to keep your athlete's foot at bay:

DO: DON'T:- Wash feet daily and dry them thoroughly (especially

between the toes). - Wear footwear in communal changing rooms and

around swimming pools - Change and wash socks or tights daily. - Wash hands after treatment to prevent infection

spreading. - As well as treating an existing infection, you can use

Creams or spray in socks and footwear as a preventative measure.

- Continue using Creams Once Daily for as long as recommended on the pack, even if symptoms seem to have gone.

- Avoid sharing towels or shoes to prevent the infection spreading.

- Avoid socks and shoes made from non-natural fibres as they prevent your feet from "breathing".

VeruccasWhat is it?

- Flat warts that grow on the soles of the feet. They are caused by a virusHow does it Spread?

- In the same way as athlete’s foot. They are highly contagiousHow to avoid?

- Take care where you walk in bare feet. Use flip-flops in changing rooms and around swimming pools.

How to treat?

- Ointment or pads from the chemist – if bad the hospital will freeze or burn them off

CORNS BUNIONS AND BLISTERS

Shoes that are too tight can cause corns, bunions and blisters

Questions

1. The smell of B.O is caused by what feeding on the sweat produced by your body?

______________BACTERIA___________________________________ (1)

2. Deodorants do what?

______________MASK SMELL________________________________ (1)

3. With reference to 2 foot infections – veruccas & athletes foot:

a. which is caused by fungus __ATHLETES FOOT____ (1)b. which is caused by virus __VERUCCA__________ (1)c. which is a flat wart growing on the sole of the foot __VERUCCA__________ (1)d. which is a small black spot circled with flesh __VERUCCA__________ (1)e. which is itchy & cracked skin __ATHLETES FOOT____ (1)

4. Name three things that are in sweat

____WATER______ ______SALT________ ______AMMONIA_____ (3)

5. What is the treatment for large painful bunions

_____________OPERATION__________________________ (1)

6. State two ways of treating veruccas

______CREAMS/OINTMENT & MEDICATED PADS_____________ (1)

_________FREEZE OR BURN________________________________ (1)

7. How many sweat glands are their approximately in the body

Corns are pads of thick hard skin that form on he toes and soles of feet. They can be very painful. Corn plasters may help, or go to a chiropodist.

Friction causes skin to blister. Don’t burst a blister. If it does burst keep it clean and dry and cover it with gauze. Don’t pick off the scab that forms.

At the joint of your big toe is a cushion of liquid called a bursa. If it gets inflamed the result is a bunion. Treatment for this means surgery

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