Skin Conditions And Physical Activity

Introduction

Skin disorders are one of the general problems of several diseases.¹ The skin acts as a defensive layer of the body that is a protective layer against pathogens.²

What are the most common skin conditions?

 Various types of common skin disorders can be 

Scabies

Scabies is caused by a bite of the parasite Sarcoptes scabies. It is common in sexually active adults and can be easily transmitted from one person to another by direct contact. The transmission of the disease can mostly be seen between infants and elderly people.¹ The symptoms are itchy papules, burrows, and generalized pruritus. Burrows are usually seen between the fingers, near the elbow, armpits, genitals, and near the breast.³

Eczema

Eczema is also known as Dermatitis and is one of the most common and chronic skin disorders worldwide spread. It is similar to scabies and sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate between them.³ About 10-20% of eczema rises from non-allergic sources.⁴ The main symptoms of Eczema include dry and itchy skin, Suffering from eczema can also affect your mental health due to stigmatization(lack of awareness) and sleepless nights.⁵ Eczema can be differentiated into atopic dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, photo contact dermatitis, and many more.⁴

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an inflammatory immune-related disease that affects about 2-3% of the total population.⁶ Plagues and red papules with dry white skin can be seen. The symptoms can also be seen on the tongue with red patches with a yellow and white border.In addition, any part can get affected by psoriasis except the ophthalmic region, there are rare chances of an eye-getting affected. The disease is characterized by different forms namely, plaque psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, and inverse psoriasis.⁷

Acne

It is a common, non-harmful skin problem that every adult faces. About 650 million people are prone to acne. The skin has small pores which get filled by excess oil, and bacteria causing pimples. Pimples can be differentiated into blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Acne can cause marks and can appear anywhere on the skin's surface. Mostly females get affected due to their menstruation which can be pre-menstrual or post-menstrual whereas only 25% of men suffer from acne. There are different types of acne namely acne rosacea, acne vulgaris, hickey, and zit.⁸

 Exercise benefits the skin’s health

Inflammatory skin disorders affect the quality of life (QoL) and the skin disorders have their pattern (eczematous pattern, psoriasis pattern) that results in altered immunity function of the epithelial layer.² To maintain the (QoL), physical exercise can influence skin inflammatory disorders. As psoriasis is related to high body mass(BMI), physical exercise has shown a reduction in adipose tissue with a decreased oxidative state in a psoriasis patient.9 Obesity can lead to fungal infections and increased signs of bacterial and candida skin.¹⁰

Eczema is commonly seen in obese people and physical exercise has shown a decrease in the percentage of people exercising.¹¹ With respect to exercising, nutrients play a major role in the improvement of QoL, Vit. C, Vit. B, beta carotene, and calcium may protect against damage and improve QoL. Therefore exercise and good nutrients can promote good optimal health.¹²

How to protect the skin when working out?

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are one of the causes of skin damage (eg. sunburn) and skin disorders, reportedly sunscreens reduce the incidence of skin disorders by absorbing and scattering UV. Sunscreens also protect us from blue light, infrared radiation, and pollution that can worsen skin disorders. The photoprotective efficiency is determined by the sun protection factor (SPF), the values of SPF indicate how long the sunscreen will protect from the UV.¹³

Sunburns and skin damage can be avoided by wearing a protective layer of clothing, UV-protected shades, not staying for too long in the sun, wearing loose clothes, and hats can reduce exposure to the sun.¹⁴ Fabrics such as moisture-wicking fabrics absorb sweat and provide cooling and reduce irritation during working out, the fabrics are composed of polyester and nylon, unlike cotton. The fabric provides comfort and reduces chafing.¹⁵

Summary

Skin disorders can be differentiated into several types which can be harmful. Disorders such as acne are temporary and can be treated, while scabies and eczema need care to reduce them. To avoid the disorders, quality of life (QoL) must be proper., Regular exercises and proper nutrients can increase blood flow and immunity and help to keep the body weight moderate, whereas obesity can be avoided. Applying sunscreens SPF, wearing loose clothes in the sun, and using wicking fabrics while physical activity can increase comfort and decrease irritation. This can prevent common skin damage and disorders.