Skin Health

Skin problems are an underestimated health care burden in sport, causing pain, irritation or infections. In collision sports like rugby there can be additional challenges caused by players falling at speed on the hard grass or artificial turf surfaces on which the sport is played and particularly in dry climates or at dry times of year.

It would be unusual for skin problems to prevent participation in rugby with the exception of perhaps active or contagious infections where symptoms or risk of progressing or spreading the infection are too great, but there are number of sport-specific considerations that will reduce the impact of skin injury on the player and should be seen as a positive player welfare intervention. 

Healthy skin anatomy and physiology

The skin is the largest organ in the body occupying over two square meters. It is our envelope that keeps the environment out and our contents in. It has physical, thermoregulatory and endocrine functions via Vitamin D metabolism in protecting us from injury, ultraviolet radiation and infections.