Sports-related dermatoses among road runners in Southern Brazil

Background: road running is a growing sport. objectives: to determine the prevalence of sports-related dermatoses among road runners. methods: cross-sectional study of 76 road runners. assessment was performed by means of a questionnaire,interview,and clinical examination. the chi-square and linear trend tests were used for analysis. results: most athletes were men (61%),aged 38±11 years,who ran mid- or long-distance courses (60.5%) for 45 to 60 minutes (79%),for a total of 25-64 km (42.1%) or more than 65 km (18.4%) per week. the most prevalent injuries were blisters (50%),chafing (42.1%),calluses (34.2%),onychomadesis (31.5%),tinea pedis (18.4%),ony-chocryptosis (14.5%),and cheilitis simplex (14.5%). among athletes running >64 km weekly,several conditions were significantly more frequent: calluses (p<0.04),jogger's nipple (p<0.004),cheilitis simplex (p<0.05),and tinea pedis (p<0.004). there was a significant association between the weekly running distance and the probability of skin lesions. of the athletes in our sample,57% trained before 10 a.m.,86% wore clothing and accessories for sun protection,62% wore sunscreen,and 19.7% experienced sunburn. traumatic and environmental dermatoses are common in practitioners of this outdoor sport,and are influenced by the weekly running distance. conclusion: in this group of athletes,rashes,blisters,sunburn,and nail disorders were recurrent complaints regardless of running distance. calluses,athlete's foot,chapped lips,and jogger's nipple predominated in individuals who ran longer routes. © 2014 by anais brasileiros de dermatologia.