Antifungal-resistant dermatophytes in New Zealand

A stubborn circular rash is not just an inconvenience when you train BJJ, wrestle, spar or share mats every week. Antifungal-resistant dermatophytes are an emerging problem in New Zealand, and that matters to every athlete, parent and academy owner who treats ringworm as something to cover up and push through.

Dermatophytes are fungi that feed on keratin in the outer skin layer, hair and nails. They cause tinea infections, including ringworm on the body, athlete’s foot and jock itch. Despite the name, ringworm is not a worm. In combat sport, it often starts as an itchy, scaly patch and can spread quickly through direct skin contact, shared gear, towels, changing areas and delayed showering.

The concern is not that every case of tinea will become difficult to manage. Most will not. The concern is that some dermatophytes are becoming less responsive to standard antifungal medicines. That raises the stakes for early recognition, proper diagnosis and disciplined hygiene in high-contact environments.

Why antifungal resistance changes the conversation

For years, many athletes have treated a suspicious skin patch with a quick pharmacy purchase, a few days of cream and wishful thinking. That approach can fail for several reasons. The rash may not be fungal in the first place. The product may be used inconsistently. Training may continue while the infection remains active. Or the organism may not respond as expected to the first treatment chosen.

Resistance occurs when fungal strains develop changes that make an antifungal medicine less effective. Globally, clinicians have reported increasing concern about hard-to-treat dermatophytes, including strains within the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex. These infections can be more extensive, more inflammatory and more persistent than the ringworm athletes are used to seeing.

New Zealand is connected to global travel, migration, sport and commerce. Resistant fungi do not need a special invitation to arrive. The practical message is simple: if a presumed fungal infection is spreading, recurring or not improving as expected, it deserves medical assessment rather than another round of guesswork.

Combat sports create the perfect conditions for spread

High-contact training environments demand higher hygiene standards. Grappling places bare skin against bare skin. Wrestling rooms, BJJ mats, gloves, headgear, shin guards and shared benches can all become part of the chain when cleaning standards slip.

Sweat alone does not cause ringworm, but heat, friction, damp gear and minor skin damage can make life easier for fungi. A small abrasion from a hard round, then a borrowed rashguard, then a two-hour commute home before showering is a familiar sequence. It is also avoidable.

The common mistake is focusing only on the athlete with the visible rash. By the time one person has a clear lesion, teammates may have had repeated close contact. Coaches need a culture where reporting a suspicious spot is seen as professional preparation, not weakness or embarrassment.

What tinea can look like on athletes

Ringworm on the body may appear as a circular or expanding red, scaly patch with a more active edge. It can itch, burn or barely be noticed. On darker skin, redness may be less obvious, while scale, texture change or a darker or lighter patch may stand out more.

It does not always look like the textbook ring. Friction, scratching, skin folds and previous use of creams can change its appearance. Scalp involvement, infected nails, widespread rashes or a rash that becomes very sore should be assessed promptly. A clinician can decide whether testing, including fungal culture or other laboratory work, is needed.

Do not assume every rash is tinea. Eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, folliculitis, impetigo and bacterial skin infections can overlap in appearance. Steroid creams used on an undiagnosed fungal rash may reduce visible redness while allowing the fungus to spread, creating a more confusing presentation.

What athletes should do when a rash appears

The best time to act is before the rash becomes a team problem. Stop close-contact training and avoid sharing equipment until you have received appropriate advice and meet your club or competition return-to-training requirements. Covering an active lesion for a hard sparring session is not a responsible workaround.

Get the area assessed by a pharmacist or clinician, particularly if it is extensive, recurrent, close to the scalp, affecting the nails, or not settling as expected. Tell them you train in a close-contact sport and mention any recent travel, household cases or teammates with similar rashes. Those details help guide assessment.

Follow the treatment plan exactly and complete it as directed. Do not share topical medication, towels, razors, clothing or protective gear. Wash training clothing after every session and dry it thoroughly. Clean your gear, then let it dry fully before packing it away. Damp gear sealed in a bag overnight is a poor recovery routine for both skin and equipment.

Build a hygiene system around training

Good hygiene is not a one-product fix. It is a repeatable system: clean body, clean kit, clean equipment, clean training space and early reporting of skin problems.

Shower as soon as practical after training, using a cleanser that suits frequent athlete washing without leaving skin feeling stripped and tight. Overwashing with harsh products, aggressive scrubbing and repeated picking at irritated skin can compromise the skin barrier. That barrier is not cosmetic. It is a working layer that helps manage moisture, friction and exposure to the outside environment.

Combat Soap Ultimate Shield is built as an everyday post-training cleansing bar for athletes who wash often. Its blend of tea tree, neem, rosemary, peppermint, lavender and thyme oils sits alongside conditioning oils, shea butter, aloe vera and vitamin E, making it a practical part of a disciplined shower routine after regular mat sessions.

For hard, sweaty camps, back-to-back classes or demanding conditioning work, Charcoal Cleanse offers a deeper-cleansing option with activated charcoal, tea tree and wild oregano oil. The goal is not to chase a harsh, squeaky-clean feeling. It is to remove sweat, grime and training residue, then support skin that has to perform again tomorrow.

When a shower is delayed, Combat Spray provides a convenient around-training hygiene step for skin and equipment. Its approximately 300 ppm hypochlorous acid formula fits easily into the gap between the last round and getting home, particularly for athletes travelling from the academy to work, school or family commitments. Use it as part of the routine, then shower properly when you can.

The academy standard: make hygiene visible

Academy owners and coaches set the real standard. A laminated poster nobody reads is not enough. Build hygiene into class culture: clean mats between sessions, clear rules for skin checks and attendance, routine reminders to wash gear, and a simple process for confidentially reporting a suspected infection.

Mats should be cleaned with a product used according to its label directions and allowed the required contact time. A quick spray-and-wipe between packed classes may look productive without actually being effective. High-touch surfaces matter too: changing benches, door handles, bathroom areas and shared loan gear all need attention.

Parents should check young athletes regularly, especially after tournaments, camps and periods of heavy training. Kids may not mention an itchy patch because they do not want to miss class. Make it easy for them to speak up early.

Avoid the myths that keep infections circulating

Being tough does not mean training through a suspicious rash. Nor does a clean-looking academy guarantee that every athlete is free from a contagious skin issue. Prevention is about layers of behaviour, not perfection.

Another myth is that more product always means better hygiene. Scrubbing skin raw, using several strong products at once or applying random creams can create irritation and confusion. Consistency wins: shower, wash kit, dry gear, clean equipment, inspect your skin and act early.

If a rash is not responding as expected, do not keep escalating your own treatment plan. Resistant dermatophytes are precisely why assessment matters. A clinician can identify whether it is likely tinea, determine whether testing is appropriate and advise the safest next step for training return.

Preparation matters long before competition day. The athlete who keeps their skin, kit and training environment in order is more likely to keep training consistently when everyone else is dealing with avoidable disruptions.