Hundreds of Millions of Fungal Skin Infections Globally

A rash that starts as a small itchy patch can take an athlete off the mats, out of sparring, and away from the team. The reality is that hundreds of millions of fungal skin infections occur globally, and high-contact sports create the exact conditions fungi enjoy: close body contact, shared surfaces, heat, sweat, friction and delayed showers.

For BJJ, wrestling, judo, MMA and other close-contact sports, skin hygiene is not a cosmetic extra. It is part of preparation. The same discipline used to tape hands, wash a gi and check nails should extend to the skin barrier - your body’s first line of defence between training and the outside environment.

Why fungal skin infections are common in contact sport

Fungal skin infections are caused by microscopic fungi that grow on keratin, the protein found in skin, hair and nails. The group most often linked with athlete skin issues is called dermatophytes. These can cause tinea corporis, commonly called ringworm, as well as athlete’s foot and jock itch.

Ringworm does not involve a worm. It commonly appears as a round or expanding scaly patch with a raised edge, although early cases can look less obvious. On a busy mat, it can be mistaken for mat burn, eczema, an insect bite or a patch of dry skin. That is one reason athletes, coaches and parents need to take new rashes seriously rather than trying to train through them.

Transmission is not only about one person touching another. Fungi can move through direct skin contact, contaminated mats, shared towels, borrowed rash guards, gloves, headgear and changing-room floors. Add sweat-softened skin and repeated friction from grips, shots, clinching or rolling, and there are more opportunities for a small skin issue to become a bigger training interruption.

This does not mean every itchy mark is fungal, or that every athlete will develop an infection. Skin conditions can look alike, and a clinician is the right person to assess a suspicious rash. It does mean that contact athletes should treat skin checks and hygiene as normal parts of their sporting routine.

Hundreds of millions of fungal skin infections globally: why athletes need a system

The global number matters because fungal skin conditions are common, persistent and easy to underestimate. At academy level, one athlete who ignores a suspicious lesion can create disruption for training partners and coaches. At home, a child who shares towels or walks barefoot through common wet areas can pass an issue on without anyone realising where it began.

High-contact training environments demand higher hygiene standards. A good system does not rely on panic after someone develops a rash. It makes the right actions automatic before, during and after training.

Start with the academy. Mats should be cleaned thoroughly after sessions using a process and product suitable for the surface, with attention to high-traffic edges and wall pads. Bathrooms, shower areas and changing spaces need regular cleaning too. Coaches should reinforce clean training gear, trimmed nails and a simple rule: cover-ups are not a substitute for reporting a questionable skin lesion.

At athlete level, arrive in clean kit, use a clean towel, and avoid sharing personal items. Wash gis, rash guards, shorts, gloves and other close-to-skin gear after each session. Leaving damp gear in the boot overnight is not a badge of commitment. It is an easy way to create a smelly, unhygienic kit bag and make tomorrow’s session less prepared.

The mat-to-shower routine that holds up in real life

The best hygiene routine is one athletes will actually follow after a hard night of rounds. Keep it simple and make the steps repeatable.

Shower soon after training

Wash as soon as practical after training, especially after close-contact sessions. This removes sweat, surface grime and whatever your skin has picked up from shared environments. Use lukewarm rather than very hot water, which can strip skin oils and leave already stressed skin feeling tight or dry.

Combat Soap Ultimate Shield is built as an everyday post-training cleansing bar for frequent washing. Its blend includes tea tree, neem, rosemary, peppermint, lavender and thyme oils alongside coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil, castor oil, aloe vera and vitamin E. For athletes who train several times a week, it fits naturally as the foundation of a consistent shower routine that cleanses without treating skin care as an afterthought.

After exceptionally sweaty sessions, long open mats, camps or hard conditioning blocks, Combat Soap Charcoal Cleanse offers a deeper-cleansing option. Activated charcoal sits alongside tea tree, wild oregano, lavender and rosemary oils in a bar designed for demanding training days. The point is not to scrub the skin aggressively. Clean thoroughly, rinse well and pat dry with a clean towel.

Do not forget the overlooked areas

Pay attention to the feet, between the toes, groin area, under skin folds, hands, wrists and the back of the neck. These are areas where moisture, friction and training gear can make skin feel neglected. Drying properly matters, particularly between the toes, because fungi favour warm, damp spaces.

If you have broken skin, mat burn or a fresh abrasion, clean it promptly and cover it appropriately before returning to training. Friction injuries are common in grappling, but leaving them dirty or exposed around shared equipment is poor preparation for the next session.

When a shower must wait

Sometimes the gym is a garage setup, you are driving straight to work, or the queue for the showers is longer than the warm-down. That is where Combat Spray can earn its place in an athlete’s kit. It uses approximately 300 ppm hypochlorous acid, or HOCl, and is designed for convenient hygiene on skin and equipment around training.

HOCl is a compound associated with the body’s immune response and is widely used in hygiene applications. For athletes, the practical value is convenience: spray down before getting in the car, clean frequently handled gear where appropriate, then shower properly when you can. It supports the routine, rather than replacing the post-training wash.

Protect the skin barrier, not just the schedule

A common mistake is responding to every training rash with harsh scrubbing, extremely hot showers or a collection of heavily fragranced products. Toughness has little to do with stripping your skin until it feels raw. The skin barrier needs sensible cleansing, drying and moisturising when needed to stay comfortable and functional under constant friction.

The skin microbiome also matters. Your skin is home to a diverse community of microorganisms, and training, sweating, cleansing, climate and product choice all influence its environment. The goal is practical cleanliness and healthy skin habits, not trying to sterilise yourself after every round.

If skin feels consistently dry, cracked or irritated, review your routine. You may be showering too hot, using too much friction, re-wearing sweaty kit, or skipping hydration and recovery habits that affect how you feel generally. Persisting rashes, painful lesions, weeping areas, rapidly spreading redness or recurrent infections deserve prompt clinical advice. Athletes should not self-diagnose based on a photo or assume that every rash is ringworm.

Coaches and parents set the standard

A strong culture makes hygiene easy to discuss. Coaches can include a 30-second reminder at the end of class: wash gear, shower, check skin, report concerns early. Academy owners can make mat-cleaning visible and set clear return-to-training expectations for contagious skin conditions based on appropriate medical guidance.

Parents can help younger athletes by checking that kit is washed, towels are not shared and footwear is worn in changing rooms and bathrooms. These small actions are not overprotective. They are part of respecting teammates and keeping training available for everyone.

Preparation matters long after the bell, buzzer or final round. Treat your hygiene kit with the same intent as your mouthguard, tape and water bottle, and your skin gets the daily support it needs to keep showing up for the work.