Sports-Induced Acne (Acne Mechanica)

What can football players, hockey players, soccer players, motorcycle riders, and back-packers have in common?

For one thing, they are all participating in a sport. In addition, they might all find themselves with an outbreak of sports-induced acne -the form of acne called acne mechanica.

Acne mechanica is a form of acne caused by heat, pressure, occlusion of the skin and repetitive frictional rubbing against the skin. Common sports-related causes of this type of skin trauma are:

• helmets and helmet straps worn by football and hockey players and motorcycle riders;
• shoulder pads and straps worn by football players;
• tight uniforms made of synthetic fabric;
• tight headbands worn by soccer players and runners; and,
• straps and packs of back-packers.

Other causes of acne mechanica may be:

• weapon and equipment straps used by soldiers;
• "hippie" headbands worn for long periods of time;
• pressure and friction against the neck and jaw during long hours of playing a violin;
• tight fur caps worn for long periods of time in cold climates;
• occasionally, adhesive tape that remains on the skin for several days.

This photo shows of typical case of acne mechanica caused by friction of tight clothing:

In young people, especially, acne mechanica may be due to physical skin trauma causing a flare of pre-existing, nearly invisible "sandpaper acne."   Small, undeveloped "sandpaper acne" lesions—microcomedones—of the forehead and chin may be visually inapparent but perceptible to the touch as roughness of the skin. Sandpaper acne of the forehead and chin is readily traumatized by sports helmets and straps, and by tight headbands.

Young people with a predisposition for acne of the shoulders, back and buttocks are especially at risk for acne mechanica caused by shoulder padding, equipment straps and tight uniforms or clothing.

Acne mechanica is usually not associated with skin conditions other than "sandpaper acne". Heat, pressure, occlusion of the skin and friction may be all that is needed to induce an outbreak of acne mechanica.

Prevention of acne mechanica includes using measures such as:

• wearing a clean, cotton T-shirt under a sports uniform; cotton absorbs sweat and reduces friction of the uniform against the skin;
• showering immediately after athletic activities, making certain to wash the chest, back and buttocks and areas that were under straps, padding or tight uniform—liquid cleansers containing salicylic acid are useful for removing surface oils and unclogging pores;
• avoiding prolonged covering of the forehead with a headband or cap; and,
• applying an anti-acne medication to acne mechanica lesions as soon as they appear; an often effective medication is a keratolytic solution containing salicylic acid and resorcinol.

Source: American Academy of Dermatology