I was wondering if its possible to get staph infections on areas that are covered by clothing while you're rolling. I noticed yesterday that I got a pimple on my side below my armpit. It doesn't itch so I don't think its a mosquito bite, but it does hurt a little when I touch it. I was going to wait a few days to see if it gets any better to decide if I should get it checked out or not. I really wouldn't ask but normally I don't get pimples or anything on my body which is why I'm asking. And yes I wear a t-shirt or rashguard when I train and always shower directly afterwards.
Question about staph infections
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Super.Froggy
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in growth hair ? that shit happens
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Yes, it is possible. I got a MRSA staph infection in my armpit in 2007. It grew at an incredibly fast rate and impacted the nerves in my arm, which caused my hand to feel like it was asleep. Thankfully the symptoms subsided when the meds started working.
Long and short - go see a doc if it gets bigger.
Long and short - go see a doc if it gets bigger.
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Very much possible to get MRSA when covered in clothing. If I've been told the right thing is that MRSA can survive on wet surfaces so your clothes being filled with sweat can help transfer it. I could be off base here but I think that is right.
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I had it twice this year, both cases were full blown MRSA.
Always shower directly after training. No ifs ands or buts. Shower thoroughly. Lather up and let the soap sit on your skin for a few mins atleast, especially if you have some defense soap.. also in CVS there is a good product called Staph-a-septic, put it on any and all cuts after training on the way home, and after the shower.
never re-use dirty gear, wash your shit.
and never pop the pustule as it will only make things worse, you may be tempted but do not!
Lastly, if you notice growth, increased redness, swelling, lines running up your arms or infected area..see the DOC immediately, also some Walgreens and HEB stores have instant clinics inside and they can prescribe anti-biotics...typically Clindamycin. Which you definitely want if anything starts to go bad....
Follow those steps and you will be 99% less likely to get a major staph infection IMO.
Always shower directly after training. No ifs ands or buts. Shower thoroughly. Lather up and let the soap sit on your skin for a few mins atleast, especially if you have some defense soap.. also in CVS there is a good product called Staph-a-septic, put it on any and all cuts after training on the way home, and after the shower.
never re-use dirty gear, wash your shit.
and never pop the pustule as it will only make things worse, you may be tempted but do not!
Lastly, if you notice growth, increased redness, swelling, lines running up your arms or infected area..see the DOC immediately, also some Walgreens and HEB stores have instant clinics inside and they can prescribe anti-biotics...typically Clindamycin. Which you definitely want if anything starts to go bad....
Follow those steps and you will be 99% less likely to get a major staph infection IMO.
These products got ya covered before and after Athletic Body Care Products and get it checked out. Better to be safe than sorry.
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i train in a judo club with a stretched canvass over saw dust. you might think we might all be like having staph & shit looking all leper/zombie types since there's no way in hell you can clean that type of mat. it's an 80's mat too. just spray 70% alcohol all over your body. no staph, no ringworm cases...ever...ringworm maybe... but not me.
Ok thanks for the input fella's, the bump on my side got better but now I have other red bumps showing up. I got one on my forehead that hurts and another on my chest. Still hoping I'm just getting an outbreak of acne or getting bit up by bugs or something but I just don't get acne that much, which is why I'm worrying. Anyways I plan on waiting it out like 2 more days and if it gets worse then I'm going to the doctor to get it checked out. Is it safe to wait a few days before going to the doc's?
Safe?.....yes......Smart?......no
Mr. Switch
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Yup- you're gonna die. Make out your will now. OMG it's teh Staph!
Remember- if you're not bathing in bleach every day and taking prophylactic Vancomycin MRSA WILL KILL YOU, RAPE YOUR WIFE ANDRAISE YOUR CHILDREN INIT'S IMAGE. EVERYONE PANC!
Remember- if you're not bathing in bleach every day and taking prophylactic Vancomycin MRSA WILL KILL YOU, RAPE YOUR WIFE ANDRAISE YOUR CHILDREN INIT'S IMAGE. EVERYONE PANC!
Chalito
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I was having these moments when I started grappling. I would look at every spot on my body lol. I think grappling just messes with your skin because of all the sweat/friction. Of course if there is puss and stuff go get it looked at. But try not to become a hypochondriac like me lol.
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lol... bleach baths are highly underrated, but i hate the feeling of my skin burning off
not really that surprising, wood naturally bacteria resistant
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This is why you should never, ever, ever roll with open sores.
Staph isn't just necessarily a cutaneous infection, either. You can get all sorts of gnarly shit from it, including Endocarditis, Food Poisoning, and Toxic Shock Syndrome.
S. aureus is transient on almost EVERYBODY'S skin, and 20 FUCKING PERCENT of the population is a long-term carrier.
So, 1 in 5 people you roll with absolutely, positively has Staph...that Staph...somewhere on their skin
Moral of the story: clean your wounds, clean your mats, wash your hands, and be DAMN sure you shower immediately after every practice.
/sermon
Staph isn't just necessarily a cutaneous infection, either. You can get all sorts of gnarly shit from it, including Endocarditis, Food Poisoning, and Toxic Shock Syndrome.
S. aureus is transient on almost EVERYBODY'S skin, and 20 FUCKING PERCENT of the population is a long-term carrier.
So, 1 in 5 people you roll with absolutely, positively has Staph...that Staph...somewhere on their skin
Moral of the story: clean your wounds, clean your mats, wash your hands, and be DAMN sure you shower immediately after every practice.
/sermon
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ewwww... so when you roll with someone, you're rolling with everyone they have ever rolled with, and everyone they ever rolled with... might need to just start rolling in bleach.
I have some questions about staph and other similar problems a grappler is exposed to..
I guess things like acne will increase your chances of getting skin diseases?
If you use anti acne creams like azelaic acid or benzoyl peroxide will it make you more vulnerable?
What about tanning? Using lotions? Body scrubs? Shaving body/facial hair?
Is there some kind of special creme you should put on open sores after practice? Or just clean with alcohol?soap? put on lamisile?
I've heard Head and Shoulder shampoo have got some anti-fungal properties, is this true?
I guess things like acne will increase your chances of getting skin diseases?
If you use anti acne creams like azelaic acid or benzoyl peroxide will it make you more vulnerable?
What about tanning? Using lotions? Body scrubs? Shaving body/facial hair?
Is there some kind of special creme you should put on open sores after practice? Or just clean with alcohol?soap? put on lamisile?
I've heard Head and Shoulder shampoo have got some anti-fungal properties, is this true?
crusnik_02
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is the risk of staph infection really that high when you do bjj or other grappling arts? I really wanted to start taking bjj or submission wrestling but if thats the case ill pass.
I'll do my best to answer some of your questions, but keep in mind that I'm not a doctor (and I don't play one on television either). I would think that any skin condition that could result in an open sore (acne, shingles, eczema) would increase your chances of getting staph.
In the past, I have had luck using benzoyl peroxide on folliculitis (the hair follicle infection that sometimes precedes a worse infection), if I treat it super early. Whatever you do, don't pop the head of those things, though. As I understand it, that can cause the infection to spread, and things get out of hand at that point.
Shaving body and facial hair just prior to getting on the mat can cause problems--I knew a dude who inexplicably shaved his chest before a NAGA tournament and had a bad infection afterward. I try not to shave my face within a few hours of rolling (in other words, on Saturday morning I don't wake up, shave my face, and head off to the mats--I practice in the evenings during the week, so I don't worry about that then).
I actually just bought some staph a septic for open sores after practice. I haven't used it yet, so I don't know if it works. I wonder if that Neosporin spray would be just as effective....
Mr. Switch
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To the above:
-There is a slightly increased risk due to the body to body contact but you need to bear two things in mind:
1- if you shower after you roll and clean your gear every time then the risk is minimal. Lots of people use special lotions and potions but to be honest ordinary soap and water will probably do just fine for most people. That's all I use, doing gi and nogi and I've not had any major bacterial infections.
2- if you DO get an infection the likelihood is that you'll probably not die from it if you're relatively fit and young. It'll be an itchy pain in the ass for a while and may need a course of antibiotics if it gets bad (I.E. spreads out/down or makes you feel unwell- this is probably the minority of the minority of people who actually do get infected/who are infected at any one time). It's your body and if you're worried then you go to your doctor.
-Acne medication isn't something I know much about but I believe the general idea of them is to dry your skin out by removing it's natural oils (see below). Whilst this isn't usually a problem you might be at a slightly increased risk of skin infection but, again, decent hygene etc (I might use an antibacterial soap in this case) will probably be minimise this to a great extent.
-Tanning- rolled sunburned in Brazil, kept it covered, cleaned it thoroughly after. No major problems other than it fucking stung like a bitch. Generally burns of all kinds are at higher risk of infection, though- so that's entirely your call.
-Lotions: emollients (moisturising things) are generally gonna be good for your skin. Wouldn't do it directly before a roll because it's gonna make dirt stick to you- but again, wash off after and it's mostly the eeeeewww factor that's the problem here.
-Acne is generally due to skin pores getting clogged with sebum (the skin's natural lubricant that keeps skin supple) for whatever reason. These little pockets of sebum can get infected and this gives you your typical pimple of acne. I get this from rolling all the time- apart from the fact that it don't make me look pretty it's not a problem.
-Generally I like to shave after rolling at night because otherwise it's itchy. I don't know anything else about shaving and grappling apart from I have no problems with it when I do this. This is purely my own opinion so take it or leave it.
Everyone gets so panicky about "teh Staph"/impetigo. You're at a higher risk if you're a grappler: this much is true- but you're probably not going to die. Just shower after you train (why would you not... eeeeewwww) and wash your gi after every train (again... eeeeewwww).
As to my credentials (or lack thereof): I'm a final year med student in the UK (that's right folks- this time next year I'll be out in the community serving as a young Doctor).
-There is a slightly increased risk due to the body to body contact but you need to bear two things in mind:
1- if you shower after you roll and clean your gear every time then the risk is minimal. Lots of people use special lotions and potions but to be honest ordinary soap and water will probably do just fine for most people. That's all I use, doing gi and nogi and I've not had any major bacterial infections.
2- if you DO get an infection the likelihood is that you'll probably not die from it if you're relatively fit and young. It'll be an itchy pain in the ass for a while and may need a course of antibiotics if it gets bad (I.E. spreads out/down or makes you feel unwell- this is probably the minority of the minority of people who actually do get infected/who are infected at any one time). It's your body and if you're worried then you go to your doctor.
-Acne medication isn't something I know much about but I believe the general idea of them is to dry your skin out by removing it's natural oils (see below). Whilst this isn't usually a problem you might be at a slightly increased risk of skin infection but, again, decent hygene etc (I might use an antibacterial soap in this case) will probably be minimise this to a great extent.
-Tanning- rolled sunburned in Brazil, kept it covered, cleaned it thoroughly after. No major problems other than it fucking stung like a bitch. Generally burns of all kinds are at higher risk of infection, though- so that's entirely your call.
-Lotions: emollients (moisturising things) are generally gonna be good for your skin. Wouldn't do it directly before a roll because it's gonna make dirt stick to you- but again, wash off after and it's mostly the eeeeewww factor that's the problem here.
-Acne is generally due to skin pores getting clogged with sebum (the skin's natural lubricant that keeps skin supple) for whatever reason. These little pockets of sebum can get infected and this gives you your typical pimple of acne. I get this from rolling all the time- apart from the fact that it don't make me look pretty it's not a problem.
-Generally I like to shave after rolling at night because otherwise it's itchy. I don't know anything else about shaving and grappling apart from I have no problems with it when I do this. This is purely my own opinion so take it or leave it.
Everyone gets so panicky about "teh Staph"/impetigo. You're at a higher risk if you're a grappler: this much is true- but you're probably not going to die. Just shower after you train (why would you not... eeeeewwww) and wash your gi after every train (again... eeeeewwww).
As to my credentials (or lack thereof): I'm a final year med student in the UK (that's right folks- this time next year I'll be out in the community serving as a young Doctor).
