Exercise-related skin complaints of Saudi gym users in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: A thorough grasp of exercise-related skin complaints that gym users tend to have is now necessary owing to the growing popularity of gym culture and exercise facilities. The prevalence of dermatoses has greatly increased because of such factors as excessive perspiration and humidity, poor hygiene habits, and such wet areas as showers and pools. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited gym users from seven different fitness centers in four major cities in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews of the participants using a validated structured questionnaire. Data analyzed using SPSS; continuous variables were expressed as means and standard deviations, while categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. Pearson’s Chi-square test was employed to assess the statistical relationship between categorical variables. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of exercise-related skin complaints of gym participants was 33.2%. Of those, 50.5% experienced dryness, followed by redness (39%), and itching (35%). The skin complaints were more common in males and in the 18-30 age group. Examination of dermatoses associated with close contact sports showed common conditions such as calluses and corns (40.5%), acne mechanical (25%), and friction blisters (8%). The areas of the skin most affected were the hands/palms (54.5%), followed by the head/neck (30.5%) and arm/shoulders (29.5%). Only 15.5% reported very much impact on training frequency, whereas 29.5% occasionally assumed postures to alleviate discomfort. To manage skin complaints, 64.5% of the gym users applied over-the-counter pharmaceutical products (41.9%). CONCLUSION: A considerable number of gym users experienced exercise-related skin complaints, some of which limited their exercise performance. However, there is a noticeable gap in the worldwide literature regarding exercise-related skin complaints of general gym users; advanced research is required to detect, manage, and most importantly, prevent these complaints.