66.7% Experienced Skin Troubles in Spring Due to Increased Exercise Habits, 77.3% Don't Know Correct Post-Sports Skin Care - Relationship Between Exercise and Skin Diseases Revealed by I-See Clinic Survey
I-See Clinic conducted a survey on 300 people with exercise habits, revealing that over 66% experienced skin troubles like heat rash or athlete's foot in spring, highlighting a lack of proper skincare knowledge.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 09:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 09:50 (18 min after Collected)
[Conclusion] Key Points of this Survey
To conclude, the three most representative skin troubles prone to occur after exercise are heat rash, athlete's foot, and friction dermatitis. To prevent these, it is crucial to take a shower within 30 minutes after exercising to wash away sweat, dry off completely, and then change clothes. If symptoms persist for more than a week or worsen, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist rather than relying on self-judgment.
- 66.7% of people with exercise habits experienced either heat rash, athlete's foot, or friction dermatitis in spring.
- 77.3% do not know the correct skin care method after sports.
- 58.0% of those who self-treated athlete's foot with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs answered that it was "not fully cured."
Glossary
■ What is Heat Rash?
Heat rash is a dermatitis caused by massive sweating that clogs the exits of sweat glands, leading to sweat accumulating within the skin. Characterized by red rashes and itching, it is prone to develop in hot and humid environments or after strenuous exercise. It can be prevented by maintaining cleanliness and wearing breathable clothing.
■ What is Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)?
Athlete's foot is a disease caused by an infection of the foot skin by a fungus called Trichophyton. There are three types: interdigital, vesicular, and hyperkeratotic, with symptoms such as itching, blisters, and peeling. It is often infected through floors and mats in public facilities, and a complete cure requires proper treatment with antifungal drugs.
■ What is Friction Dermatitis?
Friction dermatitis is an inflammation caused by the skin repeatedly rubbing against clothing or equipment. It commonly occurs around the inner thighs, armpits, and nipples during exercise, causing redness, pain, and blister formation. It can be prevented by choosing clothes of appropriate materials and using lubricants like Vaseline.
Comparison of 3 Common Skin Troubles After Exercise
Comparison Item | Heat Rash | Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis) | Friction Dermatitis
Main Cause | Clogged sweat glands | Trichophyton infection | Skin friction
Common Sites | Neck, back, chest | Between toes, soles | Inner thighs, armpits
Main Symptoms | Red rash, itching | Itching, peeling, blisters | Redness, pain, blisters
Possibility of Natural Healing | Mild cases improve in 1-2 weeks | Natural healing is difficult | 1-2 weeks if cause is removed
OTC Drug Response | Powder/ointment for heat rash | Topical antifungal | Vaseline, protective materials
When to See a Doctor | No improvement for over a week | Early after symptoms appear | If there are signs of infection
*These are general guidelines and individual differences exist.
Medical Corporation Tetsuyukai I-See Clinic (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and Omiya clinics), which specializes in skin tumors and dermatological surgery, conducted a fact-finding survey on skin troubles accompanying the increase in exercise habits in spring. In this survey, we investigated the experience of sports-related skin diseases and the reality of prevention and care targeting 300 men and women in their 20s to 60s nationwide who have exercise habits.
Survey Background
Spring is a season when the number of people starting exercise increases as the temperature rises. Many people join a sports gym or start outdoor running or walking with the new fiscal year. However, with the increase in exercise habits, skin troubles such as heat rash, athlete's foot, and friction dermatitis also increase. Athlete's foot, in particular, is difficult to cure completely, and there are many cases where it becomes chronic due to incorrect self-treatment. Therefore, our clinic conducted this survey to clarify the relationship between sports and skin troubles and to raise awareness of correct prevention and care methods.
Survey Overview
Survey Target: Men and women in their 20s to 60s nationwide with an exercise habit of at least once a week
Survey Period: March 23 - April 1, 2026
Survey Method: Internet survey
Number of Respondents: 300
Survey Results
[Survey Result] 66.7% of people with exercise habits experienced skin troubles in spring
Question: Have you ever experienced the following skin troubles since your exercise habits increased in spring (March-May)? (Multiple answers aggregated into a single answer)
It became clear that more than 2 out of 3 people have experienced some kind of skin trouble along with the increase in exercise in spring. It suggests that attention to skin troubles is necessary when starting or increasing exercise habits.
[Survey Result] The most common skin trouble is "heat rash" at 71.5%, followed by "athlete's foot" at 42.0%
Question: What skin troubles have you experienced after exercising? (Multiple answers allowed, targeted at 200 experienced respondents)
Heat rash was the most common, followed by athlete's foot and friction dermatitis. Many people experienced multiple skin troubles at the same time, highlighting the importance of proper care after exercising.
[Survey Result] 77.3% do not know the correct skin care after sports
Question: Do you know the correct skin care method after sports?
Combining "Don't know very well" and "Don't know at all" reached 77.3%, revealing that the vast majority do not understand the proper skin care methods after sports. A lack of knowledge may be the cause of skin troubles.
[Survey Result] 54.8% of those who experienced athlete's foot self-treated with OTC drugs only
To conclude, the three most representative skin troubles prone to occur after exercise are heat rash, athlete's foot, and friction dermatitis. To prevent these, it is crucial to take a shower within 30 minutes after exercising to wash away sweat, dry off completely, and then change clothes. If symptoms persist for more than a week or worsen, it is recommended to visit a dermatologist rather than relying on self-judgment.
- 66.7% of people with exercise habits experienced either heat rash, athlete's foot, or friction dermatitis in spring.
- 77.3% do not know the correct skin care method after sports.
- 58.0% of those who self-treated athlete's foot with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs answered that it was "not fully cured."
Glossary
■ What is Heat Rash?
Heat rash is a dermatitis caused by massive sweating that clogs the exits of sweat glands, leading to sweat accumulating within the skin. Characterized by red rashes and itching, it is prone to develop in hot and humid environments or after strenuous exercise. It can be prevented by maintaining cleanliness and wearing breathable clothing.
■ What is Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis)?
Athlete's foot is a disease caused by an infection of the foot skin by a fungus called Trichophyton. There are three types: interdigital, vesicular, and hyperkeratotic, with symptoms such as itching, blisters, and peeling. It is often infected through floors and mats in public facilities, and a complete cure requires proper treatment with antifungal drugs.
■ What is Friction Dermatitis?
Friction dermatitis is an inflammation caused by the skin repeatedly rubbing against clothing or equipment. It commonly occurs around the inner thighs, armpits, and nipples during exercise, causing redness, pain, and blister formation. It can be prevented by choosing clothes of appropriate materials and using lubricants like Vaseline.
Comparison of 3 Common Skin Troubles After Exercise
Comparison Item | Heat Rash | Athlete's Foot (Tinea Pedis) | Friction Dermatitis
Main Cause | Clogged sweat glands | Trichophyton infection | Skin friction
Common Sites | Neck, back, chest | Between toes, soles | Inner thighs, armpits
Main Symptoms | Red rash, itching | Itching, peeling, blisters | Redness, pain, blisters
Possibility of Natural Healing | Mild cases improve in 1-2 weeks | Natural healing is difficult | 1-2 weeks if cause is removed
OTC Drug Response | Powder/ointment for heat rash | Topical antifungal | Vaseline, protective materials
When to See a Doctor | No improvement for over a week | Early after symptoms appear | If there are signs of infection
*These are general guidelines and individual differences exist.
Medical Corporation Tetsuyukai I-See Clinic (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and Omiya clinics), which specializes in skin tumors and dermatological surgery, conducted a fact-finding survey on skin troubles accompanying the increase in exercise habits in spring. In this survey, we investigated the experience of sports-related skin diseases and the reality of prevention and care targeting 300 men and women in their 20s to 60s nationwide who have exercise habits.
Survey Background
Spring is a season when the number of people starting exercise increases as the temperature rises. Many people join a sports gym or start outdoor running or walking with the new fiscal year. However, with the increase in exercise habits, skin troubles such as heat rash, athlete's foot, and friction dermatitis also increase. Athlete's foot, in particular, is difficult to cure completely, and there are many cases where it becomes chronic due to incorrect self-treatment. Therefore, our clinic conducted this survey to clarify the relationship between sports and skin troubles and to raise awareness of correct prevention and care methods.
Survey Overview
Survey Target: Men and women in their 20s to 60s nationwide with an exercise habit of at least once a week
Survey Period: March 23 - April 1, 2026
Survey Method: Internet survey
Number of Respondents: 300
Survey Results
[Survey Result] 66.7% of people with exercise habits experienced skin troubles in spring
Question: Have you ever experienced the following skin troubles since your exercise habits increased in spring (March-May)? (Multiple answers aggregated into a single answer)
It became clear that more than 2 out of 3 people have experienced some kind of skin trouble along with the increase in exercise in spring. It suggests that attention to skin troubles is necessary when starting or increasing exercise habits.
[Survey Result] The most common skin trouble is "heat rash" at 71.5%, followed by "athlete's foot" at 42.0%
Question: What skin troubles have you experienced after exercising? (Multiple answers allowed, targeted at 200 experienced respondents)
Heat rash was the most common, followed by athlete's foot and friction dermatitis. Many people experienced multiple skin troubles at the same time, highlighting the importance of proper care after exercising.
[Survey Result] 77.3% do not know the correct skin care after sports
Question: Do you know the correct skin care method after sports?
Combining "Don't know very well" and "Don't know at all" reached 77.3%, revealing that the vast majority do not understand the proper skin care methods after sports. A lack of knowledge may be the cause of skin troubles.
[Survey Result] 54.8% of those who experienced athlete's foot self-treated with OTC drugs only