Abstract
Baseball, softball, and cricket are a group of sports that utilize similar equipment like a bat, ball, catcher’s glove, and helmet. All of these sports are considered limited contact sports, however the repetitive actions and acceleration and deceleration required during these sports makes players prone to friction-related and traumatic dermatological conditions. The most common forms of cutaneous trauma that occur from baseball and softball injuries are contusions, abrasions, lacerations, or hematomas. Cutaneous injuries preceding bacterial infections may lead to impetigo, cellulitis, or folliculitis. Common fungal infections seen in bat-and-ball sports include Tinea pedis and tinea cruris, which are located on the feet and groin respectively. The protective gear such as stiff footwear and groin cups used in baseball and cricket offer the proper breeding ground for these infections. Colophony, also known as rosin, is a known common contact allergen that is used as a sticky substance by pitchers in baseball and softball to help increase grip on balls to gain a competitive advantage. Rosin-induced allergic contact dermatitis often presents on palms of throwing hands, and unilateral presentation is an indicator of such an etiology. Bat-and-ball sports, like any other physical activity, requires movements that induce friction, and these abrasive events can result in the presentation of friction dermatoses. A friction dermatosis specific to pitching players is called baseball pitcher’s friction dermatitis. This condition is the result of a combination of friction experienced during the pitching motion and an atopic background of the patient. Batting sport athletes are also prone to various nail-related lesions because of repetitive trauma to the feet and toes as well as ill-fitting cleats.