The skin is the largest and heaviest organ in the human body. Yet it is often overlooked by athletes. To put skin health back at the heart of athletes' concerns, Stéphanie Leclerc-Mercier founded the association Dans la Peau des Sportifs.
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Is Skin the Great Forgotten Organ in Sport?
The skin is the largest and heaviest organ in the human body. It is our first line of defense against external aggressions. It plays a key role in regulating body temperature. It also helps eliminate toxins and other waste products from the body. In addition, it synthesizes vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones and muscles, as well as for strengthening the immune system.
Can you imagine living without it? Of course not. So why is it still so often neglected in athletes' preparation and recovery routines? What are the risks of not taking proper care of it? And more importantly, how can we truly protect and preserve it?
Stéphanie Leclerc-Mercier is a dermatologist working both in private practice and at the French National Institute of Sport (INSEP). She is also the president of the association Dans la Peau des Sportifs. Her mission is to educate and raise awareness about the many skin conditions athletes may face, from elite competitors to complete beginners.
"I spend a lot of time trail running and hiking. For years, I've seen runners struggling with skin problems such as blisters, chafing and burns. The worst cases are those who expose themselves to excessive UV radiation. More and more young people are taking up outdoor sports, which is great. Unfortunately, many still don't protect themselves as they should, and I'm convinced that in ten years' time, some of them will end up in my dermatology practice. As a dermatologist, I know how these problems can be prevented. And because I practice outdoor sports myself, I'm in a good position to spread that message."
Taking Care of Your Skin When You Play Sports Is a Matter of Health
Outdoor sports enthusiasts are particularly exposed to the risks associated with UV radiation and, therefore, to skin cancer.
They often spend long periods outdoors, especially between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest. Sweat also increases the skin's ability to absorb UV rays, making sunburn occur more quickly. For mountain sports enthusiasts, the risk is even greater. UV exposure increases with altitude: every additional 1,000 metres means approximately 10% more UV radiation.
For athletes who train regularly, intense exercise and repeated tissue damage can temporarily affect the immune system. Since prolonged exposure to the sun also weakens the skin's immune defenses, this combination creates favorable conditions for the development of skin cancer.
"UV radiation is responsible for around 80% of skin cancers, and just one sunburn before the age of 15 doubles the risk of developing melanoma," reminds Stéphanie Leclerc-Mercier. "In all cases, UV rays cause irreversible damage to the DNA of skin cells, leading to premature skin ageing."
Beyond sun exposure, sport itself places significant stress on the skin. Clothing, shoes and equipment can cause chafing and blisters that are often overlooked, even though they can have a major impact on performance and may become infected.
Dans la Peau des Sportifs: An Association Dedicated to Athletes' Skin Health
The Dans la Peau des Sportifs association aims to bring together as many healthcare and sports professionals as possible. But above all, its mission is to raise awareness and encourage athletes to rethink the way they care for their skin.
"Tanning culture is still deeply rooted among athletes. It's a powerful social norm, even though UV radiation poses a real health risk. It's not always easy to talk to athletes about this. Sunscreen and UV protection can seem boring or even off-putting. That's why we introduce the topic gradually, starting with issues that feel more tangible to them, such as blisters or chafing," explains Stéphanie Leclerc-Mercier.
Another key mission of the association is to fight misinformation while promoting evidence-based best practices.
"Some content creators on social media speak on these topics without the necessary expertise and end up spreading inaccurate information. This is especially common when it comes to sun protection. Our goal is to communicate through the same channels, providing information that is both accurate and scientifically validated. We know we won't convince everyone, but we'll keep repeating these messages to reach as many people as possible and strengthen prevention efforts."
The dermatologist smiles.
"When I first started this awareness project for athletes, I certainly didn't picture myself as an influencer. But it's clear that social media remains an excellent way to reach a large audience. I'm not there to collect followers—I'm there to share information that is accurate, reliable and genuinely useful."
These are also the messages the association plans to bring directly into the field by working alongside sports federations, sporting events, cosmetic brands and medical conferences.
"Every dermatologist is familiar with the types of skin injuries athletes can experience. The key is to act before they occur and make sure the right messages are reaching the right people. Prevention is at the heart of everything we do. The fact that the association is led by dermatologists and other healthcare professionals gives us the credibility we need."
Stéphanie Leclerc-Mercier's Top Tips
So, what are these recommendations?
Pack a Skin First Aid Kit
Your kit should include sunscreen with SPF 50+ and UVA protection, an anti-chafing cream, a healing cream, hydrocolloid dressings, medical tape, sterile gauze pads, an antiseptic and a gentle cleanser.
Take Care of Your Feet
"For all running and trail sports, the first piece of advice I give is to break in your shoes properly. On race day, wear socks that you've already tested. If they get wet, change them. Before heading out, apply an anti-chafing cream. There are different textures available, so try a few to find the one that suits you best, as well as the right amount to apply.
I also regularly encourage runners to see a podiatrist. Have your feet, toenails, calluses and rough skin checked. Get them treated when necessary. Over time, you'll learn to recognize and sometimes even manage some of these issues yourself."
Treat Blisters
"If blisters do appear, clean them with a gentle, soap-free cleanser. Dry the area by gently patting it with a clean sterile gauze pad. If the blister is still intact, leave it alone—there is no better natural dressing. If you don't need to continue exercising afterwards, you can help the healing process by applying an emollient ointment or cream. If you do have to keep going, try to see whether there's a podiatrist at the aid station. If not, you can use a hydrocolloid dressing—the kind that doesn't stick to the wound and provides a small protective cushion. Make sure to secure it properly with medical tape so that it doesn't move around and create another blister."
Soothe Chafing
"When the irritation is mild, a repairing and healing cream is enough. If the skin is badly abraded, as can happen with a sports bra, backpack or heart rate monitor strap, apply a hydrocolloid dressing and secure it properly so that you can put your equipment back on if you have no choice but to continue."
Protect Yourself from the Sun
"Whenever possible, adjust your training schedule so that you exercise before 11 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Before heading out, check the UV Index on your weather app. From a UV Index of 3, sun protection becomes essential, and from 6 onwards it should be as thorough as possible.
One of the best pieces of advice I can give is to cover up as much as possible with clothing.
Choose an SPF 50+ sunscreen that also provides UVA protection. For the face and neck, apply about one teaspoon. For the entire body, use around 30 ml and reapply every two hours, more often if you're sweating. That's actually much more sunscreen than most people are used to applying," explains Stéphanie Leclerc-Mercier. "If you want to use less sunscreen, wear more clothing."
"During competitions, take advantage of aid stations to reapply your sunscreen, or ask your support crew to help you. This is especially important if you're competing in the mountains."
What About Sunburn?
"Once you have a sunburn, it's already too late," the dermatologist says regretfully. "All you can do is ease the pain a little with a cool shower or a soothing emollient cream. The damage has already been done, and it can't be reversed. The best solution is simply to avoid getting sunburned in the first place. And that's absolutely possible, even during very long outings and even in the mountains. I regularly spend more than eight hours outdoors, and I never get sunburned!"
Challenge the Tanning Myth
"My best advice for looking healthy while protecting my skin as much as possible? Definitely not tanning! A tan is already a sign of skin damage. It accelerates skin ageing and increases the risk of developing skin cancer. So, if you'd like a sun-kissed complexion, you're much better off using bronzing powder or a self-tanning lotion instead!"
You can follow Stéphanie Leclerc-Mercier and the Dans la Peau des Sportifs association on LinkedIn and Instagram, and meet them in Chamonix—the trail running capital—during the summer of 2026.
