Skin manifestations in ultra-marathon runners: experience in the Marathon des Sables 2014

Ultra-marathons are becoming increasingly popular (1). In 2014 (4^th to 14^th April), the 29^th Sultan Marathon des Sables (MDS) took place in Morocco. Overall, 1100 runners, men and women aged 16 to 80, met this challenge. Their goal was an endurance race of around 250 km in 5 self-sufficient stages in the desert over 6 days. Each runner carried their own rucksack of 7-10 kg with all of the necessary equipment and food (except water). Ultra-marathons are associated with well-known problems including dehydration, changes in body mass, loss of skeletal muscle mass, rhabdomyolysis with renal failure, and an increase in total body water. Lower limb and foot injuries are frequent in ultra-marathon runners, but specific skin manifestations may occur as a consequence of the extreme conditions of the MDS: high temperature with high rate of perspiration and salt loss, sun exposure, and contact with the sand.

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