Hot tub folliculitis or spa pool folliculitis as it is known, is an infection when the patient catches bacteria in warm wet environments.
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That folliculitis, a condition which causes inflammation of hair follicles, may happen after the exposure to bacteria in hot tubs, pools, jacuzzi, wet suits, and contaminated toys.
It is estimated that pseudomonas aeruginosa is present in about 75 percent of hot tubs and swimming pools, so it's very easy to get in touch with it.
Everybody can catch it but it mostly affects women. There's no age limit but it is known that some people never develop an infection, maybe because of a shorter exposure or the specific skin microflora.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Aeromonas hydrophila bacteris live in warm water and they don't care if the water is chlorinated. They have their place in dirty places on the tub surface or in pipes. If the water is not treated and there is some organic material in it, those bacteria are very happy.
The condition appears between 8 hours and 5 days after exposure, depending on the duration of the exposure and overall skin health. A sudden eruption of scattered red macules happens, and they then evolve into pustules centred on hair follicles.
In other words, the rash may appear everywhere and it will start on areas covered by swimwear. Then there'll be itching, pain, burning sensations, and in some cases swollen lymph glands.
Bacteris pseudomonas aeruginosa may cause hot hand and foot syndrome where there are painful red nodules on the palms or the feet and that may develop with the folliculitis.
Along with the rash patients may feel headache, fatigue, fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, eye pain.
Hot tub folliculitis isn’t contagious so a person with the condition can’t spread it to another person.
Hot tub folliculitis is such a specific condition that a skin exam is used to diagnosed it and if the patient has a history of water exposure that's usually enough for a proper diagnosis.
Complications of this condition are rare. An infection may develop from scratching the bumps and in some cases skin can get darker.
Hot tub folliculitis usually pass in one to two weeks but it must be treated properly. A skin antiseptic antibiotics may be prescribed and it may come back if the source of the infection is not identified.
So, regular cleaning of the pool in needed, and it is a good advice to remove swimwear after getting out of the warm pool.
Another good advice is not to remove hair or shave before you get into a hot tub, as soon as you leave it remove your bathing suit because it's the place where bacteria will be, take a shower with fresh water, and wash your bathing suit right away after using it. ■