Hot Tub Dermatitis or Folliculitis Symptoms 

Is Your Rash Caused by a Hot Tub?

Have you ever had hot tub dermatitis? This condition is also known as folliculitis or a hot tub rash. It usually appears in a day or two after someone has been in a hot tub. However, some people may see the symptoms of this condition appear in just a few hours after they leave a hot tub.

If you are affected, you will see an itchy red rash appear on your skin. Try not to scratch the bumps since this will only make your condition worse. Scratching further irritates your skin and causes the rash to take longer to heal. It also introduces more bacteria into parts of the skin that they are usually restricted from entering when the skin is healthy.

Hot tub folliculitis occurs when the hair follicles are infected. Unlike contact dermatitis, this infection is caused by Pseudomonas bacteria, which thrive in the warm, wet environment that is created by the hot tub. They also like other pools and will survive on water slides. This means that children and teenagers are just as likely to be infected by playing around on slides. While your body is fighting the infection, you may have a mild fever and experience nausea.

The chest, legs, hips, back and stomach are a few areas on your body that will display signs of folliculitis. Since the bacteria like hot, wet places, the rash will be more concentrated on areas of the body that are usually covered by fabric while you are in the water.

You can avoid this condition by staying away from hut tubs that are not regularly treated in order to ensure that the right amount of chlorine is in the water. The level of acidity in the hot tub should also be checked regularly. If this drops off, the water will be an ideal habitat for the bacteria.