What is Hot Tub Folliculitis?
Hot tub (spa pool) folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles caused by a bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which often thrives in new, poorly chlorinated, especially wooden hot tubes or whirlpools (Picture 1).
Picture 1. Hot tub
Symptoms of Hot Tub Folliculitis
Within eight hours to five days (or even 14 days) of exposure to the bacteria, red, itchy bumps appear on the skin and may later develop into small pus-filled blisters (pustules). The rash is likely to be worse in areas where swimsuit holds contaminated water against the skin; face and neck are rarely, and palms and soles are never affected (1). Rarely, an earache, sore throat or eyes, runny nose, headache, nausea, vomiting, mild fever, breast tenderness, or painful lymph nodes may appear (1). Red wheals up to 3 cm wide may occasionally encircle the bumps (2).
