Folliculitis is a superficial disease of the hair follicle. Hot tub folliculitis is a disease that develops after exposure to certain forms of bacteria that reside in warm, wet environments such as hot tubs. The common organism Staphylococcus aureus leads to most of the folliculitis. Though, hot tub folliculitis is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas survives in hot tubs, particularly hot tubs made of wood, unless the pH and chlorine content are strictly controlled. Hot tub folliculitis becomes noticeable within a number of hours to 2 days of exposure. It first seems as itchy bumps, some of which may be filled with pus. It may then expand into dark red tender nodules. The rash may be denser under swimsuit areas, where the material has held the contaminated water in contact with the skin for a longer phase of time.

More about the folliculitis

Folliculitis is inflammation of the hair follicle caused by disease, chemical irritation, or physical injury. There are numerous different types of folliculitis, but a common type is called "hot tub" folliculitis, or pseudomonas folliculitis. Hot tub folliculitis is a disease of the hair follicles caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacterium is usually found in contaminated whirlpools, hot tubs, water slides, physiotherapy pools, or even loofah sponges. Children tend to get hot tub folliculitis more frequently, probably because they stay in the water longer. The rash is not spread by personal contact with contaminated lesions.

Hot Tub Folliculitis Rash

The rash of hot tub folliculitis comprises of several small i.e. 5 - 3 cm red papules or wheals with a central pustule. The rash can erupt wherever on the body that has been in contact with the contaminated water. Areas that are in get in touch with with wet clothing tend to have more lesions. The rash regularly resolves on its own in 7 to 10 days leaving a hyper pigmented lesion that resolves over months. Some people experience exhaustion in the first few days of the rash, but fever is uncommon. Showering after contact with infected water does not prevent infection. The subsequent measures should be considered when maintaining facilities that may be prone to water contamination, i.e. continuous water filtration to eliminate dead skin, frequent monitoring of disinfectant levels, frequent changing of water.