Author Topic: Ichy hours after I get out.. (Read 10116 times)

kayaknva · « **on:** March 07, 2006, 05:05:52 pm »

Hello again. Hoping you guys/gals can help me out here. After I get out of my spa I seem to get little bumps that are very ichy, I'm guessing 'hot tub rash'. I googled it and searched on this forum and don't see a real answer except 'staying out of it for 7 days' and maybe changing chemicals. When I bought my spa I got the leisure time start up kit with the bromine so I have stayed with that. We have had it about 2 months and the first 45 days I didn't have any problems at all. I had a problem with the bromine level(too high) at certain times trying to figure it out with the renew.
Tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Here is my weekly routine(all leisure time):
Enzyme
Bright and Clear
Defender
Renew
Clean filter once a month

We take showers before we get in everytime and I'm thinking I might need to take one when I get out. The water is crystal clear (but what Ive read on here thats nothing). I got the bumps on my arms a week ago, stayed out for another week and got in last night and here we go again, but worse. I am to the point to where I am going to drain the spa this weekend, clean it with clorox(?) and try again. Just don't know what I did wrong for it to do this. Should I try clorine instead of bromine?
Very irritating(in a few ways) that I just dropped this kind of cash and I can't use it.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again!

Steve

Hot Tub Forum · « **on:** March 07, 2006, 05:05:52 pm »

J._McD · « **Reply #1 on:** March 07, 2006, 05:18:54 pm »

You dropped all of this cash and can't use it, but you are using it, you just need to sanitize it properly. �Test for the presence of a sanitizer before you get in. �If you are getting a rash it seems that proper water chemistry is the problem that needs to be reviewed, it is not the fault of the product.

I realize that this may be frustrating, but until you get the hang of it. �More importantly, you need to get a routine that works for you, do you have ozone on the spa?

kayaknva · « **Reply #2 on:** March 07, 2006, 05:25:13 pm »

I'm not blaming the spa at all(I realize it's my doing, thats why I'm asking

I love it and it is an amazing product(no tylenol pm since we got it!). I probably check my water too much, and definitely before I get in everytime. Yes I have ozone, maybe I need a better testing method other than the strips.

Thanks for the reply!

J._McD · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2006, 06:50:20 pm »

If you feel you are testing too much, you probably are being too anal about water balance, and this is not uncommon to new users, but the itch could be from lack of sanitizer or at least it seems so. You might try some di-chlor.

Snowbird · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2006, 07:02:17 pm »

kaya..

The same thing is happening to me. Here is what I use.

ozonator
mineral stick
activiate - 2 oz after each use, 4 oz shock weekly

Water is very clear and feels right. I test every 2 days for pH, mps & TA. Occasionally I may have to raise the pH a little but that's all.

We may be doing everything right but we could be allergic to the chemicals we�re using.

I found that showering after I get out stops all the itching. If that doesn�t� help and you are sure you�re doing the chemicals correctly, maybe you need to change to a different system. If you do, you will need to start with a clean tub and fresh water.

Good luck.

TrikkeAddict · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2006, 07:12:00 pm »

Same thing happens to me, especially if I use the spa a lot - I've cured the problem by moisturizing every day.

hamrhed · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2006, 07:33:56 pm »

Same thing here,, moisturize is importain when you soak daily i've found out....

I did not change any chemicals...

i would try the easy thing first.... if that doesn't help see the doc..

good luck

Snyper · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2006, 12:45:36 am »

We just went through the same thing. Drained and re-filled, problem was solved.

Some people just react differently to various chemicals. Keep trying until you find one that works best for you.

drewstar · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2006, 08:51:00 am »

It sounds to me like You may be having a reaction/rash to the chemicals.

I would stay out of the tub and let the rash clear up and your skin heal. A drain and refill seems like a logical place to start.

The primary thing I would look at is the Bromine level and ensure this is not too high. If it is the bromine, making sure the levels are kept in check might aleviate the rash, or you might consider switching to dichlor.

Out of curiosity:

How "old" is the current water in the tub?

How often is the tub used?

Are you checking the levels before you are getting in? Do you know what you are soaking in?

I ask, as I personally think you've got a lot of chems going into the tub on a weekly basis; bromine, enzimes, Bright and clair, defender, MPS. That seems like a lot and you may also consider backing off on your routine a bit. ?

kayaknva · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2006, 09:40:22 am »

The water in the tub is 2 months old. I'm a noob with water balance as I have never had a pool, tub, etc. I add the chemicals per the manual I got with the tub (leisure time). Well there for the first 45 days we used it everyday, but shower first. I check the levels before I get in everytime and everything seems to be right on, except sometimes the bromine level is high. I have had a hard time mastering that. I go from way too much bromine to none, then renew and bromine again(floater). I have got the hang of it better, the bromine level changes so quickly. The tub itself is only 2 months old and has the oz. Maybe I should knock the weekly routine to bi weekly and only shock weekly?
If I were to go the di chlor route, do I need to drain and start over?
Thanks

Duffman · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:33:37 am »

You're definitely not alone...

I have sensitive skin and found that even with new and perfectly treated water my back sometimes feels itchy after I get out. For me, using a moisturizer after leaving the spa is the key.

P.S. I use a dichlor system

stuart · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:41:01 am »

I would shock the spa intensely with chlorine (2-4 oz), run it with the cover off for at least two hours at 104 degrees (some bacteria is more active at higher temp).

This will eliminate anything that could be a bacteria problem...

Drain the spa, clean the filters, wipe down all surfaces including the underside of the cover with a solution of water/Clorox mixed 3:1 ratio.

When your done refill, adjust Alkalinity the add only the sanitizer. Try the spa a few days like that and see how you react...then start adding the other chems one at a time with intervals of at least 2 days between seeing how you react.

I also found a wonderful new product called "Silken" that BioLab made for bromine spas. You add it at drain/refill and it will help a lot with dry skin, balance and odor.

drewstar · « **Reply #12 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:51:05 am »

Stuarts got a good plan of attack.

I'd also take the floater out of your tub during soaks. and out it back in when you are done. No need to be sitting in a bromine bath, esp if it is the bromine that's causing the rash.

Duffman, the itch back could that be from air jets? Those things make my skin itch.

kayaknva · « **Reply #13 on:** March 08, 2006, 11:05:45 am »

OK, sounds like a plan for the weekend. You say add chlorine to shock it. I am a little confused whether or not I can add chlorine to my bromine system. My renew is non chlorine, as you know. Should I go out and get the clorine (di-chlor?) and stay away from the present bromine system or is it OK to add the chlorine in the present bromine spa state? Not sure the mixing of the two will mess anything up.

Thanks

PS: I do take the floater out of the tub before we get in everytime

stuart · « **Reply #14 on:** March 08, 2006, 11:16:12 am »

I would take the floater out...Adding Chlorine to the system is fine.

Hot Tub Forum · « **Reply #14 on:** March 08, 2006, 11:16:12 am »

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