hot tub folliculitis

[grizz]

Well I don't know where I've gone wrong. My water was 12 weeks old but crystal
clear and test strips showing all ok, then I started to itch - doctor says
its HOT TUB FOLLICULITIS. Thankfully I'm the only one in the family with the problem. I've given the tub a massive chlorine shock,drained it and cleaned it, thoroughly cleaning the filter. I have now refilled it and it looks very inviting.
Has anybody else had this problem. How long till I can use my tub ?
I am on antibiotics and still itching .  What can I do to prevent this happening again ?
regards Richard
:'(

 

[Cyn]

What are your chemicals of choice?  Dichlor, N-2, ozonator, bromine?  What is your regimen with the chemicals?  

 

[grizz]

Hi,
I use bromine and check with the test strips daily dosing accordingly keeping PH within the the OK range.
I shock with Spa LIte oxidiser once every 2 weeks.
Thanks for your help,

Richard

 

[Cyn]

Hi Richard...I thought I would get the ball running, but I do not have any experience with bromine usage.  Hopefully one of our faithful bromine users will chime in for you before everyone returns to work tomorrow...or actually they maybe more likely to chime in from work tomorrow    Good luck...wish I could help.

 

[hottubdan]

You say you keep pH in range.  What about bromine reading.

Oxidizing every week with cover off is recommended.

I am curious about the diagnosis.  If you are the only one effected and everyone else uses tub makes me wonder.

 

[Vinny]

I was thinking the same thing as hottubdan wrote.

Are you using a floater that puts in the bromine/chlorine? Did you use the bromine reserve that is for startup? What was the readings for bromine on a weekly or daily basis?

If the proper amount of sanitizer was used I can't see how you got HOT TUB FOLLICULITIS especially after 12 weeks.

 

[Cyn]

I have read that hot tub folliculitis, for some odd reason, does affect men more than women.  

 

[tony]

Everyone has a different level of resistance to bacteria, so it is possible and common for one person to be affected while another is not.  The only way to get hot tub folliculitis is to let the sanitizer level get low.  Crystal clear water does not necessarily mean safe water.  As hottubdan mentioned, oxidizing weekly rather than every two weeks may be in order to regenerate the bromine to the better sanitizing form of the chemical on a more regular basis.

 

[kokanee001]

I used my Vanguard all summer w/o incident. Then suddenly this fall, I developed a rash. Doc gave me a prescription cream for the itch (worked great). I dumped the water, cleaned the tub and filters, waited till all the spots were gone (almost a month). Went in the water and got a rash again. Went back to the doc, told him my sanitizer levels were great, but I got the rash back.

He said: Hard to tell the difference between chemical dermatitis and rash caused by Pseudonomas arugulera. Also said pseudonomas is very antibiotic resistant and only some antibiotics will work, but they have to be carefully monitored. He suggested I try adjusting some of my chemicals (one at a time) to see if possibly the rash was caused chemically.

The same info was given to me by my HS dealer who seems quite knowledgeable.

BTW, my son and his girlfriend don't seem to be affected.

Doc also said I might be overly sensitive to the chemicals or the bacteria; but then again, there should be no bacteria in water that's well sanitized.

 

[Vinny]

Some people have reactions to non chlorine shock as well.

 

[hottubdan]

I know it is unpopular around here, but these could be perfect BaquaSpa applications.

 

[Vinny]

I know it is unpopular around here, but these could be perfect BaquaSpa applications.

Actualy I think you are right. If someone has tried bromine and/or chlorine and it isn't right then Baqua might be the way to go.

 

[kokanee001]

I was on bromine when I got my first rash. The HS dealer thought I might have become allergic or sensitive to the bromine and suggested I switch to chlorine. After dumping, cleaning and switching, I got my second bout. That's when I talked to my doc.

Gonna try lowering the level of the chlorine just to the low end of the safe range. If that fails, I'll raise the pH just a tad or two.

 

[kokanee001]

I don't know anything about the Baquaspa method. Will have to research that. Thanx.

 

[lets]

I was on bromine when I got my first rash. The HS dealer thought I might have become allergic or sensitive to the bromine and suggested I switch to chlorine.

What type of bromine system? Most bromine tablets contain up to 60% CHLORINE.

Doc also said I might be overly sensitive to the chemicals or the bacteria; but then again, there should be no bacteria in water that's well sanitized.

Not necessarily 100% true. If you were to have a bio film that's formed somewhere (in the plumbing), it could release small amounts of bacteria into the water. No sanitizer kills instantly. Some bacteria takes up to 20 minutes or more to be killed.

 

[stuart]

It may not be folliculitus....In the last 20 years I've found several times people are getting a type of eczema brought on by the chemicals drying their skin to the point that they break out. I've also seen Dr.s misdiagnose it.

Having said that you need ot always treat it like it is folliculitis and do a chemical clean to the spa. Here is my way of doing a chemical clean.

1. add 3-4 oz of Di-chlor to the spa with the temp at the highest point and the cover open
2. run the jets on high for at least 2 hours making sure to cycle all diverters, pumps and blowers
3. close the cover, leave the spa overnight
4. add 2 bottles of over the counter peroxide and run the jets again for a few hours
5. drain the spa...don't worry that much about the chlorine, the peroxide should neutralize it.
6. wipe down the inside of the cover and all surfaces that are above water line with a solution of 3 to 1 Clorox and water.
7. Clean filters well, might be a good time to change them.

The only step that I don't have here is that I often suggest adding a product called swirl away (300 ml) and run the jets 2-3 more hours before draining.

This will kill just about any bacteria that could cause a problem and start things new..As far as getting back in I wouldn't until your skin is completely healed and add a couple of weeks to that.

I also suggest taking some fish oil or something like collagen to help moisturize your skin again (not an expert on skin so ask someone what works best to help dry skin)

 

[kokanee001]

Thanx for the suggestion and steps to take in sterilizing the tub. I much appreciate that.

The doc did say, as you did, to use a lotion to hydrate my skin. And, like you said, both he and the HS dealer suggested that I stay out of the tub for a good long time because although folliculitis usually clears up in a short time for most people, ocassionally it will hang in with some folks (like me, I guess) for a fair stretch of time.

Thanx again.

 

[tinybubbles]

I just found something really interesting.  You old timers might be familiar with it.  Leslie's has a test kit that measures for bacteria in your spa including psuedomonas, the one that causes hot tub itch.  At $4.99 it seems like it would be a great diagnostic tool for someone trying to figure out if the bacteria is really causing their rash.  

 

[stuart]

I just found something really interesting.  You old timers might be familiar with it.  Leslie's has a test kit that measures for bacteria in your spa including psuedomonas, the one that causes hot tub itch.  At $4.99 it seems like it would be a great diagnostic tool for someone trying to figure out if the bacteria is really causing their rash.  

It's not accurate enough for me to trust...I've seen it register clean and people get a rash.

Your best bet is to just make sure your sanitizer levels are good and change the water at a good frequency. Often people get a rash because they have low alkaline and the water is acidic...This will dry your skin and cause dermatitis.

kokanee,  please don't tell me that I'm saying the same things Doc is...That would mean I'm getting older and wiser!

 

[tinybubbles]

Stuart, I agree, I think most rashes are caused by something other than the dreaded psuedomonas bacteria.  It seems to be the first thing dr.'s assume, however.  I thought with the test kit, people could rule out the worst case scenario of psuedomonas.  Bromine, MPS, Ph levels and just plain old dry skin can all cause problems.  I bet there are even times that hot tubs get blamed and they aren't even the cause.