How to Avoid Hot Tub Rash
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Hot tub rash is an infection of the skin (dermatitis) or of the hair follicles in the skin (folliculitis) acquired from contact with contaminated water. The infection occurs most commonly after swimming in hot tubs or spas, but contaminated swimming pools or lakes may also spread the infection.
Most cases of hot tub rash are caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an organism abundant in nature and found in soil, water, and on plants. Hot tub rash usually begins with itchy skin or itchy bumps on the skin, which progress to form tender red nodules that may contain pus. Pus-containing sores are also commonly present around hair follicles. The rash is often worse under the areas of skin covered by a swimsuit, since the swimsuit can keep the contaminated water in contact with the skin for a longer period of time. Hot tub rash appears within two days after contact with contaminated water.
Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 12/9/2014