Have you ever noticed that your child has red, itchy blisters all over his body after playing in a swimming pool or water park? You might have thought that this was a mosquito bite or an allergy to the chlorine in the water. But in many cases, it can be something different, a skin infection that is especially common in children. That's what we're talking about today.
What exactly is Hot Tub Folliculitis?
Simply put, when the hair follicles on our skin become infected or injured for some reason, causing swelling, we call it Folliculitis . This can occur anywhere where there is hair, such as the legs, arms, armpits, neck, face, and chest.
Hot Tub Folliculitis is a special, contagious, and somewhat annoying type of folliculitis. It is caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This bacteria loves to live in warm, moist environments, such as hot tubs, whirlpools, poorly maintained swimming pools, and water slides.
If your child's skin comes into contact with water containing these bacteria for too long, the bacteria will enter the body through hair follicles or small scratches in the skin. Then, within a few days, those blisters we mentioned will start to appear.
Children are more likely to develop this infection than adults. This is because children spend more time playing in water. Also, people with weakened immune systems, those who already have skin conditions like acne, or those who have recently waxed or shaved are at higher risk of developing this infection.
What are the symptoms of this?
These symptoms can appear within a few hours to a few days after exposure to contaminated water. Not every child will experience the same symptoms, but there are some commonalities.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Red, itchy blisters | It often starts on parts of the body like the chest and back. These look like small bumps. |
| Pus-filled blisters | Sometimes these red blisters can develop into pimples filled with pus. |
| Frequent exposure to areas covered by swimwear | Because the water containing bacteria stays on the skin for longer, blisters are more likely to appear in those areas. People who wear one-piece swimsuits are at higher risk. |
| Other features | In some severe cases, you may experience malaise, fever, and fatigue. |
Sometimes these blisters also appear after insect bites. But the blisters are itchy and appear on exposed areas of the body. They don't appear in clusters like in Hot Tub Folliculitis.
How can you survive this?
The best thing to do is to prevent this. There are several things you can do to prevent this.
- Swim in a clean place: Make sure the swimming pool or hot tub you go to is well-maintained, has regular water cleaning, and maintains proper chlorine levels.
- Wash your body after swimming: As soon as you're done swimming, take off your swimsuit and wash your body thoroughly with soap. This will remove things like chlorine from your skin. But remember, if bacteria have already entered your body, bathing won't prevent infection.
- Wash your swimsuit: Wash your used swimsuit thoroughly and let it dry completely. Do not wear it again while it is still wet.
How does a doctor recognize and treat this?
If your child has these symptoms, it's best to see a doctor . The doctor will examine your child, ask you about the details (where you've been swimming, when the blisters started, etc.) and determine if this is Hot Tub Folliculitis.
Sometimes, to find out exactly what bacteria is causing it, we can take some pus from the blisters and send it to a lab for testing. This is called a culture test.
How is it treated?
Most of the time, if it's not severe, it will go away without any treatment within a week or two. However, if the blisters are large or if your child is uncomfortable, your doctor will prescribe treatment. Treatment depends on your child's age, health, and the severity of the infection.
- Warm compresses: To reduce pain and help drain pus, you can soak a clean cloth in warm water and apply it to the blisters.
- Topical solutions: Antibiotic creams may be prescribed for the skin. For example, silver sulfadiazine. Some people also apply a cloth soaked in white vinegar for about 20 minutes.
- Oral antibiotics: If the infection is severe, oral antibiotics may be given for about 5-10 days.
- Drainage: If there are large blisters that are filled with a lot of pus, the doctor may make a small incision and drain the pus (Incision and Drainage - I&D).
Important: After the infection has healed, some brownish-red spots (hyperpigmentation) may remain where the blisters were. It may take several months for these spots to completely fade. Don't worry about that.
Are there other types of folliculitis that look like this?
Yes, there are several other types of folliculitis besides hot tub folliculitis. Sometimes a doctor has to differentiate between them.
| Type of folliculitis | A brief introduction |
|---|---|
| Bacterial Folliculitis | The most common type. It causes white, pus-filled, itchy blisters. It is caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (staph) . |
| Pityrosporum Folliculitis | This is caused by a yeast infection. It causes red, itchy blisters on the back and chest. |
| Gram-negative Folliculitis | Acne can be seen in people who take antibiotics for a long time. |
| Boils and Carbuncles | A painful pink bump that forms when staph bacteria infect the deep part of a hair follicle. When many bumps join together, it's called a carbuncle. |
| Pseudofolliculitis Barbae | This is a condition caused by ingrown hairs. It is common in people with curly hair and those who shave close to the skin. |
Take-Home Message
- Hot Tub Folliculitis is a skin infection caused by bacteria found in places like swimming pools and hot tubs that are not properly maintained.
- Symptoms include itchy, red blisters that appear a few days after swimming. These are most common in areas covered by swimwear.
- Most of the time, this is not serious and will get better on its own in a week or two.
- But if the blisters spread, the child has a fever, or other discomfort, definitely see a doctor.
- Prevention is the best way to go. Swim in clean areas. After swimming, wash your body with soap and water, and wash and dry your swimsuit thoroughly.
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