Irritated Skin After a Soak in the Hot Tub: Reasons and Solutions
After a long, exhausting day, soaking yourself in a hot tub can be the best treat. But the warm waters you so look forward to might not be that friendly to your precious skin all the time. Sometimes, your skin can become irritated or form a rash after you bathe. The two main reasons for skin irritation are bacterial infections and chemical dermatitis. Your skin may feel irritated after getting out from a hot tub, but don't worry. You don’t have to stay away from hot tubs or avoid them altogether. By understanding the reasons behind skin irritation and learning methods for prevention, you’ll be back enjoying yourself in the hot tub in no time.
Since there are chemicals such as chlorine in the water, take a quick shower after you get out from the hot tub to wash off any chemical residue on your body. Exposure to chlorine can often cause skin irritation and dry skin. When your hot tub’s chlorine levels or pH levels are too high, it will cause a rash. Always check your water chemical levels regularly. Chlorine levels should be contained between 2 to 4 PPM, while pH levels should be maintained at a level between 7.2-7.8. Never ever scratch your skin if it feels itchy, or it can lead to serious irritation. Instead, you should massage body lotion or oils to lock the moisture inside your body.
Inadequate sanitation directly leads to malicious bacterial infections. Hot tub Folliculitis is a bacterial conditions that infects your hair follicles or seeps under your skin, causing rashes that may lead to fevers. Hot Hand-Foot Syndrome is also caused by the same bacteria that makes it painful for you to walk. Always maintain a level of cleanliness around your hot tub. Vacuum any dirt or sediment to prevent debris buildup. The hot tub itself should also be cleaned on a regular basis. Check your filters and make sure they are clean. Having a clean filter cartridge significantly improves water quality.
Often times just the high temperature of the water may cause sensitive skin to dry out and feel itchy, especially if you’re someone with psoriasis or eczema. The most suitable temperature for human skin should be about 37.5 degrees celsius. Anything above 40 degrees celsius would be too hot and may cause skin to dry and even burn. So before you step into your hot tub, test the water temperature with a thermometer. Also try not to stay in the water for too long. A short 5 to 10 minutes is enough to soothe your body without sucking out the moisture from your skin.
At the end of the day, hot tubs are a place of solace for us. So if you face skin irritation, don’t give up on hot tubs altogether. Do seek medical advice if your skin condition is serious, but for minor dry skin issues feel free to book an appointment today with Seaway Pools & Hot Tubs to get access to the most innovative hot tub technologies for your home and body. If you have more questions and concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us at 905-294-8030, or our toll free number 1-888-494-8030, or by email at online@seawaypoolsntubs.com.