Swimming pool related skin problems

Swimming pool is one of the place from which you acquire a lot of infections. The infections may be respiratory, gastro-intestinal, ear or eye and most commonly it is a skin infection. The pools may look very clean to our eyes, still has a lot of organisms swimming in them. Any communicable disease easily spreads through swimming pool. Swimming pool management does all possible ways to prevent such infections and it's our responsibility to avoid spreading infection to others as well as getting it from them.

Some of the common skin problems caused by swimming pool are as follows:

DERMATITIS: Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes dermatitis which erupts as a bumpy red rash within a few days of swimming in contaminated pools. Though the body is protected with the swim wear the exposed areas come in contact with such organisms and are affected.

CHLORINE IRRITATION: The next common condition is skin irritation caused by too much chlorine in swimming pools. Pools are periodically disinfected with chlorine to fight organism that causes cholera and typhoid. But there should be a specific amount of chlorine to be mixed with the water in swimming pool, when the limit exceeds it causes skin irritation.
Chlorine makes the skin to be dry and itchy which ultimately leads to cracking, eczema and premature aging.

SWIMMING POOL GRANULOMA: Mycobacterium marinum causes this chronic skin infection which is common among regular swimmers. They start as a small lesion and grow big, causing skin break down which sometimes leads to infection and other complication. They are treated and completely cured with antibiotics.

MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM: This is a viral skin infection caused by Molluscipox virus. This disease is said to occur commonly in people who live in crowded areas and many cases are reported from swimming pool use. They are papular eruptions that occurs in groin, genital areas, thigh and lower abdomen. Cryocautry is the treatment of choice.

PLANTAR WARTS: These occur on the soles of the feet. They are hard, thick patches of skin with dark specks. Plantar warts may cause pain when you walk they do not need any active treatment.

Swimming is fun and a very good exercise, enjoy the best part of it but keeping your pool clean. Avoid swimming when you have any kind of infections and parents follow instructions for your children. This is the best way to avoid skin problems in swimming pool.

Eczema

Eczema is an inflammatory reaction of the skin caused by physical, chemical or biologic agents. The epidermis is inflammed or damaged by the repeated chemical or physical irritations. It falls under the classification of dermatitis that may be of irritant, non-irritant, allergic, phototoxic and photoallergic types. The type of eczema that arises after exposing to some kind of allergen is called as allergic eczema which is the most common type of eczema.

Eczema results from exposing to contact allergens or irritants.The common causes of irritant eczema are soaps, detergents, scouring compounds, and industrial chemicals. Pre-existing skin disease is the cause of non-irritant eczema. The predisposing factors of eczema include exposing to extremes of heat and cold, frequent contact with soap and water and the presence of any other skin conditions.

Eczema can affect anybody both adult and children alike. They also affect men and women equally since anybody can be allergic or sensitive to anything. It all depends on their own skin conditions. Men are more prone to produce eczematous reaction from the industrial chemicals because men tend to work in industries, while women are exposed to eczematous reaction when they come in contact with laundry or dish washing soaps and detergents.

Eczema begins when the causitive agent contacts the skin. The symptoms of eczema varies from person to person extending from itching to bleeding. The first reaction to eczema includes itching, redness, and burning, followed by edema, papules, vesicles, and oozing. Sooner the vesicles dries up, forms crust and finally peels. If the reaction occurs repeatedly, the person tends to scratch the skin which may lead to thickening of the skin and pigmentation. In course of time it may lead to bacterial infection.

The main aim of treating eczema is to rest the involved skin and protect it from further damage. Treatment for eczema includes,

* Application of bland, unmedicated creams or lotion over the inflammed skin to prevent them from further dryness.

* Application of a cool, wet dressing or Burow's solution over the vesicles to reduce itching and promote soothing.

* Applying a thin layer of topical corticosteroid in the form of cream or lotion.

* Medicated baths at room temperature may be prescribed for eczema which is over larger area of the body.

* A short course of systemic corticosteroids like prednisone may be advised for 7-10 days for those with severe conditions.

* Antibiotics may be prescribed if secondary infection occurs.

* Oral antihistamines may also be prescribed by certain doctors to control itching.

* Finely cracked ice added to the water can be applied over the affected area and also the fore head as a compress if fever occurs.

Tips to prevent eczema: It takes at least 4 months for an eczema to heal completely. Here are some of the tips that can prevent and as well as help in complete healing of eczema.

* Always keep your skin moist. Apply hydrophilic creams or petroleum jelly if you have a dry skin.

* Study the pattern and location of eczema and think over the things you touched that may have caused the problem.

* Try to avoid contact with those materials again.

* Avoid all kinds of external irritants like heat, soap, and rubbing.

* Avoid cosmetic creams or any topical lotion except the ones specifically prescribed for you.

* Wash your skin thoroughly immediately when you come in contact with any suspected irritants.

* Wear gloves while washing dishes or doing general cleaning. If you are using a rubber gloves make sure they are cotton-lined and don't wear them for more than 15 or 20 minutes at a time.

Since eczema is not a disease in itself, but body's reaction to certain stimulants, prevention is always better than cure. Always remember to avoid anything that causes a reaction to your body and take suitable precautions when you have to handle agents that might have adverse reactions on your body.