**Watch Out: Your Swimming Pool Could Be Hiding More Than Just Water**
When you take a dip in a public swimming pool, you might be sharing it with more than just other swimmers. Pools can be home to over ten different diseases, and it’s easy to pick up some unwelcome guests.
One of the most common issues is catching fungi on your feet. These pesky fungi thrive in the damp areas around the pool. Surveys show that within just one square meter of pool space, there can be between 1,000 to 10,000 spores waiting to latch on. To avoid this, doctors suggest wearing flip-flops or slippers.
Next up are sexually transmitted fungi, like trichomonas vaginalis. Luckily, the risk of catching these in the pool water is minimal because they don’t survive long in such an environment. The real issue, however, is synthetic swimwear, which creates a perfect breeding ground for these fungi.
These problems can be easily avoided by following some simple hygiene rules:
– Always wear your own flip-flops.
– Use only your towels.
– Avoid walking barefoot in wet pool areas.
– Choose swimwear made from natural fabrics instead of synthetic ones.
You should also be cautious about excessive chlorine in pool water. For people with atopic dermatitis, too much chlorine can lead to severe skin rashes. Chlorinated water can also cause eye infections like conjunctivitis if it gets into your eyes, and if it enters your ears, it might lead to otitis.
Another condition to be aware of is aquagenic urticaria, which results in hard-to-treat rashes. More common is cold urticaria, which happens when you swim in water cooler than 17 degrees Celsius.
So next time you head to the pool, keep these tips in mind to enjoy a safer and more pleasant swim.