Turkish Bath-Associated Infectious Dermatoses: A Comprehensive Review of Risk Factors, Clinical Manifestations, and Preventive Measures

People have used the traditional Turkish bath for centuries to cleanse themselves, maintain their health, and treat various diseases. The communal use of these areas may contribute to the development and spread of certain dermatoses due to contact with water and environmental factors. Tinea pedis, verruca, molluscum contagiosum, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis are among these infections. Undoubtedly, pseudomonal infections are the most well-known waterborne infectious diseases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis (hot tub folliculitis), Pseudomonas hot-foot syndrome, toe web infections, ear infections, and ecthyma gangrenosum are the most common clinical presentations. Public baths may provide suitable environments for fungal colonization in cases of insufficient disinfection, long-term public use, high user density, and elevated water temperatures. Common fungal infections, including tinea pedis, tinea corporis, and tinea unguium, are most likely attributed to increased exposure to fungal pathogens and skin maceration. Scabies and pediculosis are parasitic infections that can be transmitted in communal living spaces, but their treatment also involves bathing. There are limited data on the number of infectious dermatoses acquired from Turkish baths. Given that most baths undergo frequent disinfection and the water does not remain stagnant, it can be concluded that bath-related infections are uncommon.

Keywords: Dermatoses, hammam, infection, Turkish bath