How Important is Spa Cleanliness?

Posted: February 20th, 2017

An Important Subject

Every day in the United States, thousands of people make appointments to obtain spa treatments. In fact, average day spa visits increased by 4.3% between 2013 and 2014 alone.(1) Yet the popularity of this service begs an essential question: how important should customers consider spa cleanliness?

A Vital Issue

Most experts today urge members of the public to require an impeccably clean spa environment. Why? Quite simply, contracting some illnesses due to unsanitary spa conditions can mean enduring years of medical treatment in exchange for a few hours of pleasant relaxation. The trade-off hardly seems reasonable!

Significant Disease Concerns

A responsible day spa business places a high priority for maintaining hygienic conditions. They appreciate the wide variety of public health threats sometimes transmitted via unsanitary spa treatment. These issues run the gamut from bacterial and viral infectionsto parasites and fungi. For instance, a patron with unpleasant athlete's foot might easily transmit the fungus to other customers unless a diligent spa proprietor maintains rigorous sanitation and cleanliness protocols.

An Illustration

While it may seem tempting to minimize health risks imposed by an unsanitary spa environment, one illustration vividly demonstrates the potential risks. Germs in dirty laundry can transmit a variety of illnesses, including norovirus, rotavirus and even Hepatitis A.(2) Blood from shared personal items sometimes transmits Hepatitis B or C, both capable of causing serious liver disease.(3)

The Bottom Line

If you cannot obtain spa treatments while recovering from some health conditions, don't berate your spa provider for enforcing rules: thank that person instead! They have taken action to help promote the well being of all patrons over the long term. You can have confidence in their spa cleanliness standards!     References: (1) http://www.skininc.com/spabusiness/trends/2015-ISPA-Spa-Industry-Study-Six-Key-Takeaways-330404281.html (2) abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/washing-machines-loaded-bacteria-dirty-clothes/story (3) https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/cfaq.htm#cFAQ12