I warned you it was not a pretty picture.

In pond water less than 104° F billions of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa may be sharing the hot spring with the unwary soaker. These microscopic critters love to crawl into the hair follicles opened up by the hot water, causing a mild skin rash (spa pool foliculitis) in susceptible bathers. My companion, who was in the water longer than I, had no rash whatever.

This photo of my hairy thigh shows the itchy rash which resulted from my day bathing in the Gold Strike Canyon hot springs near the Hoover Dam. I might’ve avoided the rash by carefully toweling off after bathing and changing into dry clothes; instead I put my pants on over my still-wet bathing suit. The application of lemon juice to the skin after bathing is also said to prevent the rash. Whether allergic or not, it is a good idea not to put your head underwater in a natural hot spring.