Could Monopersulfate cause itching skin and bumps.

[pflood4150]

I had been using our hot tub for two weeks after filling it and balancing the ph, alkalinity and dichlor, calcium hardness etc to correct levels. I then added 1.5 oz of MPS and waited 2 days before entering spa. Within an hour after exit I had bumps and redness on my back which itched. After a few days the itching subsided but again returned after going back into spa for 10 minutes. This makes me suspect that I may be allergic to MPS.
I should mention that apart from adding the MPS this season I also used an silver crystal package from DimensionOne which came with the spa a few years previously and which I only recently found. Other than that, the only chemicals added were dichlor, muriatic acid, and calcium increaser.
Will the MPS have diminished after five days as does chlorine, or should I drain and refill to get rid of it?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Inadequate sanitation leads to "Itching skin and bumps". Everything you've written shouts "Hot Tub Rash!!" to me. Usually folliculitis under bathing suits. Your tub sounds like a unsanitized puddle based on what you've done and not done to it.

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pdf/317355-A_FS-HotTubRashes_508.pdf

A quick visit to a doc-in-the-box can confirm and sometimes they Rx antibiotics. Other times if not too bad it clears up on its own.

Maddie

 

[pflood4150]

That does not answer my question regarding MPS. Also, what makes you think that the sanitation is inadequate? Before spa was last drained I had let it sit overnight with spa flush chemical and when I refilled it I put in enough liquid chlorine so as to raise FC over 12 ppm then let it sit overnight and partially drained and topped up again and balanced the water using a Taylor test kit. Water was, and still remains, crystal clear. Also, I do not wear bathing suit and always shower before going into spa and most times after exiting.

 

[jseyfert3]

What was your FC and CYA level at the time you were in the tub?

 

[pflood4150]

FC was at 3, Did not measure CYA, but it would have been low as very little dichlor had been added as liquid CL was used initially. PH was 7.6 and Alkalinity 60

 

[jseyfert3]

I did a quick Google search and it seems there is a possibility of an allergy to MPS, or a common contaminate in MPS. I am not, however, a doctor.

Since this didn't happen before adding the MPS maybe just draining the tub and refilling is the best course of action. If the itchy bumps do not reappear while maintaining FC appropriately for CYA that would seem to indicate it might be the MPS.

Sounds like you've had this spa more than just two weeks? In the past, have you ever used MPS? Have you ever used the silver cartridge before?

 

[JamesW]

It might be due to persulfate sensitivity. The non-chlorine oxidizer products contain persulfate.

MPS usually contains up to 2% Potassium Persulfate aka Dipotassium peroxodisulphate aka potassium peroxydisulphate.

Chemical sensitivity tends to happen faster than a bacterial infection.

 

[Akathisia]

I've found that high pH gives me the most problems with itching skin and bumps.

 

[brent]

this is anecdotal, not science but we have a new tub and flushed it with Ahh-some, refilled and started aerating to get TA down, added some CYA and liquid chlorine and tested often

then after a few days added on half of the suggested dose of MPS. My forearms and back have been lumping and itching like mad. Will the MPS break down or should I dump and start over ???

 

[pflood4150]

You will see from my earlier post that I had the same problem in spite of having used MPS in the past. The only difference this time was that spa had a silver cartridge installed. I since removed that and did not use spa for a couple of weeks but maintained Chlorine levels and PH. Used spa for at least another month before draining and never had the problem again. I am convinced that problem was caused with MPS and silver combo.

 

[brent]

You will see from my earlier post that I had the same problem in spite of having used MPS in the past. The only difference this time was that spa had a silver cartridge installed. I since removed that and did not use spa for a couple of weeks but maintained Chlorine levels and PH. Used spa for at least another month before draining and never had the problem again. I am convinced that problem was caused with MPS and silver combo.

thanks the new tub has an ozone gen and uv. we have never put anything with silver. I think I'll lay off the MPS for a week or so and if the itching rash continues, I'll do a dump and refill

 

[cranbiz]

I had issues with MPS also. Switched to Dichlor. Problems went away.