Itching treatment review - Be careful of folliculitis when getting massages during Southeast Asian overseas travel!

I traveled abroad to Southeast Asia earlier this year.

You will probably receive a lot of massages when you go on an overseas trip.

I also received a full-body massage about twice during my trip.

Before coming to the airport on the last day, I booked a massage shop popular among Koreans and received a two-hour oil massage, but starting the next day, my legs began to itch and develop red spots.

The itching is so severe that I can't help but scratch constantly.

Unable to hold back, I visited the local dermatology clinic, and when I mentioned I had received an oil massage at a travel destination, I realized there are quite a few people who visit due to itching caused by oil after Southeast Asian trips.

The other people who received a massage with me did not have any itching and were fine, but I was the only one experiencing itching.

They said that my skin might be more sensitive and there could be an issue with the oil product.

I think the cause of the itching might have been oil contamination or the hygiene condition of the towel used to wipe the oil.

So, after receiving a prescription from the dermatologist for a few days and consistently applying the ointment, the itching started to improve within a few days.

I trusted the hygiene standards of the massage shop that many Koreans book, but after experiencing itching after the massage, I now prefer not to get oil massages when I travel.

I found through internet news that there are many reports of experiencing itching due to 'Thai massage folliculitis' and 'Vietnamese massage folliculitis.'

Folliculitis is a condition where bacteria enter through the hair follicle and cause inflammation inside the follicle that surrounds the hair. When folliculitis occurs, red spots appear on the skin surface, accompanied by itching or pain, and in severe cases, pus may form.

Additionally, while receiving an oil massage, contact dermatitis may cause itching, so it is recommended to clean the skin thoroughly after the massage to maintain cleanliness, and it is best to avoid massage shops with poor hygiene conditions.