Picture courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

A US doctor has voiced serious concerns over Thailand's backstreet massage scene after a tourist's budget session led to a painful skin infection.

 

Dr Joe Whittington, an emergency physician from California, has warned travellers following a recent incident where a tourist paid a mere US$5 (approximately 180 baht) for a massage in a narrow alley. The next day, he discovered red, pus-filled boils all over his legs.

 

The tourist had contracted folliculitis, a skin infection involving inflamed hair follicles, after the massage. Dr Whittington described the situation in a viral TikTok video, which has amassed over 365,000 views. He remarked, “When the massage is US$5 and the infection is free.”

 

Dr Whittington suspects the infection came from Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria commonly spread by unhygienic practices, such as dirty hands, reused oils, or unclean towels.

 

Picture courtesy of The Daily Mail

 

He added, “Open pores, sweaty legs and alleyway massages are the perfect recipe,” pointing out that the masseuse was masked but likely had unclean hands. Folliculitis typically appears as red bumps or pus-filled spots and can require antibiotics if ignored.

 

Dr Whittington advised travellers to avoid dubious massage setups: “If your massage table is made of concrete and there’s a moped parked next to it, maybe just stretch and call it a day, bro.”

 

This incident drew mixed reactions online, with some commenters horrified and others amused. One viewer quipped, “Yikes! Um, no thanks,” while another called it "terrifying – all for a US$5 massage.”

 

A licensed therapist pointed out that such infections can occur anywhere without proper hygiene, not just in Thailand.

 

 

Defending Thailand’s massage industry, another traveller shared, “I got five massages in proper Thai spas, they were hands down the best I’ve ever had. Just stick to licensed places and you’ll be fine.”

 

Despite this defence, the incident could challenge Thailand’s massage sector, which is vital for the country's wellness tourism and is still recovering from the pandemic. While most Thai massage establishments are reputable, the government might face calls to tighten regulations on street-side operators and improve hygiene standards to prevent future mishaps.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-04

 

 

I had a skin infection after visiting a Pattaya massage.......................it wasn't on my legs!

15 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

I had a skin infection after visiting a Pattaya massage.......................it wasn't on my legs!

I didnt even read the article! Are you fckn kidding me! 

thai massages are a medical wonder mystery and blessing all in disguise! when the hospital cant fix me broken bones and torn muscles only these beautiful women can! 😂 

15 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

I had a skin infection after visiting a Pattaya massage.......................it wasn't on my legs!

be sure not to come back then!

Suspects it came from Staphylococcus aureus, but no evidence for such a claim. Common bacteria many will have on their skin without it causing infection. It's not something causing infection spread by towels etc in a day. Still he must be a Dr - has the obligatory stethoscope round his neck.

Reused oil? Exactly how does one do that???

Absolutely true.

Doesn't happen in cheap massage salons only.

Better bring your own towel with you. 🙏

The problem with content creation is that the need for new content is endless. There are many of us with 20+ years in Thailand between ourselves and our networks would have had tens of thousands of all manner of massages up and down Thailand (and in other even sketchier parts of Asia) and we’ve never seen anything like this. 
 

That skin irritation/infection can occur is obviously true anywhere but that’s not really the focus here. It’s about a content creator looking for a niche for content. No context, not especially useful but scary images and broad brush tars an entire sector. Because content must be created as those DTV’s aren’t going to fund themselves. 
 

Has anyone else noticed that much of the newer content is either just lazy stereotypes or, increasingly just negative nonsense  like this? 

I wonder if the patient actually got a massage by those small fish that eat dead skin, and didn't want to fess up to the stoopidity.

 

 

I have been getting 2 hour massages twice a week for the last 5 years and the only harm it has caused me is it makes me lazy. This doctor I don't care if he is a doctor or not he's got rocks between his ears

6 minutes ago, sandrew33 said:

The problem with content creation is that the need for new content is endless. There are many of us with 20+ years in Thailand between ourselves and our networks would have had tens of thousands of all manner of massages up and down Thailand (and in other even sketchier parts of Asia) and we’ve never seen anything like this. 
 

That skin irritation/infection can occur is obviously true anywhere but that’s not really the focus here. It’s about a content creator looking for a niche for content. No context, not especially useful but scary images and broad brush tars an entire sector. Because content must be created as those DTV’s aren’t going to fund themselves. 
 

Has anyone else noticed that much of the newer content is either just lazy stereotypes or, increasingly just negative nonsense  like this? 

You have to realize it's the chance you take and sometimes price you pay when you are interacting with women, and men, who are intimate in some way with hundreds if not thousands of tourists, along with citizens and expats, some of whom are certainly carrying diseases, infections and plainly, STD's. Thailand has a high disease spreading rate, which was known decades ago, so again, you're playing Russian roulette being in that scene. Not to say there aren't clean legitimate massage places, as my friend here in Sisaket province has a wife who runs one, but it's a legitimate one that has locals and foreigners alike going in for just massages, and the place is clean.

Very logically really..if somebody with what might be  any of a multitude of skin infections has a massage and the sheets or towels are not cleaned even with cold water wash... excema is one that comes to mind...or even body fluids which really must be all over the towels..

16 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

I had a skin infection after visiting a Pattaya massage.......................it wasn't on my legs!

 

And straight onto VD clinic?

Lol.

Yeah?

Since my settlement here  nearly 2 decades ago,I have been to traditional Thai massage places  in soi several times without any incidents though.

 

And encounter  with the stuff like bed bugs, pretty common while staying at backpackers accommodation in the west as well.

Nothing really new.

 

I even suspect that doctor might be secretly working for some pricy massage establishment: Spreading negative information  of the low-end. In order to divert more first world travelers to the high-end ones.

12 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

You have to realize it's the chance you take and sometimes price you pay when you are interacting with women, and men, who are intimate in some way with hundreds if not thousands of tourists, along with citizens and expats, some of whom are certainly carrying diseases, infections and plainly, STD's. Thailand has a high disease spreading rate, which was known decades ago, so again, you're playing Russian roulette being in that scene. Not to say there aren't clean legitimate massage places, as my friend here in Sisaket province has a wife who runs one, but it's a legitimate one that has locals and foreigners alike going in for just massages, and the place is clean.

 

Well yes, and yet as I explained this is vanishingly rare from a massage in my experience and the experience of everyone I know. 
 

Hence me finding a drive by on much of the Thai massage sector unnecessary and driven by the need for clicks rather than anything much useful. 
 

 

 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Dr Joe Whittington, an emergency physician from California, has warned travellers following a recent incident where a tourist paid a mere US$5 (approximately 180 baht) for a massage in a narrow alley. The next day, he discovered red, pus-filled boils all over his legs.

Could have been  lot worse... if he paid for the full treatment he's be in worse shape.

What a load of 🐂💩

First world clean; developing world dirty.  More implied racism.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The tourist had contracted folliculitis, a skin infection involving inflamed hair follicles, after the massage.

…and not to mention herpes, Epstein-Barr virus among a slew of other nasty contagions.

Maybe cuz Americans don't take showers

16 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

I had a skin infection after visiting a Pattaya massage.......................it wasn't on my legs!

 

Perhaps on the small "leg" ?

Live in the tropics long enough and you too will get some kind of skin or stomach infection (most likely annually).

39 minutes ago, RonJr said:

I didnt even read the article! Are you fckn kidding me! 

thai massages are a medical wonder mystery and blessing all in disguise! when the hospital cant fix me broken bones and torn muscles only these beautiful women can! 😂 

Hum...Beautifull women?....you mean the rotund, sturdy, barrell-bellied ape-like masseuse with crushing farm-hands? i mean, in terms of thai massage, they are actually the best ones but not really cutting it in terms of good looks....

1 hour ago, sandrew33 said:

we’ve never seen anything like this. 
 

And because you've never seen it...it doesn't exist??!

Hogwash👎

I didn't bother reading more than a couple of paragraphs, but scrolling down I saw this 'doctor' wearing his baseball cap backwards and the words 'tikTok video'

This guy is just out to get his moment of fame on social media.

 

Storm in a tea cup.

This is just common sense, and shouldn't spur viral "Henny Penny" social media hysteria, though that seems inevitable. 

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

where a tourist paid a mere US$5 (approximately 180 baht) for a massage in a narrow alley.

 

 

for a massage in a narrow alley......555

1 hour ago, rumeaug said:

Hum...Beautifull women?....you mean the rotund, sturdy, barrell-bellied ape-like masseuse with crushing farm-hands? i mean, in terms of thai massage, they are actually the best ones but not really cutting it in terms of good looks....

 

 

You are going to the wrong massage parlors.

3 hours ago, Nickcage49 said:

Reused oil? Exactly how does one do that???

Old cooking oil from the street carts.

3 hours ago, RonJr said:

I didnt even read the article! Are you fckn kidding me! 

thai massages are a medical wonder mystery and blessing all in disguise! when the hospital cant fix me broken bones and torn muscles only these beautiful women can! 😂 

Thai massage might be all that, if done correctly, but just because they’re Thai doesn’t mean they’re doing it right. Have had massages across the board; cheapos like this up to pricey hotel spas, but rarely had a great one. Unless they really know what they’re doing (some intentionally cause pain or bumble about yapping), are attentive and focus properly, it can be an uncomfortable waste of money. Though I get it, some of you guys are just happy to have a woman’s hands on you. 😂

Among the best I’ve had was in Sanur, Bali.