Your outdoor pool session comes with hidden skin risks. Here’s what might be happening to your skin beneath the surface and how to protect it properly!
As we approach summer, it is important to learn more about chlorine and skincare.
But every time you get in your swimming pool, a combination of chemicals and UV radiation is working on your skin in ways worth understanding. You might be wondering: Is swimming in your outdoor pool damaging your skin? The answer depends on how often you swim and how well you protect yourself, but there are real effects to be aware of.
What Chlorine Does to Your Skin
Chlorine’s job is to kill pathogens by producing hypochlorous acid. The issue is it doesn’t stop there. Chlorinated water opens up pores and can then more easily strip away some of the natural oils and sebum in your skin that help keep it moist.
Chlorine also produces byproducts called chloramines, which add to the irritation. They can produce contact dermatitis, a red, itchy rash caused by chemical contact rather than an allergic response. For people with eczema or sensitive skin, this reaction tends to be more noticeable.
The Outdoor Factor: UV Exposure on Top of Chemical Exposure
Outdoor pools add a layer of sun exposure that indoor swimmers don’t have to think about. UV light is a form of radiation, and cumulative exposure can cause changes in skin cells that increase the risk of skin cancer. That’s a long-term concern worth factoring into your pool routine.
The Water’s pH Is Also a Concern
Chlorine isn’t the only pool chemistry variable that affects your skin; pH also plays a role. The acceptable pH range for pool water is 7.2 to 7.8.
Water with a pH below 7.2 is too acidic. The main symptom you’ll notice from this is burning eyes. Meanwhile, an alkaline pH above 7.8 is a bigger skin concern since it can cause irritation. An alkaline pH can also make your pool cloudy and contribute to scale buildup.
How To Protect Your Skin Without Giving Up the Pool
You don’t have to stop swimming; just make a few changes to your routine.
Shower and Moisturize
For one, rinse off before and after getting into the pool. Doing so before can mitigate chloramine production, and doing so after removes lingering chlorine from your skin. Follow up with a ceramide lotion and a ceramide based body serum (code alexisroch for 50% off) to replenish your skin barrier after this chemical exposure.
Wear Sunscreen
For sun protection, your best bet is to wear sunscreen. You might want to choose mineral sunscreen over chemical sunscreen since zinc oxide and titanium dioxide offer physical UV protection and tend to be skin-friendly.
Maintain Your Pool
Lastly, you should balance your pool’s pH consistently rather than waiting for visible signs that something’s off. Even though it adds a chore to your list, it’s another step in ensuring your favorite pastime doesn’t irritate your skin.
Putting It All in Perspective
So is swimming in your outdoor pool damaging your skin? If you swim a lot and don’t do anything to protect yourself, then the answer is yes. The combination of chlorine, chloramines, UV exposure, and pH imbalance can contribute to dryness, mild irritation, and accelerated aging. But with the right protective habits in place, the effects are manageable for most people, and you can enjoy every swim this summer without much worry.
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Hi! What type of ceramide moisturizer do you recommend? I have eczema and swim at the YMCA three days a week and have noticed an increase in irritation on my skin.
Thanks!
Good morning! I am so sorry for my delay in replying…this ended up in my spam folder and I was just sorting through it this morning! It looks like those links weren’t showing up in the post, I just fixed that. For my body, I love using this ceramide lotion for eczema and especially after being in the pool. I also use this ceramide full body serum which has been amazing for healing my body after the sun exposure and chlorine. You can get 50% off using discount code alexisroch Please send me an email if I can answer any other questions for you!