Chlorine indeed keeps pool water safe for swimming, but the chemical doesn’t typically sit well with our skin and hair. Although chlorine can sanitize the water through clarification and eliminating unwanted microbes, it can wreak havoc on our bodies externally.
Per the Florida Dermatology & Skin Care Centers, chlorine can make your skin feel tight and itchy. This is because it strips our skin of its natural oils. Additionally, skin conditions such as eczema or acne may be exacerbated when exposed to chlorine.
Take shower after swimming in a pool with chlorine
There are steps swimmers can take to mitigate the damage done by chlorine, however. The next time you take a dip, trying showering immediately afterward to remove any chlorine residue from your skin and hair. Also, be sure to moisturize immediately after rinsing to help prevent irritation.
Chlorine removal shampoo
If you want to take things to the next level, try a chlorine removal shampoo such as UltraSwim or TriSwim. Both products contain vitamins and aloe to help remove chlorine, as well as associated oxidized metals to prevent hair discoloration. TriSwim also makes a body wash with similar chlorine-removing properties.
Apply Vitamine C with swimsprays
The Colorado Springs Dermatology Clinic recommends applying vitamin C to your skin after chlorine exposure. This helps neutralize the chemical and chloramine byproducts.
You can find specific Vitamin C serums, such as Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum, on beauty sites worldwide. One product, SwimSpray, markets itself as the ‘healthiest way to remove chlorine residue and treat your skin and hair well.’
SwimSpray claims its patented Vitamin C technology is ‘all-natural, pH balanced and fragrance free.’ It has been independently verified to be 400x more effective than traditional anti-chlorine shampoos, soaps and body washes.
Taking the extra time to rid skin and hair of the chemical post-swim will improve your aquatic way of life. You’ll wind up feeling as refreshed on the outside as you do on the inside.
