No matter your reason for jumping in the pool, doing it every day or staying there for too long can put your skin at risk of chlorine damage.
No, we aren’t asking you to cut back on your pool time. Instead, we’ve got some tips to avoid – or at least minimize – the adverse effects of chlorine on your skin. Here you go:
1. Shower Before the Swim
It’s not rocket science to know why you would need a shower after a swim, but the concept of taking a shower before going into the pool may sound absurd to many. The logic behind it is simple. Dry skin tends to be more absorbent than wet skin, so avoid that.
It doesn’t have to be a proper shower, though. You just have to quickly soak your body before jumping into the pool.
2. Use Body Lotion or Oil
Apply a generous amount of a thick, oil-based body lotion or skin-friendly oil, like coconut or olive oil, on your body to create a barrier between your skin and the chlorine. This will help prevent the chlorine from water from getting in touch with your skin directly, lessening its impact.
3. Apply Sunscreen
While the sunscreen’s main job is to protect you from the harmful UV rays of the sun, it will also work as an additional protective layer on your skin, further reducing the amount of chlorine that comes in direct contact with your skin.
4. Don’t Rub the Towel
Avoid rubbing the towel on your body after a swim or post-swim shower. It can irritate the skin but may even damage its natural moisture barrier. So, be gentle and pat the towel instead of rubbing it.
5. Exfoliate
Too much exposure to chlorine can make your skin dry and flaky. Chlorine-damaged skin may also appear dull and dark. Exfoliation can help remove dead skin cells, revealing healthy, glowing, fresh skin from underneath.
Don’t exfoliate immediately after a swim, though, as your skin tends to be quite sensitive at that time.
6. Drink Plenty of Water
Hydration is your best tool to fix dull, dry, dehydrated skin that frequent swim sessions often leave you with. Water helps replenish the lost skin moisture from the inside while also helping to flush out toxins from the body.
Use the Latest Skin Treatments to Your Advantage
Excessive exposure to chlorine and sun can cause several skin problems and trigger premature aging.
But this doesn’t mean you should give up on swimming. You can prevent and deal with these skin concerns (should they emerge) with proper skincare. Our expert aestheticians can help you with that.
Get in touch with us to discuss your skin concerns, and we’ll formulate a personalized skin treatment plan for you.
