Chlorine Defense 101: How to Safeguard Your Skin, Hair, and Swimwear!
A wise mentor once told me: “If you want to be a mermaid, you need to learn how to tame the sea.”
I took his advice to heart, realizing just how important it would be to understand pool chemistry if I planned to spend my career in chlorinated water. I earned my Aquatic Facility Operator certification from the National Recreation and Parks Association in 2016, and I spent many years researching how to maintain a clean and healthy swimming pool.
At Anderson Aquatics, Travis and I pride ourselves on having the cleanest pool water in town. However, we know that even with the most perfectly balanced water, a chlorinated pool can still cause skin irritation and a “perfume” that’s hard to hide. In this week’s blog, we’ll share natural remedies for how to take care of your skin, hair, and swimwear, and how to “detox” from chlorine.
Chlorine may get a bad rap (it IS a toxic chemical after all), but it’s very effective at sanitizing swimming pools & eliminating the pathogenic microorganisms that can cause illnesses. Chlorine also oxidizes organic contaminants, “burning up” things like sweat, body oils, lotions, skin cells, and ammonia. The science of pool chemistry requires maintaining enough chlorine in the water to kill potential germs and oxidize contaminants, but not so much that it causes potentially harmful side effects to swimmers.
As a pool-user, you can help reduce chlorine demands in a few ways: rinsing off prior to entering the pool, keeping long hair tied back, making sure swimsuits are free of detergents, avoiding the use of oils & lotions prior to your session, removing bandaids, and never peeing in the pool!
Most people can tolerate a daily dip in a swimming pool, but for some, exposure to chlorinated water can cause skin irritation and exacerbated underlying issues like eczema. We have gathered a list of recommendations - both from dermatologists and from our 25 years of personal experience - for how to maintain healthy skin… whether you’re sensitive to chlorinated water or not!
BEFORE THE POOL…
Take a cool or cold shower immediately prior to entering the pool. This is a key step for your skin AND for the pool water. Rinsing off removes lotions, oils, or other products that may interact with chlorine and cause rashes, redness, or itchiness. Rinsing off also prevents you from bringing dirt/debris (sweat, dead skin cells, etc) into the water.
Cool showers are recommended since they close the skin’s pores and make it harder for your skin to absorb chlorine. (This is true for your hair, too; if you have color treated hair, the recommendation is to rinse with cool water and also wear a swim cap if you’re really concerned!)
Don’t dry off completely! If possible, rinse off and head right to the pool!
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE POOL…
Rinse off again in a cool or warm (not hot!) shower. Use a gentle cleanser to remove chlorine from your skin. TRISWIM and TRIHARD are two brands that specialize in chlorine removal products, but there are many on the market.
Dry off and apply a moisturizer when your skin is still damp. Most dermatologists recommend using products with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), aloe, and Vitamin C.
You can wait and shower/moisturize at home, but try to do it as close to your pool time as possible if you have sensitive skin. (You’ll also want to moisturize everyday, not just on the days you’re at the pool)
“DETOXING” & OTHER HOME REMEDIES FOR SKIN AND SUITS…
Your skin, unfortunately, absorbs chlorine, and it can also be difficult to get rid of that chlorine “smell.” Here are some ways to neutralize the effects of chlorine:
Sweat it out. Use a sauna, or squeeze in a quick ride on your stationary bike or a walk around the neighborhood on the same day as your water workout.
Taurine supplements. Taurine is an amino acid that binds with chlorine & detoxes it from your body. Take a good-quality supplement on the morning of your swim, and it will remain in your system for approx. 48 hours.
Vitamin C powder or tablets. Vitamin C also neutralizes chlorine and helps repair skin. You have a few options: Mix a high-quality Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) powder with water and drink it (detoxing your body from the inside-out) OR add the powder to a spray bottle with water and spritz it on your skin after your water workout but prior to showering. You could also mix a tablespoon of Vitamin C crystals into your body wash or shampoo. Too much work? There are a variety of ready-made Vitamin C sprays available to purchase, too!
Baking soda hair rinse. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with one cup of water and massage it into your hair. Rinse well, then wash with mild shampoo.
Vinegar hair rinse. Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water & apply to freshly washed hair, followed by one final rinse.
Take an Epsom salt bath. Add 1/2 cup Epsom salt per 50# of body weight to your bathwater (with your favorite essential oil, too!) and soak for 15 minutes. This will help to pull toxins from the body.
Vitamin E, Vitamin D, and Iodine supplements may also assist with reducing chlorine’s effects on the body, but be sure to ask your physician first to know if they’re right for you & what dose to take.
And, finally, what about your swimsuits?
Always rinse your suits after your water workouts!
Wash your suits at least once a week with cold water & a mild detergent.
You could also soak your suit in a bucket of warm water & a teaspoon of vitamin C crystals… or you could use water & a small amount of baking soda.
There are a variety of swimsuit washes on the market, but we can’t really speak to any of them. Here’s a link to the new SUIT SOAK, also powered by TRISWIM.
If you’re a fellow mermaid, do you have any tips we can add to our lists? Favorite skincare products? Home remedies for chlorine detox? Best ways to extend the life of your swimsuits? We would love to hear your recommendations!
Content provided on this website is for informational and educational purposes only; it does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Always seek the advice of your physician regarding your health conditions and prior to initiating an exercise program or trying new supplements.
