Swimming in pools is great. It is great for your fitness. It is great to relax and unwind. It is great to spend some time with the kids. It is great to entertain around. What is not so great is your dry, irritated, itchy skin after your swim. This condition causes embarrassment and is commonly termed chlorine allergies.
So what actually happens to your skin when you spend a prolonged period of time in the water and how can you reduce all of these irritations?
Your skin is covered with a thin layer of oil called sebum. The Oxford Dictionary describes sebum as: The secretion of the sebaceous gland. This special oil is found on the top layer of your skin. It keeps your skin a bit waterproof and protects your skin from drying out.
So, I hear you say how come the sebum does not protect my skin when I swim in the pool?
Well, good question. There is only a certain amount of sebum on your skin. Once the sebum has been removed by swimming in the water for a long period of time the water can penetrate your skin, through the process of osmosis.
Simply put, skin is a semi-permeable membrane. Water passes through a semi-permeable membrane in order to dilute a more concentrated solution on the other side. This process continues until both solutions are the same concentrate. Skin tissues contain higher levels of salt than chlorinated water, so water from the pool will slowly pass through the skin in an attempt to dilute this higher concentrate. The opposite happens with the ocean water. Salt levels are higher in the water and water is lost gradually from your skin, which can cause inflammation to your skin (Wikipedia.)
So that explains how my skin gets wrinkly and waterlogged, so why does your skin get itchy, dry, flaky and smell of chlorine?
With the loss of water in your skin this causes your skin to get itchy and irritated and chlorine penetrates the skin.
Some things you can do to make your swimming experience a little more comfortable could include:
- Having a shower after your swim to get rid of the excess chlorine.
- Moisturise your skin after swimming.
- Pre-swimming lotions are fantastic to put onto your skin prior to jumping into the water.
These are all personal preferences and you may need to try a few to get the one that fits into your routine.
So do not let the chlorine in pools put you off your swimming. There are ways to make your life a little more comfortable and do not forget there are heaps of benefits associated with swimming. So go on get your feet wet!
