Photo by Juice Dash at Shutterstock
If you’re an avid swimmer and enjoy going to the pool, then you need to take extra care of your skin. If you’re heading to the beach, you’re exposing your skin to a lot of salt and other chemicals. However, if you go to an indoor or outdoor swimming pool, you’ll definitely expose your skin to chlorine. And, as everyone knows, chlorine can have some harsh effects on your skin.
That doesn’t mean that you have to avoid swimming as often as you’d like. Instead, make sure that you pay attention to your skin’s condition and listen to what it’s saying. If you’ve noticed that swimming is causing some harsh reactions, speak to a dermatologist in Southlake, TX as soon as possible. You might need some extra help.
#1. Add a Barrier Between Your Skin and the Water
Avid swimmers usually complain of the same thing to dermatologists. They find that their skin feels irritated, dry and itchy. This problem is particularly prevalent if you swim indoors, as chlorine is often added to swimming pools and is one of the leading causes of irritation.
To keep your skin feeling supple and soft, all you have to do is prepare your skin ahead of time by applying a cream all over your body. Most dermatologists recommend looking for ointments that contain oils, glycerin or petrolatum. You should also look for ointments that contain dimethicone, as this is not soluble in water and will form a thin sealant between the swimming pool water and your delicate skin.
Before you lather up with an ointment, check with your swimming pool to see whether they have any regulations or rules when it comes to creams. Some swimming pools bar specific ingredients, as they might interact with the ingredients in the pool and lower their efficacy.
#2. Shower Immediately After a Swim
Some swimmers like to shower right after the swim at the swimming pool or even if they’re at the beach. Many beaches have shower facilities available. If you find that your skin feels a bit dry, itchy or irritated after a swim, you need to shower immediately afterwards. Don’t wait until you get home. Although you might feel more comfortable showering at home, you’re giving the chemicals in the pool and the salt at the beach plenty of time to interact with your skin. Unfortunately, this can lead to less favorable outcomes.
In order to protect your skin, shower immediately. Use a gentle soap and lather up. You should also take this opportunity to wash your hair and scalp. Often, many swimmers will find that their hair gets damaged easily due to the chemicals in the water. Letting these chemicals seep for an even longer period of time will only do more damage.
#3. Avoid Air Drying
Let’s say that you just had a nice swim at the beach. You might feel tempted to sit in the sun and let it dry you off. While feeling the sun on your skin might feel amazing, it’s actually not a good idea at all. Combined with the salt or the chemicals, air drying can also make your skin drier than usual. Over time, this can lead to signs of premature aging. For example, you might notice more fine lines and wrinkles than before.
To avoid dry skin, most dermatologists recommend rinsing off with clean water immediately and then drying yourself off with a soft, cotton towel. Although your skin can easily bounce back, you want to be as gentle as possible in order to avoid wrinkles and fine lines from coming early!
#4. Moisturize
Last but not least, we cannot stress this enough. If you want to protect your skin and keep it looking healthy and young, you absolutely need to moisturize regularly. You should moisturize right after you’ve showered and also apply more moisturizer on days that you’ve gone for a swim. After a swim, a lot of water has left your body and skin (hence why you get shriveled up fingers and toes after sitting in a bath for too long).
Depending on how dry your skin feels, consider switching to a thicker or more intense cream. If you’re not sure what works for you, speak with a dermatologist. They’ll be able to look at your skin’s condition and needs to either recommend you a product that they love or create a formula just for you! Just remember that what works for someone else might not necessarily work for you. If you’ve been using a cream or ointment that was recommended by a friend and haven’t been seeing any results, you should always get some professional advice and help. Your body might be more responsive to another ingredient!
Get a Skin Evaluation from a Dermatologist in Southlake, TX
Don’t let the chlorine and other chemicals in the pool stop you from swimming often. There are many different ways that you can protect your skin from damage. If you are ever concerned, speak with a dermatologist in Southlake, TX. Here, at Compassion Dermatology, we have a lot of experience in handling all types of skin problems. Our dermatologists will perform a thorough skin evaluation and assessment first to determine what your skin needs. From there, we’ll be able to recommend a wide range of treatments. For example, if you would like to treat fine lines and wrinkles, improve elasticity and firmness, improve tone and vibrancy or get rid of enlarged pores, we highly recommend getting a HydraFacial! You can see hide improvements after just one treatment.
For more information or to get your skin evaluated by a dermatologist, give us at Compassion Dermatology a call at 817-380-5911. Our professionals are committed to providing you with excellent care and up-to-date information on the latest research, technologies, and techniques, and will be more than happy to walk you through every treatment and product. We’ll make sure that you feel comfortable with the regimen that we’ve recommended.
