Can chlorine make my skin dry?

How do I soothe skin after swimming in chlorine?

1. 1Shower as soon as you finish swimming. Use a gentle cleanser to wash pool water off your skin.
2. 2Keep the shower short and use warm rather than hot water. These are general dry skin care steps, not a special chlorine treatment.
3. 3Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp. Moisturizer helps seal water from the shower into your skin.
4. 4Avoid harsh scrubbing or exfoliation if your skin is irritated. Scratching a chlorine rash can worsen irritation and cause infection.

Should I shower after swimming?

Yes. Chlorine left on your skin can continue causing irritation, so do not save the shower for bedtime if you swim earlier. A shower before swimming helps too: wetting your skin first reduces how much chlorinated water it absorbs. These showers serve different purposes: one prepares your skin before exposure, and the other removes pool water afterwards.2

What moisturizer should I use after swimming?

Choose a thick moisturizer made for dry, sensitive skin. A moisturizer containing ceramides is one option after swimming. Apply it after rinsing, rather than leaving pool water underneath it. General dry skin care also favors a thick cream or ointment over a lotion and applying moisturizer again when skin feels dry. The useful part is replacing moisture, not assembling a bathroom committee of products.124

Alpha hydroxy acids are another ingredient used in care for dry, scaly skin, but exfoliating products can also cause dryness and irritation. They are not a necessary extra step after every swim. Follow their directions, and stop using an exfoliating product for a few days if it makes your skin too dry or irritated.45

Can pool water cause skin irritation?

Yes. A chlorine rash is usually itchy, red and mildly inflamed. It can appear within minutes of leaving the pool or up to a day later, on skin exposed to the water. Most chlorine reactions are irritation rather than a true chlorine allergy. Frequent swimmers and people with eczema or an already weakened skin barrier are more vulnerable.1

Eczema does not automatically mean you must stop swimming. Children with eczema can find water cooling, with less sweating during exercise, although swimming's effect on eczema flares is not fully settled. Keep up your usual eczema care: regular moisturizer helps reduce dryness and itching and protects against irritants. Use prescribed creams as directed by your healthcare professional.67

What helps before the next swim?

Apply sunscreen before swimming outdoors. Besides protecting against the sun, sunscreen can form a barrier against chlorine; moisturizer alone does not replace sun protection. Saltwater pools contain chlorine too, and hot tubs can also dry skin. Switching to either is not an automatic solution to dryness after swimming.13

When should I get medical help?

A chlorine rash often settles within hours, or a day or two at most. Contact a healthcare provider if it worsens or does not clear within a couple of days. Get immediate help for a rash or hives with swelling, vomiting, dizziness, or trouble breathing or swallowing: these can signal a severe allergic reaction.1