Hi Everyone,
We're working on an article for the Jan/Feb issue of SWIMMER on the effects of chlorine on skin and how swimmers manage. Anybody got a lotion they swear by or another remedy for the itchy dryness that they want to share?
Thanks,
Your loyal USMS staff writer
Parents
Former Member
I've tried many different products over the years. However, what seems to work the best is showering and lotioning up right after getting out of the pool. It doesn't seem to matter what I use as long as I use it right away. If I don't shower right away (which happens occasionally when I swim on the weekends), I find that my skin gets painfully dry and it takes a lot of work to get it feeling back to normal.
I don't have as much problem with my hair. It is thick, so I've always had to use separate shampoo and conditioner at baseline. I definitely think having a separate conditioner helps with the chlorine, though.
Oh, and like someone said, I love the smell of chlorine on my skin. Sometimes later in the day after I swam in the morning I'll lick my skin just to smell it again. It's my second favorite smell (falling shortly behind that organic smell in the air at dusk on a crisp fall evening). I find that no matter what lotion I put on, I can still smell the chlorine. :)
Reply
Former Member
I've tried many different products over the years. However, what seems to work the best is showering and lotioning up right after getting out of the pool. It doesn't seem to matter what I use as long as I use it right away. If I don't shower right away (which happens occasionally when I swim on the weekends), I find that my skin gets painfully dry and it takes a lot of work to get it feeling back to normal.
I don't have as much problem with my hair. It is thick, so I've always had to use separate shampoo and conditioner at baseline. I definitely think having a separate conditioner helps with the chlorine, though.
Oh, and like someone said, I love the smell of chlorine on my skin. Sometimes later in the day after I swam in the morning I'll lick my skin just to smell it again. It's my second favorite smell (falling shortly behind that organic smell in the air at dusk on a crisp fall evening). I find that no matter what lotion I put on, I can still smell the chlorine. :)
