Since I have a self-imposed ban on returning to the ESPY discussion and going insane battling Ion Beza, I have a new post. Warning - this post is odd but I have been contemplating asking the panel of experts for a few months now.
Here's my problem (one among many), I'm losing my body hair. Does anyone else have this problem who swims a lot? I'm not a nutty swimmer, probably swimming around 7-8 hours per week. mostly indoors. But, I'm telling you, I am disturbed by what has happened to me. My wife is disturbed by the neighborhood women asking her if her husband shaves his legs and dyes his hair (neither of which I do).
I really didn't notice anything until I went to a party with some co-workers and was wearing shorts. The remarks have been unlimited since then. Most commonly I am now referred to as Mr. Bigglesworth, that hairless cat from the Austin Powers movie.
In all seriousness, is this a common problem? Any tips on what I can do to reverse this or mitigate it?
Debbie, at my pool you have to shower just before getting in the pool. Would the Dermaswim go on before the pre-swim shower or after?
Dermaswim is very potent and I would suggest you try putting it on before showering/swimming. The funniest warning on the bottle is to "not carry children" after applying, as it is very slippery. BTW - They are not kidding! :D The directions also state that you don't need to wash with soap and water after swimming, just a simple rinse will do.
Dermaswim is very potent. The funniest warning on the bottle is to "not carry children" after applying, as it is very slippery. BTW - They are not kidding! :D .
Very amusing!
BTW, I have heard that if you take a shower before you swim, the tap water supposedly infiltrates your hair and pores and makes the swimming pool water less likely to hurt you with its chlorine.
But that implies that the pool water has a lot more chlorine in it than the shower water, which I am not sure is true.
It also implies that once water has infiltrated hair and/or pores, it cannot be dislodged by other water, which I am also not sure is true.
Finally, I have never completely understood how immersion in water can dry you out.
Post-finally, I wonder if Dermaswim's slipperiness might make it a good substitute for speed suits once the ban goes into effect? Have you noticed, Debbie, that swimming is any easier when Dermaswim has been applied?
Very amusing!
Post-finally, I wonder if Dermaswim's slipperiness might make it a good substitute for speed suits once the ban goes into effect? Have you noticed, Debbie, that swimming is any easier when Dermaswim has been applied?
Good question! I've not tried using it right before I swim. I usually arrive at the gym 10 minutes before my early morning Masters sessions and putting it on would make me late, so I put it on before going to bed the night before. I would venture to guess that putting it on right before swimming may help to create a waterproof barrier of sorts, which might help with moving through the water in a more fluid fashion. I'll have to give it a try.
Since starting back swimming 16 months ago I can definitely tell that I have less body hair....mostly on the arms and legs. No worries for me as I don't really care for being hairy anyway.
As far as body care products I've been having success with "Tri-Swim", both the body wash and lotion. Both smell great and seem to help with that post swim itchiness. Not sure what retailers carry it, but I'm getting through my mother at Kastaway Swimwear.
According to the Dermaswim website instructions, you can either shower off before swimming without soap and it won't come off, or you can shower with soap, dry off and then apply. This looks like an interesting product and I may give a try also. They claim you won't smell of chlorine after swimming.
:afraid:
What's the deal with post-swim itchies, anyhow? Are they an aging thing? Or is there something different about the pool chemicals used these days? All I know is that when I was a youngsta, I spent hours in pools--in the winter time, double workouts workouts, and in summer, after a long practice in the morning, we'd go swimming at least half the day and/or night, plus there were meets--and I had hair like Malibu Barbie, but I never had those itchies, and I don't remember anyone else having them, either.
What's the deal with post-swim itchies, anyhow? Are they an aging thing? Or is there something different about the pool chemicals used these days? All I know is that when I was a youngsta, I spent hours in pools--in the winter time, double workouts workouts, and in summer, after a long practice in the morning, we'd go swimming at least half the day and/or night, plus there were meets--and I had hair like Malibu Barbie, but I never had those itchies, and I don't remember anyone else having them, either.
A lot of it has to do with the dryness of the air. The worst skin itching I ever got post swimming practice was in MN in the winters. The colder the air temp, the less humidity it can hold. And when it does not climb above 0 degrees F for the high for a week or two straight each winter, the air is close to completely wrung out of all moisture.
The only thing that would help even a little was to slather on emollients in the shower but before I was dried off. The lotion would then trap some of the moisture in. Otherwise, my skin was so dry I could feel it tear apart in the night.
I note spell-me that you live in Arizona. Is this where you grew up as a kid? If so, the only explanation I can see is that your skin is not making as many of its natural oils now as it did then. Or maybe it was more humid in your childhood for whatever reason.
That must be it, Jim. I live in AZ, where all year 'round the air is always so dry that suits and towels only need to hang up for an hour or two and *zing* they're dry. I grew up in IL, in suburban Chicago--lots more water in the air there, except in winter of course. As a grownup, I don't have any trouble with dry skin, but surely my body is not producing as much oil as it did 25 years ago. So living in the desert + having a little less natural protection must be tipping the balance for me. I also wonder if I'm developing some sort of chlorine intolerance. Why not? As I get older, my body is less tolerant of cigarette smoke, chocolate, spicy foods, cheap shoes, and whiny children, so why not a harsh chemical like chlorine? Anyways, I've been using the exact same strategy as you did, and it helps a lot though doesn't solve the problem completely, I still get this sporadic burning itchy feeling that subsides after a couple of minutes as long as I bite a pencil and Don't Scratch. But if I skip the shower routine it's awful; I'm miserable all night. I'm going to try that slippery stuff, the Dermaswim.
I've been to MN in winter. That's c-c-c-COLD. I bet it took less than a minute for your hair to freeze if you went outside after practice without a hat on.
