I just started swimming within the last couple of months; I swim about an hour, every single day. My skin has held up, up until just recently. My finger tips are a bit dry and cracked, my back feels tight when I move around and I have red irritation on patches of my body.
I've read mixed things about showering afterwards and not showering afterwards as the heat opens up your pores and allows the chlorine to seep into your skin.
So, what steps should I take? Should I use a certain body wash after swimming? Should I shower with cold water or warm water? Perhaps, would it be wiser to wear a swimming shirt?
It's hard enough trying to learn how to swim correctly, but now I have to figure out how to protect my supple skin.
I can get away without an after-swim routine in the summer, but by this time of year I have to start my routine.
I shower before getting in the pool to minimize absorption of chlorinated water.
I shower afterwards and use the series of Chlor-Off products (check the web): the Body Wash, the Shampoo, and the Protein conditioner. They do seem to moisturize the skin a little and do remove a lot of the chlorine smell. They also stop your hair from feeling like straw. If you shower with hot water, your skin will be more itchy than if you use lukewarm water. Like others, I use moisturizer (Eucerin or Neutrogena or Vaseline Intensive Care) afterward.
I can get away without an after-swim routine in the summer, but by this time of year I have to start my routine.
I shower before getting in the pool to minimize absorption of chlorinated water.
I shower afterwards and use the series of Chlor-Off products (check the web): the Body Wash, the Shampoo, and the Protein conditioner. They do seem to moisturize the skin a little and do remove a lot of the chlorine smell. They also stop your hair from feeling like straw. If you shower with hot water, your skin will be more itchy than if you use lukewarm water. Like others, I use moisturizer (Eucerin or Neutrogena or Vaseline Intensive Care) afterward.
