Effects of chlorine on the skin: how to protect the skin during the bathing season

With temperatures rising, more and more people are choosing to refresh themselves by swimming in a pool. It's a great way to relax, have fun and work your muscles from head to toe. (Anything to keep your summer beach body in top shape, am I right?) But all this can lead to dry, itchy skin and brittle hair. Culprit? chlorine. 

"While chlorine is great at killing bad bacteria, it's not as good for your skin and hair as it also kills good bacteria in addition to removing natural oils," says board certified dermatologist and Skincare.com expert Dr. Dandy Engelman. . Tell me about a sticky situation. On the one hand, chlorine helps protect us from harmful bacteria—we're not trying to get sick—but on the other hand, it can harm our skin, leaving it soft and smooth. . So how do you use the bathing season while maintaining a healthy looking skin? With a few simple steps, you can protect your skin from the harmful effects of chlorine. Come on, take your cake and eat it too. 

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR SKIN

Okay, here's the bottom line. It's no secret that chlorine can make hair and skin dry and rough. To protect your hair and scalp, Engelman suggests wearing a swim cap. If you don't want to look like you're swimming in the Olympics (let's be honest, it's not the trendiest look we've seen), oil your strands - we love it. Coconut oil for this - or a silicone-based hair product before jumping into the pool. This will help create a barrier between hair and water. 

As for the skin on your body, you need to get rid of chlorine as soon as possible. “As soon as you get out of the water, rinse immediately and wash off any residual chlorine that may stick to your skin,” says Engelman. Instead of hanging around in your swimsuit, take a quick shower and rinse your skin thoroughly with a gentle body wash, such as Kiehl's Bath & Shower Liquid Body Cleanser. We love that it's scented - choose from grapefruit, coriander, lavender, and Pour Homme - to help kill the strong chlorine smell that lingers on the skin. After showering, apply a rich, creamy moisturizer such as The Body Shop Coconut Body Butterwhile the skin is still damp to lock in lost moisture and give the skin a soft and conditioned look and feel. 

Happy sailing!