Harm of swimming pool water to skin and hair

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Dr. Phan Dinh Thuy Tien - General Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.
Going swimming in the summer helps to refresh the body, however, swimming pool water has a lot of chlorine which can cause dry skin and itchiness, dry hair and tangles.

1. What's in swimming pool water?

Swimming is one of the healthiest sports. Not only that, this is also a useful survival skill that everyone should know. Therefore, it is not surprising that swimming is a popular sport activity, especially in the summer.
However, the water in the swimming pool contains chlorine and salt water disinfectants.
Chlorine is a pool cleaner, ensuring a safe swimming pool thanks to its ability to disinfect (destroy the surface of bacteria and viruses). If chlorine is not used, pathogens, including chronic skin infections, will thrive in pool water. This also means that chlorine will kill even common bacteria, which cause acne in swimmers.
In addition, they are also the cause of frizzy, dry hair, lack of moisture, and rough skin.

2. Harm of swimming pool water on skin and hair

Pool water dries out the skin Chlorine, which causes severe dryness, is why some people find their skin itchy and red. Therefore, it is necessary to shower immediately after getting out of the pool.
Makes hair dry, brittle Just like skin, chlorine causes hair dryness. Soaking hair in chlorinated water can be harmful to hair. Chlorine is also recommended by experts to make hair more brittle.
According to the web answer of Columbia University, Chlorine will separate the oil from the hair, making the hair cuticles lack adhesion, as a result, the outer layer of the hair is unprotected, easy to separate, creating faults.
People who dye their hair need to exercise extreme caution when entering the pool. However, according to Friedman, it's not the chlorine but the copper in the pool that causes hair to turn blue.

3. Hair and skin care while swimming

Some hair care methods when swimming:
Wetting your hair with plain water before entering the pool is extremely important. Because water will usually soak into the hair, it will minimize the risk of hair drying and damage due to the effects of chemicals in swimming pool water. Next, you should apply essential oils to your hair, apply from the roots to the ends of the hair, the layer of essential oils covered on this hair will be a "protective hat" for your hair from tangles. You can choose from essential oils such as: Almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil, sesame oil... Before going swimming, don't forget to bring a swimming cap, it helps to minimize the risk of roof damage. Damaged hair caused by swimming pool water. Wash your hair with plain water immediately after swimming with shampoo and conditioner to remove chlorine chemicals on the hair. You can wash your hair with vinegar or lemon to balance the pH of your hair. Apply conditioner to hair, leave for 15-20 minutes and rinse with plain water. Note: To maximize the protection of hair from the "attack" of swimming pool water as well as chemicals in the water, try to limit hair exposure to pool water. If your hair is too long, roll it up before putting on your swim cap.

How to take care of your skin from the effects of pool water:
Apply sunscreen if it's an outdoor pool - this is paramount. When applying the cream, pay attention to the ears, neck, legs and other sensitive areas of the body. Sunscreen will help prevent skin from darkening and eliminate the risk of skin cancer. Sunscreen should have an SPF of over 30 and be waterproof. Do not go to the outdoor swimming pool between 10 am and 3 pm because at this time the ultraviolet rays from the sun are most active, causing damage to the skin. In addition, before going to the pool, it is necessary to drink enough water that the body needs to not be dehydrated during swimming, because this has a direct effect on the beauty of the skin. With enough water, the skin will be smooth and shiny. On the contrary, if there is a lack of water, the skin will age, form many wrinkles and lose its luminosity. After swimming, just like hair, need to shower again with shower gel and plain water to remove chlorine from the skin. A little extra oil or lotion can help add moisture to your skin.

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